Thirty years ago, the achiever in me went to Capitol Hill to master policy and politics. The artist in me was ready to explode in song and dance. As a congressional intern, participating in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Summer Internship Program, I imagined transforming the nation’s capital. Instead, I spent hours answering constituent letters—and secretly learned how to tap dance in a Congressman Alcee Hastings’ office. That summer was a testing ground. I discovered what it meant to be Cuban-American within the larger Latino experience, how government really works, and the truth that passion and self-expression must be pursued fiercely and unapologetically. Three decades later—during Hispanic Heritage Month—I find myself reflecting on that journey returning to DC to participate in the annual CHCI Conference and Gala. Today, I’m still at the intersection of activism and artistry, passion and purpose. At Fearless Communicators, we amplify voices across sectors—helping leaders step fully into their truth and share it with the world. The achiever thought politics was the path. The artist knew it was self-expression all along. Thirty years in the making. And I’m still speaking up and singing out - fearlessly! #HispanicHeritageMonth #Latinidad #FearlessCommunicators #Authenticity #Leadership #publicspeaking #entrepreneurship #storytelling #smallbusiness #impact