2016 Western Region
Fanny Olaya
Director, Baila Salsa Dance Company
Director, Baila Salsa Dance Company
My name is Fanny Olaya, and I'm from Peru. I grew up in Lima with my parents, my sister and my brother. Since I remember I have been exposed to good music thanks to my father who is a music lover, and of course as a part of the Peruvian culture. I always loved dancing and music but I was too shy to express my interest. There were no professional dancers or musicians in my family so that made it more difficult. I moved to the United States twelve years ago and that was when, as an adult, I decided to put the little free time I had to do what I love the most, dancing. Back then I thought about it as a hobby. While doing research about Salsa dancing I saw a video and thought, "I want to dance like that," I didn't have a clue what Professional Salsa dancing was, or that there were many different styles. I started taking dance lessons once a week and soon I met the man who is now my husband, and after sharing a couple dance lessons together we became dance partners. It was just for fun at the beginning but one night when we were out dancing people started to ask us for lessons and that was when I told myself, this is serious. I talked to my dance partner and convinced him that we should prepare ourselves to teach. We started to practice all the time and travel to different Salsa congresses to take classes with all the best dancers in the world. I fell in love with the dance world, the Salsa world and since then we have been teaching and performing all around upstate NY. We continue taking lessons, participating in Latin festivals, Universities, schools, leadership pageants, etc. I'm very thankful for what dancing has brought to my life, I love what I do and I love to share it with my community.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My parents because thanks to what they taught me I have overcome difficult situations and I'm proud of my values, my feelings and I value very much what I have. They taught me to be a strong and a brave woman and to be thankful, I believe that is very important in life.
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? Peruvian
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. My birthday and holiday celebrations.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL.The first time my dance company was named "The Best Dance Lessons of WNY"
BEST DAY EVER. When I became an American citizen.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS(IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? ERIE Community College, Liberal Arts and Science/Humanities
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. Salsa Talks! By Mary Kent
FAVORITE SONG. One of my favorite songs is "Boranda" by La Sonora Poncena.
MESSAGE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY.
Be brave, be yourself no matter what and be proud of who you are and your roots.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My parents because thanks to what they taught me I have overcome difficult situations and I'm proud of my values, my feelings and I value very much what I have. They taught me to be a strong and a brave woman and to be thankful, I believe that is very important in life.
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? Peruvian
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. My birthday and holiday celebrations.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL.The first time my dance company was named "The Best Dance Lessons of WNY"
BEST DAY EVER. When I became an American citizen.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS(IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? ERIE Community College, Liberal Arts and Science/Humanities
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. Salsa Talks! By Mary Kent
FAVORITE SONG. One of my favorite songs is "Boranda" by La Sonora Poncena.
MESSAGE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY.
Be brave, be yourself no matter what and be proud of who you are and your roots.
Tamika Otis
Project Director, CHP International/Job Corps
Project Director, CHP International/Job Corps
Tamika Otis is a senior level management professional with more than 8 years of experience in successful federal program management, public relations and marketing, professional staff development and career readiness training. She currently serves as Project Director for the WNY Outreach and Admissions contract of Job Corps with offices in both Syracuse and Rochester.
In addition to her professional work, Tamika is an active and engaged member in the Syracuse community. She is a long-term member of the Onondaga County Youth Council and was recently appointed by the County Executive to the Youth Bureau Board of Onondaga County. Tamika also serves on the Board of Directors for iMobile Health Mission whose mission is to educate urban communities on mental health awareness and ultimately open a full access mental health facility on the Southside of Syracuse. Tamika is also actively involved in Syracuse and Rochester’s anti-gang campaigns. She has served as a panelist during the Youth Gangs and Family Structure series and actively participates in community dialogue focusing on redirecting youth associated with gang culture and affected by trauma, grief and loss. Tamika serves as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Street Addiction Institute, Inc. which is a non-profit organization that addresses the issue of trauma and its effects on urban youth and provides training and support to youth organizations in urban communities.
Tamika is married to Chamar Otis and together they share four children; Anari, Chanel, Christian and Braylon. Tamika and her husband run a successful basketball and mentoring program, Syracuse Hoop Headz, where inner city youth are provided the opportunity of playing AAU basketball on a national level while also benefitting from mentorship and ongoing family support. Tamika is also very active with her church where she serves as Associate Director to their Women’s Ministry. She is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and enjoys traveling.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My mother is the most influential person in my life. She is a life-long Social Worker and family therapist. I watched her assist in changing the lives of countless children and their families and I vowed at an early age that I would do the same.
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? Cape Verdean - we do not identify as Latino but I have always been a Latina at heart with an army of Latinas who have molded, mentored and supported me.
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. Our families large holiday celebrations. There would easily be 50-60 of us together laughing, hearing stories from our elders, eating and bonding. So much has changed since that time, but those were definitely the best times growing up.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL. One day I came into work frustrated with the "politics" of the job. I decided I was going to walk away and went into my office with a box to begin cleaning it out. I walked into the office and one of my former students who was homeless and in a shelter with her infant daughter, was standing in my office. I began to cry immediately. She said, "I came to thank you for believing in me and supporting me and changing my life. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you and the Job Corps program." She said, "I felt like I needed to come here today to tell you not to give up. There are many more like me that need you." She is now working full time in a local hospital, living in her own apartment and her baby looked happy and healthy and was in a daycare she loved. Needless to say, I didn't clean out my office that day.
BEST DAY EVER. The day my first son was born.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS(IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? West Chester University for Social Work and currently Empire State College for Public Policy and Non-Profit Organization Management.
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
FAVORITE QUOTE. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and create a new ending. -Maria Robinson
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM. Syracuse Hoop Headz (my son's team)
FAVORITE SONG. My Soul is Anchored
MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY.
Always stand in your truth even if no one understands you. There is no one else on the planet just like you. You are uniquely created and equipped to do the work that only you can do. Live freely, embracing what the world calls mistakes, as gifts. Gifts to teach you how to navigate this journey we call life.
In addition to her professional work, Tamika is an active and engaged member in the Syracuse community. She is a long-term member of the Onondaga County Youth Council and was recently appointed by the County Executive to the Youth Bureau Board of Onondaga County. Tamika also serves on the Board of Directors for iMobile Health Mission whose mission is to educate urban communities on mental health awareness and ultimately open a full access mental health facility on the Southside of Syracuse. Tamika is also actively involved in Syracuse and Rochester’s anti-gang campaigns. She has served as a panelist during the Youth Gangs and Family Structure series and actively participates in community dialogue focusing on redirecting youth associated with gang culture and affected by trauma, grief and loss. Tamika serves as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Street Addiction Institute, Inc. which is a non-profit organization that addresses the issue of trauma and its effects on urban youth and provides training and support to youth organizations in urban communities.
Tamika is married to Chamar Otis and together they share four children; Anari, Chanel, Christian and Braylon. Tamika and her husband run a successful basketball and mentoring program, Syracuse Hoop Headz, where inner city youth are provided the opportunity of playing AAU basketball on a national level while also benefitting from mentorship and ongoing family support. Tamika is also very active with her church where she serves as Associate Director to their Women’s Ministry. She is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and enjoys traveling.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My mother is the most influential person in my life. She is a life-long Social Worker and family therapist. I watched her assist in changing the lives of countless children and their families and I vowed at an early age that I would do the same.
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? Cape Verdean - we do not identify as Latino but I have always been a Latina at heart with an army of Latinas who have molded, mentored and supported me.
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. Our families large holiday celebrations. There would easily be 50-60 of us together laughing, hearing stories from our elders, eating and bonding. So much has changed since that time, but those were definitely the best times growing up.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL. One day I came into work frustrated with the "politics" of the job. I decided I was going to walk away and went into my office with a box to begin cleaning it out. I walked into the office and one of my former students who was homeless and in a shelter with her infant daughter, was standing in my office. I began to cry immediately. She said, "I came to thank you for believing in me and supporting me and changing my life. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you and the Job Corps program." She said, "I felt like I needed to come here today to tell you not to give up. There are many more like me that need you." She is now working full time in a local hospital, living in her own apartment and her baby looked happy and healthy and was in a daycare she loved. Needless to say, I didn't clean out my office that day.
BEST DAY EVER. The day my first son was born.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS(IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? West Chester University for Social Work and currently Empire State College for Public Policy and Non-Profit Organization Management.
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
FAVORITE QUOTE. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and create a new ending. -Maria Robinson
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM. Syracuse Hoop Headz (my son's team)
FAVORITE SONG. My Soul is Anchored
MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY.
Always stand in your truth even if no one understands you. There is no one else on the planet just like you. You are uniquely created and equipped to do the work that only you can do. Live freely, embracing what the world calls mistakes, as gifts. Gifts to teach you how to navigate this journey we call life.
Victoria Angela Pérez-Maggiolo
Actress/Artistic Director, Raices Theatre Company
Actress/Artistic Director, Raices Theatre Company
Victoria Pérez is an accomplished theatre artist and teacher. She is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Raíces Theatre Company, the only theatre company in WNY dedicated to develop, nourish and produce modern and original works dealing with the Latino experience in order to preserve our roots. She serves as secretary on the board of the Arts Foundation of the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and is a Committee member and theatrical expressions teacher for the Miss Borinquen Latina Leadership Development Program. She is also a community health worker being trained with the Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo.
Victoria served as the program coordinator for the Parent Leadership Program of Parent Network of WNY for 4 years helping parents become leaders in their own communities navigating the Special Education process and the Developmental Disabilities systems. Also with Parent Network she is a Parent Educator leading bilingual workshops on Bullying, Skills for Effecting Parent Advocacy, Preparing for a Meeting and Cultural Competency. Along with that she was the translator for certain curriculums into the Spanish language and served as interpreter as well.
Victoria is a Parent Member for the Buffalo Public Schools. She was also the program coordinator for MUSE (Musicians United for Superior Education) and for Antecesores, both arts organizations for which she was also a teaching artist specializing in theatre, music, and Puerto Rican folkloric dance and storytelling. Victoria is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC majoring in musical Theatre. Shortly after graduating she had the honor of performing in Pregone’s (a company in NYC) acclaimed production of The Red Rose/La Rosa Roja starring Puerto Rico’s own Danny Rivera. She toured with this musical to Puerto Rico and was a part of the cast recording. Victoria is an ensemble member of Road Less Traveled and a company member of O’Connell and Company and Subversive Theatre. Among her favorite theatre credits are, In the Heights (Daniela), Water by the Spoonful (Odessa)Death and the Maiden, (Paulina), The Clean House (Matilde), Botanica, (Millie), La Gringa (Iris), Last Days of Judas Iscariot( Mother Theresa), Superior Donuts, (Randy), Twilight, (One Woman Show), No Child, (One Woman Show), References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, (Cat). Favorite director credits, Real Women Have Curves, A Raisin In The Sun, Radio Golf, Parallel Lives: The Kathy and Mo Show and La luz de un cigarillo. She was part of the creative team that was commissioned by the Arts in Education Institute of WNY to create a musical based on the history of Puerto Rico Mosaico Borincano.Victoria has been nominated several times for Buffalo’s Artie Awards, and won for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance in Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria at O'Connell and Co.
Victoria has been seen on many WNY theatres as an actress, director and has written two full length plays. She also received the Arts Award from Hispanics United of Buffalo and the Community Arts award from Senator Antoine Thompson. Victoria is a vocalist for the Buffalo Tango Orchestra.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My father Rafael Perez. The life lessons he taught me. Unconditional love and the responsibility you have to your community.
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? Puerto Rican
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. Waking up listening to my grandfather playing his Cuatro.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL.The first time I was ever on stage was at my schools talent show in the 4th grade. It was the first time I ever felt comfortable in my own shoes. I wasn't thinking, I was living.
BEST DAY EVER. When we bought our house and I saw my son for the first time playing and running around and I wasn't worried about what the neighbors would think. He was in his space.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS (IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? American Musical and Dramatic Academy-Musical Theatre
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. Cien años de soledad
FAVORITE QUOTE. Micah 6:8 Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM. Don't have one
FAVORITE SONG. A Quite Thing
MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY.
Celebrate who your ancestors were. That's how you get to know how you came to be and can then influence the future.
Victoria served as the program coordinator for the Parent Leadership Program of Parent Network of WNY for 4 years helping parents become leaders in their own communities navigating the Special Education process and the Developmental Disabilities systems. Also with Parent Network she is a Parent Educator leading bilingual workshops on Bullying, Skills for Effecting Parent Advocacy, Preparing for a Meeting and Cultural Competency. Along with that she was the translator for certain curriculums into the Spanish language and served as interpreter as well.
Victoria is a Parent Member for the Buffalo Public Schools. She was also the program coordinator for MUSE (Musicians United for Superior Education) and for Antecesores, both arts organizations for which she was also a teaching artist specializing in theatre, music, and Puerto Rican folkloric dance and storytelling. Victoria is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC majoring in musical Theatre. Shortly after graduating she had the honor of performing in Pregone’s (a company in NYC) acclaimed production of The Red Rose/La Rosa Roja starring Puerto Rico’s own Danny Rivera. She toured with this musical to Puerto Rico and was a part of the cast recording. Victoria is an ensemble member of Road Less Traveled and a company member of O’Connell and Company and Subversive Theatre. Among her favorite theatre credits are, In the Heights (Daniela), Water by the Spoonful (Odessa)Death and the Maiden, (Paulina), The Clean House (Matilde), Botanica, (Millie), La Gringa (Iris), Last Days of Judas Iscariot( Mother Theresa), Superior Donuts, (Randy), Twilight, (One Woman Show), No Child, (One Woman Show), References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, (Cat). Favorite director credits, Real Women Have Curves, A Raisin In The Sun, Radio Golf, Parallel Lives: The Kathy and Mo Show and La luz de un cigarillo. She was part of the creative team that was commissioned by the Arts in Education Institute of WNY to create a musical based on the history of Puerto Rico Mosaico Borincano.Victoria has been nominated several times for Buffalo’s Artie Awards, and won for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her performance in Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria at O'Connell and Co.
Victoria has been seen on many WNY theatres as an actress, director and has written two full length plays. She also received the Arts Award from Hispanics United of Buffalo and the Community Arts award from Senator Antoine Thompson. Victoria is a vocalist for the Buffalo Tango Orchestra.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? My father Rafael Perez. The life lessons he taught me. Unconditional love and the responsibility you have to your community.
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? Puerto Rican
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. Waking up listening to my grandfather playing his Cuatro.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL.The first time I was ever on stage was at my schools talent show in the 4th grade. It was the first time I ever felt comfortable in my own shoes. I wasn't thinking, I was living.
BEST DAY EVER. When we bought our house and I saw my son for the first time playing and running around and I wasn't worried about what the neighbors would think. He was in his space.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS (IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? American Musical and Dramatic Academy-Musical Theatre
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. Cien años de soledad
FAVORITE QUOTE. Micah 6:8 Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM. Don't have one
FAVORITE SONG. A Quite Thing
MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY.
Celebrate who your ancestors were. That's how you get to know how you came to be and can then influence the future.
Tayrin Tapia
Founder/CEO, Dear Tayrin, Inc.
Founder/CEO, Dear Tayrin, Inc.
Tayrin is the Founder/CEO of Dear Tayrin, Inc., headquartered in Buffalo, NY; she is a Board Advisor for Team True Beauty based out of Los Angeles, CA; Co-Chair of the Buffalo Chapter - National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Committee; and most recently became a member of the Women's Empowerment Committee for the Hispanic Women's League of Buffalo. Tayrin is a mother of two boys ages 11 and 8; she is an advocate for awareness on sexual abuse/assault and HIV/AIDS; she is a catalyst and a game changer. Tayrin always had dreams of starting an organization that would make a change in the community, but had no idea what her platform would be. In May 2012, she came forward and told her story of child sexual abuse and from there Dear Tayrin was born.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? The most influential person in my life was my father Jose Antonio Tapia. During his life span, he served God, his family and community. My father showed leadership by being active in his community, giving back to those with hardly anything, diverse in his relationships with friends, a friend to many and an exceptional father to his 3 kids
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? I am Puerto Rican.
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. One of my best memories growing up was going to see Rockefeller Center every holiday season with my mom, stepdad and siblings. The scenery of that place during that time of year is always so magical, uplifting and you feel love all around.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL. One of my best memories was the first year I started my organization Dear Tayrin. It was when I held the first support group for young girls along with a colleague. During one of the last sessions, one girl came forward with her mothers story on strength and healing from sexual abuse. At the end of her saying the story, she looked right into my eyes and said: "Thank You" for speaking your truth. It has helped me understand my mother more now than ever. That moment brought tears to my eyes but also an understanding that I was on the right path.
BEST DAY EVER. I have had two: both days were the births of my boys. Elias and Ethan: you are both my lifeline, you are both my pride and joy and why I do what I do.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS (IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? I last attended Buffalo State College for Business Administration.
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. My most recent favorite book is "Year of Yes" by Shonda Rhimes
Favorite quote? "Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." ~Gloria Steinem~
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.Buffalo Bills.
FAVORITE SONG. La Gozadera by Gente de Zona featuring Marc Anthony
MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY. Do not give up on your passion. Where there is a dream there is a vision and where there is a vision there are possibilities to make your dream become your reality.
WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE AND WHY? The most influential person in my life was my father Jose Antonio Tapia. During his life span, he served God, his family and community. My father showed leadership by being active in his community, giving back to those with hardly anything, diverse in his relationships with friends, a friend to many and an exceptional father to his 3 kids
WHAT IS YOUR LATINO/HISPANIC HERITAGE? I am Puerto Rican.
BEST MEMORY OF GROWING UP. One of my best memories growing up was going to see Rockefeller Center every holiday season with my mom, stepdad and siblings. The scenery of that place during that time of year is always so magical, uplifting and you feel love all around.
BEST MEMORY OF A DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL. One of my best memories was the first year I started my organization Dear Tayrin. It was when I held the first support group for young girls along with a colleague. During one of the last sessions, one girl came forward with her mothers story on strength and healing from sexual abuse. At the end of her saying the story, she looked right into my eyes and said: "Thank You" for speaking your truth. It has helped me understand my mother more now than ever. That moment brought tears to my eyes but also an understanding that I was on the right path.
BEST DAY EVER. I have had two: both days were the births of my boys. Elias and Ethan: you are both my lifeline, you are both my pride and joy and why I do what I do.
WHERE DID YOU ATTEND (ARE ATTENDING) COLLEGE AND WHAT WAS (IS) YOUR FOCUS/MAJOR? I last attended Buffalo State College for Business Administration.
BEST BOOK YOU EVER READ. My most recent favorite book is "Year of Yes" by Shonda Rhimes
Favorite quote? "Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." ~Gloria Steinem~
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM.Buffalo Bills.
FAVORITE SONG. La Gozadera by Gente de Zona featuring Marc Anthony
MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL YOUNG LATINOS READING YOUR STORY. Do not give up on your passion. Where there is a dream there is a vision and where there is a vision there are possibilities to make your dream become your reality.