Writings
Books
My first book is A History of Little Havana, co-authored with Cuban-American sociologist Dr. Guillermo Grenier. It is the first in-depth book on this famous Miami neighborhood, and it is very much a “people’s history” that is more inclusive than oft-told “single stories” about Little Havana.
I am currently seeking a publisher for my second book, which is based on more than a decade of research (including ethnographic and archival research). This book is a global-local history of Little Havana’s Latin Quarter and its Calle Ocho arts and heritage district, tentatively titled, Altaring Whiteness: Race, Politics and Magic in Little Havana and Beyond.
TerraViva Blog
Nostalgia for Places of the Past
In September of 2024, I moved back to my childhood home -- not the house, but the community of Western Massachusetts where I grew up. I haven't lived here for decades, but it was time to come back, to spend time with my aging parents, and to have an anchor before I...
Moving Away
It's hard to describe the feeling of moving away. I've moved from Miami before--during COVID-19--but last year I moved back to the city. This year, I moved away again. It wasn't the same city as I remembered--of course. The traffic was a lot worse, and the rents sky...
The Garden: Digging into Stories
In my neighborhood’s community garden, we share the tasks, work together, and share the day’s harvest. This is how we cultivate a spirit of community.
River Journeys & Lessons
Oftentimes we use the metaphor of the “path” to describe our personal journeys, as if we are forging a path through a wild world, making our way alone. Yet the river reminds us of our interconnectedness.