We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Dianne Sánchez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie Dianne, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
My mom chose to leave a man who did not honor her, my father. This was and still can be unconventional in Mexican tradition, where women so often stay with a man despite the Machismo culture. My mom packed up our things and moved my sister and me away from my father into a new home where she would raise us on her own. Mexican is how I have always identified because that is where both my parents were born. Mexico was and is at the heart and soul of my existence. The flavors of Mexico touched my tongue every day. We spoke English at home most of the time, but Spanish was still our first language. Little did I know the neighborhood we would grow up would imply that my familia had assimilated entirely, leaving our traditions behind. This awareness would come at a time when one struggles with identity at the early stages of adolescence. I never felt like I belonged. Where I grew up, none of the neighborhood kids looked my me or knew my culture. At school, I was called a Pocha, which was used as an Ethnic slur of shaming me and suggesting that I was a Mexican trying to pass as an American. I felt I could not say I was Mexican because I felt like a fraud, even though everything I knew and how I grew up inside my home was about my Mexican heritage. I was neither Mexican or American. I did not fit in; I did not belong; I had no one to turn to during my cultural identity crisis that lasted for a very long time. When I started taking Chicano Study classes is when a shift began. I was finally able to relate. One of the first books I read was Pocho by Antonio Villareal. Mostly I was intrigued by the title of the book because that was the name I was called growing up. Reading this book started to mend some of the broken cultural identity pieces of feeling lost and not belonging. The book follow the main character Richard who lives with his family in a white-dominated neighborhood in California. The book is about him assimilating into American culture while his parents cling on to their Mexican traditions. This book did an amazing job speaking about the cultural hybridity of adopting both American and Mexican norms that it is possible to have dual existence in language, culture, and values when someone feels caught between the two. After reading this book, I learned to embrace the term Pocha because I am both Mexican and American. I embody both at the same time, and that is a beautiful thing.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business controls campaign finances for local political campaigns. I am most proud of being the only Latina Owned business who does this kind of work in the County of San Diego. One of the biggest challenges I am currently working through is realizing that starting my own business is a job within itself. When I set out to start this business, I thought about the work I would be doing that I love. I didn’t know or take into consideration everything that would come along with starting a business. One of my biggest challenges is having so many ideas of what I want to do that it is so hard to pick and choose sometimes. Luckily I have found a group of friends who have also started their own business and hold some of the same values. This has created a beautiful bond where we can share out wins and struggles, but most importantly, support one another and be each other’s biggest cheerleader. As far as business branding, this is something that I am currently focused on, so stay tuned.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
If friends were visiting from out of town, our time would be split between spending time in San Diego and crossing the border. Time outdoors would consist of hanging out at the beach relaxing and soaking up the sun. We would also do a hike along Torrey Pines. We would also spend some time at Sunset Cliffs to watch the sunset. Some restaurants we would go to are Urbn Pizza for their Mashed Potato Pizza, which is delicious. Cantina Mayahuel for the margaritas and happy hour. Pho Fusions for lunch. We would get some cafecito from Dia del Café. And stop by Seven Grand for some drinks. Once we cross the border we would go to Valle de Guadalupe for wine tasting. We would also stop by Mission 19 for a nice dinner, and of course, get some street tacos. If there are any plays from Amigod Del REP, we would check one of those out. As well as any good music that is playing in town. We would head down to Barrio Logan for their art shows and to do some shopping in the small shops. Most of the experience will revolve around catching up over food, drinks, or by the water. And enjoying some art, music or theater and of course anything else they would want to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother will always get first recognition. We do not always see eye to eye, and our communication at times seems to lack understanding and compassion. Yet, without her, I would not be the person I am today. She was tough, but no matter how tough she was, she always wanted the best for my sister and me. She deserves all the credit for the sacrifices she made to raise two daughters on her own. Two daughters who are the first. The first to finish school. One to start a successful business and the other to complete her Ph.D. program and teach at University as she dreamt of since she was in high school. The second person who deserves credit is my sister. I am so blessed we have such a strong sisterly bond. She is one of my biggest supporters, who is always encouraging me and listening to me when I have meltdowns and victories. She is truly my warrior sister, as we try to navigate what our life will be like, which traditions we are going to break, and which ones we are going to keep as we move forward in life. Lastly, my shoutout goes out to all the single mothers raising children on their own who need to hear this. It is not an easy job, and we, as children, do not make it any easier. Even though we may fight you, undermine you, and not give a damn about anything, trust that when we get older, we see all the sacrifices you made. Listen to your intuition and trust you are doing the right thing.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sd_pocha/?hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-d-s%C3%A1nchez/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018935070794

Nominate someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.