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Glamourbaby of the Week

Erin Neeley Archuleta is probably the warmest, cheeriest, and most sincere person I’ve ever met. Meeting Erin is like waking up to freshly baked gingerbread cookies on Christmas morning- it is an amazingly comforting kind of experience. She makes anyone feel like family off the bat, and that is not a gift everyone has. Formerly of the famed 826 National, Erin has devoted a big part of her life helping young people access the gift of reading and writing. A heavy hitter, Erin has also participated in a meeting with politician Nancy Pelosi for Latino Business owners, as well as interviewed on CNN with Soledad O’Brien, among her many accomplishments! 

These days, she nourishes her community in a different way- as you may expect from someone with such a cozy and comforting demeanor, Erin makes for the perfect restaurateur. Describing her work as “feeding people, and providing a bit of a living room”, you can be sure to expect that having dinner at Erin’s establishment is a bit like coming home. Read on to learn more: 

Full Name: Erin Ann Archuleta

City: San Francisco

Birthplace and Ethnicity:

Flint, MI — Greek, Irish, other bits of Caucasian, and a huge extended

Mexican-American family!

 

Occupation: Restaurateur

Website:  www.ichisushi.com + www.erinarchuleta.com

 

How do you define “glamour”?

My grandmother, Shirley Barber, was truly my role model, and a Glamourbaby. Hailing from Detroit, she was convinced that a smart blazer, well-polished nails, a touch of lipstick, a bright scarf, and her beauty mark could take her anywhere to display her wits and speak her mind. In an era when women rarely spoke up, she had every local newspaper —The Flint Journal, The Detroit Free Press, and The Detroit News, all to cross reference reporting, and then, to share her own Letter to the Editor on topics of import. She taught me to highlight; source your reference; and then, ultimately — to speak up for what’s right. Now, that’s glamour,(wrapped in a bright scarf.)

 

What is your “WHY”? (Why do you do what you do?)

I fell into feeding people, and providing a bit of a living room, amidst the backdrop of a big city in our 23-seat restaurant. I married a sushi chef, but knew I was meant to be a convener of people by opening a sushi bar (and now we’re opening a second location!).

I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I worked as the Director of Field Operations and Strategy for the youth literacy organization, 826 National, collaborating on opening new chapters and retail storefronts, and working with chapter staffs’ across the United States. I had the opportunity to engage with literacy organizations around the globe, and became infected with the entrepreneurial spirit and hope that exists worldwide concerning the power of sharing stories and connecting communities.

In that same spirit, as a restaurateur, on a smaller scale, I’m accomplishing the same tasks, as a connector by introducing neighbors to one another (and to their unique stories and perspectives). I write and contribute to various publications on the topic of eating, building restaurants, and sushi.

I’m a life-long learner, and am a dedicated advocate for youth, our food, and the preservation of this planet.

 

Your Message to Young Women.

Even when you work for someone else, you are still your own boss. Listen to that voice inside of you that speaks up, even ever so meekly, about the way you like to work and what you like to work on — Create opportunities to let that part of you shine.

 Oh, and really — save 20% of every paycheck if you’re able, no shoes/ handbag/fancy impressive thing are worth your future trip around the world, first house, or retirement fund. Pay yourself first.

To learn more about Erin, go HERE. 

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Glamourbaby of the Week

Sometimes its hard to find the words to fully express our experiences as women. Perhaps we feel too vulnerable, isolated, or simply, at a loss. Lucky for us, writers and artists like Aimee Suzara exist. These are the beings who transcribe the hurt we cannot bear to touch (much less expose), who speak the language we cannot utter on our own, and who step up to be brave for all of us by taking the courageous responsibility of being vulnerable so the rest of us can exhale too.

In her latest play, “History of the Body”, Aimee tells our story as women struggling to grasp and find our beauty in the rubble of post-colonial influence, re-enacting our journey to self-worth and self-confidence as we navigate the throes of skin color, beauty, and body image. Read on to learn more and be sure to catch “History of the Body” at the Oakland Cultural Center on May 11th. 

Full Name: Aimee Suzara

City: Oakland, CA

Birthplace and Ethnicity: Filipino-American, born in NY, NY

Occupation: Poet, Playwright & Creative Writing professor

Website: www.aimeesuzara.net

How do you define “glamour”? 

Glamour to me is about owning yourself.  When you believe in yourself and your values, when you have integrity, when you know your purpose, you shine.  That’s the kind of glamour that exudes, no matter what you’re wearing or how much material wealth you have. 

What is your “WHY”? (Why do you do what you do?) 

I write and perform and teach because I know I’m here for those reasons.  Someone said to me, “you only really smile when you’re on stage!” and I looked at that photo - it was during a performance to students at a university - and I realized it was one of my most glowing smiles.  And I said, it’s because I’m speaking to students and sharing my passion - I’m in my element.  I feel that way when I perform, when I get my work staged, when I speak on issues like body image, identity, gender, sexuality, culture, and the power of the word; when I get a chance to help others turn their stories into works of art, to testify, to proclaim.  I smile in just that way because it brings me joy.  I think that when you find your joy, especially the kind that helps others, it is just this permeable, full-circle thing.  It’s like breathing.
 

Your Message to Young Women. 

Don’t ever be afraid to say your truth. There are still many forces that try to silence us - sometimes so insidious, so untraceable, we don’t know they are happening.  I’ve found my voice, but there are still many instances where I have to fight to be heard.  So I say speak, and know that your speaking may illuminate someone else’s truth.  It may allow someone else to break open.  We are mirrors, so when you speak to save your life, you are saving someone else’s too.  

In my current play, A HISTORY OF THE BODY, I’ve taken the stories of various women I’ve spoken to about skin color, beauty and body image, as well as my own; and I’ve created characters and a story - taking place largely in a beauty salon - and paired it with wonderful collaborators in dance, video and sound.  And I’ve been blessed to get this work commissioned and staged -next up May 11 in Oakland, CA.  In this work, I want people to engage with their own feelings about skin color - the histories we carry in our skin - the stories projected upon us by the media, by society.  I want audience members to walk away with many questions and conversations in their heads that they keep sharing.  So in that way, I want the theater experience to go on, and on. 

I hope some of you can check out the show, if you’re in the Bay Area: http://historyofbody.eventbrite.com, or if not, join the conversation at aimeesuzara.tumblr.com and @historyofbody on twitter.  We want to remind all of you - to Love the Skin You’re In.

To see Aimee live and in action, click HERE. 

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