Co-founder of Social Beans, a digital marketing agency primarily focused on the restaurant and hospitality industry

“In October of 2023 for Viva La Fiesta I wore my Belizean flag shirt. I was on my way out of the Park, actually I was leaving. I didn’t think anything else was gonna happen and I’m crossing the street, looking at MOCA and I hear from across the road, ‘Are you from Belize?’ I’m just looking, like who’s talking to me and it’s a girl and a man and they were from Belize. They invited me for taco night the next day. And that was it. I became great friends with Andrei & Xi who are best friends.

Ever since that we have monthly dinners, and just hangout. Last year we celebrated Xi’s 50th birthday in Belize together. I’m very very passionate about my home, but it’s very rare to meet other people of your culture. They also wanted to meet another Belizean so it’s been really fun. They’re a little bit older than me but we connected immediately just from wearing my flag and being in an environment that was culturally welcoming and diverse. And this all came about from Viva La Fiesta at James Weldon Johnson Park.”

Photos by Toni Smailagic