We’ve officially been in DC ELEVEN years!
Jan 7th, 2014.. wow dopefam. It’s always exciting to take a moment to reflect, especially as we welcome in this new year. We get to celebrate the day yours truly, chef dopeness moved across the country with a dollar and a dream. The journey has been juicy, I could literally write a whole book (but I’ll try to keep this short… try).
My DC journey started back in fall 2013 with an internship at CHCI—the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. This amazing, prestigious org gives brown kids across the country paid opportunities to work with Congress and other Latino leaders and trailblazers to build the next generation of Latino leaders. Life. Changing. It was also my ticket out of Colorado. Two weeks in, I knew I wasn’t going back. Nope, DC had my heart. 💕
Since then, the plot twists have been wild. I’ve:
- graduated. i finished my undergrad (online because I was too hype to wait after my internship). first-gen, babyy! 👩🏻🎓
- helped shape the next generation of over 80 Latin@ leaders while working closely with Congress. No big deal, just casually leaving my mark and returning the favor.
- dove into the small business & non-profit world, supporting Hispanic-owned businesses in the DC area on an all-women staff. It was my first big-girl job out of college at #GWHCC. When budget cuts let me go 9 months in, we didn’t crumble. Instead, we planted the seed for our first business that very weekend.
- hustled—barbering, waitressing my way through DC’s brunch and fine-dining scene, hosting for a high-profile online magazine, and teaching soca dance classes across the country helping my friend launch her business. #WhatDontSheDo
- dove head first into my passion for fitness, becoming a certified personal trainer, and changing lives and mindsets full-time at a couple local gyms, as well as online. Eventually said, “Why not?” and
- started my own fitness coaching biz and meal prep service. In four years, through many L’s, we turned it into a six-figure business. Worked with NFL and NBA players, donated over 5,000 meals in the DMV through the pandemic, and fueled countless people striving for their healthiest lives. We went from heels and blazers in federal buildings to slinging my meals for government employees. We’ve now expanded into the catering and events space. So excited for what 2025 has to offer.
And that’s not all, I’ve also:
- Competed in bodybuilding shows.
- Traveled the world.
- Became an auntie x3 (the best title! 🥰)
- Got my first tattoo (and a few more lol).
- Moved 11 times in 9 years. 😅
- Loved, lost, and found God in deeper ways. 🙏🏽
I always like to say the journey is what makes the story worth telling, and babyyy it’s been juicy. You couldn’t have told me 11 years ago that this is where I’d end up. I had other plans, but God? He had better ones.
Do I always know what I’m doing? Nope. But I do know this: I’ll always figure it out. Life has shown me over and over again that even when I trip over my own feet (which I do a lot, and then start dancing lol) I still come out on top.
Gracias a Dios for always holding me down. 🙏🏽
Happy 11 years, DC. It’s only up from here. <3
To whoever needs to hear this: Take the leap. You deserve to live your wildest dreams. The journey might be wild, but trust me—it’s worth it. 💛✨
Happy 11 years, DC. It’s only up from here! Stay dope, mi gente.
– Chef Dopeness
