Samantha is a Puerto Rican, Nicaraguan-American based in NYC and Puerto Rico. She is a mother, artist, activist, blogger and lecturer. Her art explores the different emotions and thoughts that she has in her day-to-day life, specifically as a Hispanic, minority female growing up in New York City. She believes in using imperfections, mistakes and errors as a strength for self-growth inspiration and to build community. Joining in on the I Am Why workshop guided her transition from Artistic Noise’s Art and Entrepreneurship program to becoming an I Am Why consultant. Due to her interest in the organization, I Am Why developed the alumni-to-alumni program. Joining the I Am Why community feels like the next steps in her leadership and professional development.
I start getting ready It’s the baby’s first doctor's appointment today I hadn’t slept at all You are sound asleep I take a picture of the two males in my life that I “love” more than anything He flips over in his sleep and almost hits the baby I get in between I’m so...
Vivid Overturning, Samantha Cortez Although this wasn’t a positive inspiration, the first 24 hours of a post-Roe world is what gave me the spark to paint. When creating this piece, I couldn’t help but think of my son. I love my son and would do anything in my power to...
Now Now what What is being a woman Nearly 50 years of growth Nearly 50 years to be proud of Nearly 50 years gone How do I define myself now What is a woman I am courageous I will fight I won’t back down I won’t let Nearly 50 years go to waste When I was born I had...
I Am Why’s book opens a door… Ebony, one of I Am Why’s consultants, nominated me a while back to receive a dream reader copy of the I Am Why book, I Am Why Reclaiming the Lens. At that point I didn’t even know what the book was about or what I Am Why was. Dream reader...