Que Lo Que Podcast

All over the country, Dominicans are stepping up to meet the leadership crisis of the day and throwing their hats in the ring to run for local office. We'll be spending significant time over the next couple of months talking to candidates and the impact of these races not just on local communities, but also on the next generation of changemakers.

Who better, then, to kick things off than longtime South Florida community leader and political player, Doctora Leonarda Duran Buike, who is running for Miami-Dade County Commision District 8 seat being vacated by Daniella Levine Cava. Over the next 40 minutes, hear us as we go back in forth in Spanish, English and Dominican Spanglish to explore her political education in the Dominican Republic under both Joaquin Balaguer and Juan Bosch, how she came to live and fall in love with South Dade and how her dedication to public service pushed her to run. And wait – did she just drop a recipe for morir soñando?

This is certainly quintessential mangu for your soul – and ears.

We couldn't think of a better person to kick off our first season of interviews than South Florida based Afro-Dominican freelance writer and poet Topacio Marrero.

Marrero, whose writing has been featured in places like Blavity, HuffPost, and Ain't I Latina, brings the gift of mindfulness, conscious, and authentic transformation into the lives of those who attend her workshops and/or speaking engagements. Born and raised in Washington Heights, her writing focuses on her journey both as a parent and an Afro-Latina, exploring not only culture and identity, but also how communities can recognize and achieve their full potential. We sat down to talk with Topacio ahead of the mid-October publication of her first book of poetry to about her childhood, Domincana-Haitian relations, and the challenges of raising a bilingual, tricultural daughter in a place like Miami. We also asked her to pay it forward and suggest someone who might not be well known, but who she thought listeners should check out.

It's a conversation rich with insights and thoughts to continue to explore as our first season rolls on.

Get hyped about our quest to shine a light on the talented Dominican leadership in the U.S. -- the rising stars and the dependable Hall of Famers who are blazing a trail for all of us to follow.