Latinx Heritage Month: Adriana Alcaraz

Everyone has a story… an aspect of my story is that I am a Latina.  Being Latina means being diverse, seeing things through a different perspective, embracing who I am and sharing my culture with those who I meet along the way. 

Seeing the struggles my parents faced to give my sisters and I better opportunities, has made me always feel incredibly thankful.  I’m thankful for the cultural aspects they have passed on to me, such as being able to speak both English and Spanish. I started translating for my family since I was a kid at my grandfather’s doctor appointments, for my dad’s business, at the grocery store, at all of my parent-teacher conferences throughout elementary school.  As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that being bilingual is a gateway that gives me a deeper connection to my heritage and community. 

To Latinos, family means everything.  Family ties are strong in Mexican culture and family plays a central role in our lives.  Personally, for any holiday or just a Sunday get-together, having 20+ family members is pretty darn normal.  We observe certain cultural traditions around the holidays and Easter, we socialize and catch up on the latest family “chisme”, we share accomplishments, defeats and dreams.  My close-knit family provides me with a network of security and support, particularly in times of need.  No matter where we are, no matter what happens, family comes first. 

Holiday gatherings and special celebrations are on a whole different level.  Celebrations are vibrant, decorative, colorful, full of laughter, warm embraces, music, dancing, an abundant amount of delicious food (I mean a lot) and plenty of alcoholic beverages.  We pre-celebrate, celebrate and post-celebrate… It’s when I’m surrounded by family and friends at these celebrations when I feel the most happy. 

My sense of place is somewhere in between two cultures and it’s pretty unique.  Working at Deckers during the week, then taking a shift at my parent’s Mexican restaurant on some weekends, listening to 80’s at work and then driving home to Reggaeton, quizzing my kids on U.S. state capitals and switching to Spanish the next minute telling them to get their stuff ready for soccer practice.  It’s enriching for me to be immersed in two cultures.  It feels right.  It’s who I am.

I’ve shared some highlights, but I’ve faced very real challenges and eye-opening experiences as a result of being a first-generation Latina.  I’ve had to navigate through a system that wasn’t made for people like me.  I’ve been underestimated, misunderstood and faced certain hurdles, but these experiences have only made me persist regardless of the challenges I’ve encountered along the way.  It’s beautiful being diverse, it’s beautiful to live your story regardless of your background or ethnicity. 

Adriana

Latinx Heritage Month: Marilyn Garita

As a proud Catracha (coming from one of the most beautiful shore’s of Tela, Honduras) and 1st U.S generation graduate, I am honored to share the story of my family who continue to add to their legacy through our learnings and experiences. There resiliency and hard work ethic in both their native country and here in a land that has been their home for over 35 years, has shown dedication of love, hope and promise. There journey (like so many) was not easy, coming to a new country, learning a new language and even picking up a few more on the way.

What my parents faced when coming to the United States, is what many immigrants face to this day. Learning a new culture, language and history. Facing discrimination in the workplace, harsh conditions and low wages. My parents worked hard and continued to sacrifice to be able to give my siblings the opportunity to have an education and learn a language that they could bring to any country in the world.

A few memories stick out the most to me as moments that shaped my growth. I learned the meaning of hard work at such a young age and I wouldn’t have it any other way. All my friends would share stories about their summer vacations of being on the beaches while mine consisted of going to Honduras to stay with my grandparents for those few months. Learning how to farm (mostly eating all the fruits- especially rambutans), plant and haggle prices alongside my grandfather who was an ecologist and my grandmother who owned several businesses. I grew to love it and never wanted to come back home at the end of each summer. I learned the beauty of living in the moment, appreciating how to growing my own food and learning different perspectives of life.

Another memory that has stuck with me was doing elementary homework with my mother and teaching her English as I learned it myself. My grandparents have always pushed education on their daughters and being the middle child, my mother naturally gravitated towards teaching. Before immigrating to NY in the 80’s, my mother was a schoolteacher who taught grades 1-4, she became a homeowner fresh out of college, and a mother of two. Although she was living a comfortable life, her decision to come to NY was based on giving her two little ones a chance to achieve growth in a new world. It’s something that to this day that I will always admire and appreciate my father for supporting her in her dream to continue teaching and eventually growing into the medical field.

My favorite memory was seeing the value in family dinners because we could not have them often. My mother and older sister taught me at a young, how to make our favorite homey dishes. I remember my father coming home from a long day’s work on the road and seeing the physical sacrifices he made to ensure our family was taken care of. It was very different from his life in Honduras, studying his last year as a Resident in Med school before giving up that dream and coming to NYC. The one sure way I could show my family love was through food. My ultimate favorite is still Baleadas- homecooked flour tortillas stuffed with refried beans and other goodies.

My family taught me sacrifice, humility and seeing the pure love and hope in all that we work for. Most importantly being kind to others and their stories. Below I’ve shared my favorite recipe to show you the love we share in our household.

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 8 servings

Tortillas:

1 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
1 Egg
½ teaspoon salt

Filling:

2 cups refried beans, warmed- best if made freshly boiled and then blended
1 avocado, sliced 
½ cup crumbled queso fresco (fresh white cheese)
¼ cup crema fresca (fresh cream)

Directions

Mix flour, water, vegetable oil, egg, and salt in a large bowl; knead until dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
Form the dough into 8 golf ball-sized balls. Cover and let rest, about 20 minutes.
Stretch each ball of dough into a thick tortilla. Nice and round in the palm of hand and then stretch outward.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook each tortilla until browned and lightly puffed, about 1 minute per side.
Layer refried beans, avocado, and queso fresco over tortillas. Drizzle crema on top; fold tortillas in half over filling. The rounder the tortilla, the more you can stuff in!
Add scramble eggs, chorizo or even steak slices for a heartier baleada!

Rambutans from my 101 grandpa’s farm.

Tortillas from my favorite spot in NYC

In my happy place with a tortilla in hand!

Medico Rivera y Profesora Rivera

Latinx Heritage Month: Michelle Guzman

It’s dark outside and I’m up earlier than normal for a walk to reflect on what to share for Latinx Heritage Month. Somewhere in the shuffle of gathering my things I accidently speed-dial my mom then quickly text her to apologize for waking her up. Within seconds she replies “Te caiste de la cama otra vez?” (You fell out of the bed again?). Her silly little sayings always make me smile.

My name is Michelle Guzman and I am a proud Mexican American daughter of immigrant parents. My parents left Guadalajara, Mexico to come to the U.S. when they were 19 years old. I grew up in a Spanish-speaking house in Los Angeles where my mamá cooks delicious food and my papá brings home my favorite pan dulces. I attended bilingual class through the 5^th grade. Although it has taken me years to consider “ESL” an opportunity, I am grateful to have grown up speaking, reading and writing in Spanish and English. The Spanish language connects me to my culture.

I celebrate Latinx Heritage Month to honor mi gente and our beautiful cultures. This month amplifies the life that I live every day. We make tamales, salsas, and pozole. We bake flan on holidays. We play Lotería and go to our favorite Mexican markets. We celebrate Dia de los Muertos and sing “Las Mañanitas” on family birthdays. Of course we love piñatas, mariachi, and dancing to our favorite songs.

Being Mexican American blends cultures and encourages me to cross boundaries. I go to Mexico to see my family and understand where I came from. Life would be so much different had I grown up there. I take photos when I travel to capture and share the beauty and spirit of my culture.

I am so proud and lucky to work for Deckers—a company that truly encourages the celebration of culture and diversity. Feliz Latinx Heritage Month!

Latinx Heritage Month: Gabriel Pacheco

Question:
Given the pandemic and national reckoning on racial injustice, does celebrating this year take on a new meaning?

Answer:
Given the current state of the country, Latinx Heritage Month does mean something way different than ever before.
I am grateful that I was born into a rich culture and being born and raised in California I have always been surrounded by mi gente. (My people)
I have always felt I’ve had a home away from home, regardless of where in California I may be.
Elders will almost always address me as “mijo”(my son), making me feel like we have a deeper connection, despite meeting for the first time ever.
Any Mexican restaurant I walk into reminds me of home because the very distinct smells of foods being cooked in the kitchen, but still never as good as home.

With all that being said, I have seen the negative aspects of my culture, and as much as I want to celebrate it’s time to come to terms with what we have not addressed within my culture.

Colorism exists. Mexicans and Mexican Americans will be the first to notice and make a comment on how dark someone’s skin tone is and typically seen as lesser than someone with lighter skin.
Sexism and being anti-gay are alive and well. Men tend to disrespect and undermine women’s accomplishments. Hypermasculinity is almost encouraged in order to avoid the possibility of anyone thinking they might be gay or be perceived as gay. Disrespecting LGBTQIA+ rights and not giving a voice to the community.
Mental health is a taboo. To most Mexican Americans we don’t discuss mental health, when it is brought up it’s usually perceived as weakness.
Lack of support to other races. As we see an increase in police brutality on Black Americans we fail to stand up and say it’s wrong unless it’s someone of Latin descent. Older generations will make unapologetic stereotypes on all races outside our own.

Until we learn to dismantle colorism, respect women, take mental health seriously, stand up for other races outside of our own, and learn to love and appreciate the LGBTQIA+ community, I can’t celebrate.
Celebration will come when we can create an inclusive environment for future generations.

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month: Blanca Hernandez

For me Latinx Heritage month is a time of reflection, celebration of my Mexican culture and time to pay to tribute to those who have significantly played a role in cultivating who I am. This is a time where I pause and acknowledge all the struggles my family has gone through in order to pave the way for the next generations. My parents immigrated from Mexico to the United States in the late 60’s in pursuit of a better quality of life and opportunity for their children. I know the incredible sacrifices they have made in immigrating to this country not knowing any English yet raising a family, becoming U.S. citizens and teaching us the meaning of strong work ethic at an early age. They have shaped me into the person I am today and everything I do is to make them proud.

I am the youngest of three daughters and first-generation American; born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, I am proud to be Mexican American. Growing up with a big Mexican family; making food was always at the heart and center of all our family gatherings—and some of my fondest memories. As a little girl I loved hanging around the kitchen watching my mom and tias (aunties) preparing our favorite Mexican dishes and listening to their stories as they cooked. The nostalgia of eating my mother’s famous chicken mole with the tortillas she handmade are the memories I savor the most. During the holidays, it was expected to have all hands-on deck to help make the tamales in time for Christmas Eve—a tradition my mother introduced to my own daughters in the hopes to carry on. Some of the ways I plan to celebrate Latinx Heritage month is by supporting local Latinx restaurants and watching some of my favorite movies: “Like Water for Chocolate” and “Cesar Chavez” because it reminds me of the passion around cooking in my family and also the struggles they have endured.

The lessons my parents have taught me is to work hard and always be proud of my Mexican heritage and never to lose sight of where I came from. This is why I am so proud to work for a company like Deckers who shares this philosophy and motivates employees to bring their “authentic selves” to work and gives us a platform to celebrate our differences and embrace diversity.

-Blanca Hernandez

EID Team Spotlight: Daalia Refaat

Meet Daalia Refaat!

Daalia is a leader of our Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity Team at Deckers Brands.

How do you empower others around you?

By challenging them to take risks and to be bold without letting self-doubt hold them back.

What changes in the industry excite you most (I.e. diversity, equity, & inclusion, sustainability, etc.)?

Diversity, equity & inclusion and the emphasis companies are starting to place on the importance of these principles in the workplace. It’s a sea change from when I first started practicing as a lawyer and was often one of the only women in the room. Organizations are starting to realize that focusing on DE&I is not only the right thing to do, but something their customers are demanding.

How do you challenge stereotypes and misconceptions?

I grew up in a city where my background was different from most everyone else I knew, so I was always having to explain why my family did things “differently” than most. By observing how my dad navigated these situations, I learned to meet people where they are without being offended or getting defensive. Every conversation was a chance to change someone’s perception of what it meant to be Arab and to have been raised Muslim and in turn, challenge those individuals to see the world through a different lens. Never doubt the impact one individual can have in changing how someone else sees a whole group of people.

EID Team Spotlight: Bella Vaughan

Meet Bella Vaughan!

Bella is a member of our Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity Team at Deckers Brands.

How do you empower others around you?

By being vulnerable and forthcoming. It’s important to not only create an environment of trust but to ensure that advocacy is at the forefront of every action. Togetherness is our company’s greatest strength. When our roots are connected, our growth is bountiful.

What changes in the DEI industry excite you most?

Companies being held accountable and forced to have a more conscious mind around the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. A shift that’s been long overdue. It’s important that we fight for equal pay, for more representation, for accountability, for compassion and respect for one another as individuals.

How do you challenge stereotypes and misconceptions?

Through raising awareness to the conflicts and damaging history associated with those stereotypes and misconceptions. There’s a lot of unpacking that has to happen to truly change culture. We have to challenge and champion for each other to rid ourselves of unconscious biases and behaviors.

EID Team Spotlight: Ludivine Rugard

Meet Ludivine!

Ludivine is a member of our Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity Team at Deckers Brands

How do you empower others around you?

By truly listening to people, showing interest in their stories and being honest. Creating a safe environment where people feel that they can be themselves is key to their empowerment.

What changes in the industry excite you most (I.e. diversity, equity, & inclusion, sustainability, etc.)?

The growing awareness around topics such as inclusion and equity. The numerous statements from companies make me hope that we are at a turning point in the fight against racial injustice within the industry and beyond. Many companies have committed to change and the society will held them accountable for their words and actions.

How do you challenge stereotypes and misconceptions?

By never shying away from challenging conversations whether being with friends, family and/or colleagues. I remind people of the many parts of History that they tend to forget or didn’t get taught at school. To raise historical consciousness helps to educate people about their stereotypes and misconceptions.

Growing up Being Mexican American

I am proud of the country I was born in, but I am also proud of my Mexican roots; I am a first generation American. I’m Kind of like that saying, “Made in America with Mexican parts.” Both of my parents were immigrants in this country before becoming American Citizens but that doesn’t change the fact that they were illegal immigrants when they first arrived. My parents crossed the boarder into this country to be able to create a better life for themselves and eventually for us and that’s exactly what they did. Somehow two people with no formal education were able to put their 2 daughters into private schools and see them both off to college. With hard work and dedication my parents were able to give us the American dream but also gave us the gift of loving our roots and where we came from. Through stories and my personal experiences while going back to Mexico every December for an entire month to be with family were key to shaping my appreciation and love for the culture that made me ME. And trust me when I say I am blessed to be a part of a huge family (I am one of 63 grand kids on my mother’s side) something I came to appreciate even more after my mom passed from cancer over 13 years ago.

In the 12.5 years that I have been here at Deckers I have tried to honor who I am (a 1st generation American and a child of a parent who died of cancer) through events I’ve helped head up like Relay for Life and our annual Fiesta events. Even through simple costumes during our Halloween celebrations at Deckers I’ve tried to highlight my Mexican culture by dressing up in different versions of Día De Los Muertos outfits. I love when people ask me where I get my inspiration so I can tell them about my mom and my culture. This is my way of honoring my roots and the person that gave me the love of those roots!

Through Relay for Life for years I’ve been a part of a Team that has helped raise thousands of dollars to help our local American Cancer Society and Cancer patients, something I know my mom would be proud of. Through our Fiesta events where we have sold tacos, margaritas, chips and salsa we have also raised money for two children hospitals and the ACS, but have also brought a little bit of our culture to share with Deckers employees and that’s what is really important to me. To share the love of different cultures at a place that has provided so much to me, makes it easy for me to say that Deckers is my other “Familia”.

-Elvia Lopez

Black Lives Matter.

Letter from CEO, Dave Powers

Deckers Family,

I write today with a heavy heart. While I do not personally know what it is like to see the lives of family or those who look like me threatened daily, I ache for all of those feeling pain, rage, fear, anger, helplessness, exhaustion, defeat, and more. Our Black colleagues, friends and families have carried this weight for far too long and I am deeply sorry for the injustice they continue to encounter, living without the fundamental sense of safety that many of us experience daily through our privilege – whether going for a run, sitting in our homes, or simply speaking our minds. They are excluded.

The death of George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers who did nothing as he told them he couldn’t breathe, as he begged them to stop, has been yet another painful reminder that our society is systemically unjust and values the lives of people of color differently than white lives. The reminders are constant: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery… and these are only in the last several weeks. There are countless more names, microaggressions, and other overt and covert acts that are tragically commonplace.

Enough is enough. We can no longer ignore what’s happening because it makes us uncomfortable. We can’t pretend racism doesn’t exist, or that it doesn’t touch our communities. Because it does. And we each have an obligation to show up. We have to stand up. We have to transfer the benefits of our privilege to those who lack it. We have to learn how to be allies.

Advocating for change starts with empathy and listening—with open hearts and minds. And it continues when we educate ourselves and our children, learning how to amplify the voices of those who do not have the same privilege. I know I have a lot to learn and, more importantly, unlearn – things that I have been taught because of the existing structures. I want to lean in, become a better ally, and help.

This weekend my family and I attended the protest march in LA and the march at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. It was sobering and powerful. We went to show support for George Floyd and so many others who have been tragic victims of the systemic racism that plagues our society. But, more importantly, I went so that I could raise awareness for my children and lead by example.

It has never felt more important for me to categorically insist that Deckers is an anti-racist organization. Our core values stand and will continue to guide us – we are better together and it is critical that we take an active stance against racism, discrimination, and intolerance in any form. Over the coming days, you will be hearing more from me and our PX team about the steps we are starting to take in support of our commitment to these principles. These include creation of a virtual discussion space and memorial for employees who would like to share, cope, grieve, and learn, training on how to be an ally and anti-racist, corporate donations to organizations that are committed to systemic change, and additional resources to support employee mental wellness.

Please check on your Black friends, loved ones and colleagues today – whether or not they are sharing with us directly, the weight is real and should not be carried alone. Our Employee Assistance Program is also available to Deckers employees.

It’s imperative to me that Deckers is a place where everyone feels seen and heard, welcomed to be their best selves, and where we actively create a culture in which racism and discrimination have no place. We will use our platforms to raise awareness and do our part to help create lasting and systemic change. The Executive Leadership Team and I are committed to doing better every day and I ask that each of you consider how you can do the same. We will move forward together.

Dave

#BetterTogether

#BlackLivesMatter