119: Doctorahood and All of Its Brown Mujer Magia With Dra. Lorena Marquez

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Welcome, everyone to the Grad School Femtoring Podcast. I am really excited today because I have a guest who I feel like it's a long time coming for this episode and that's how I'm just can't wait to have this conversation with her. We're going to have a conversation all about Doctorahood and all of its brown mujer magia so if that brings anything to mind for you, you already know who this person is.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Our guest today is Doctora Lorena Marquez. She is the creatress of dinner con doctoras. If you've participated great. If you haven't, you gotta check it out because there are more of them coming up. She's also the director of Cal State LA's Cross Cultural Centers, and previously worked on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona for over 16 years in multiple roles, including the Office of Student Success in the Division of Academic Affairs, where she developed a transfer sending culture with community college partners, and the transfer receptive culture. So Doctora Marquez is also a first gen Chicana feminist scholar practitioner. She uses frameworks of critical race theory and lat crit theory to center her work on intersectionality, access, student success and equity. Doctora Marquez uses an asset based lens to create inclusivity for Latinx parents and students throughout the K through 20 educational pipeline. Welcome to the podcast, Doctora Lorena Marquez.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Thank you, thank you. Yeah, I was saying that I sound so cool.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

You are. That's why I got a little nervous during the intro? It's a cool person right here.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Reminder, you know, I think sometimes we forget, like all that we've done, cuz just we're busy doing what we're doing that you know, the impact can be just so small, a small smile or small encounter. But then also just like putting yourself out there also helps to create like shifts and changing that's super important. And so when I think about hearing that, it makes me think about like yeah, I've done a lot. I'm a chingona in my own right in terms of just like even the dinner con doctoras and just really getting back on the band though. Whatever they bandwagon. No, I don't know but I think like you know, I will I will I will say from that bio a very very more, the most important identity is I just became a first time mom too so it just saw something around calling it a mamiposa like a so I call myself a mamiposa mommytrepreneur but I think that that role is still so ever changing for me that is interesting to see that you know impacts just how I show up in all that I've done but then also why I do what I do it just has a different purpose now.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

There's so many intersections to that the role of mother and the care work that you do and the service work and yeah, there's that tie in so mamiposa that's that's perfect.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I think it's trademarked by Latinx Parenting or something? Latinx therapy.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, Latinx parenting? Priscilla from I think like Latinx therapy or parenting.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

I can always look it up and put it in the in the show notes. Right? Yes, mamiposa. I you know, mompreneur motherscholar, you name it. We're mommies. Yes. Um, so for the folks who maybe do not know about you and your background, I would love to hear a little bit more about your back your backstory. So you can tell tell us a little bit about who you are your personal and professional trajectory, and basically how you got to the place where you are today?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah. That's a lot. I think, you know, the first thing that comes to mind when I think about where I'm at, is my parents. My parents are you know, immigrants from Mexico state of Jalisco for anyone from Jalisco.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

What part of Jalisco?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

A little rancho in South de los Marquez, so a little bit close to Colotlan Zacatecas. So near there. But I, I feel like even as I hear my research, it's around just like you know, who I became, is because of them, but also who I'm becoming is, is all the education that I sought, you know, and I think as a little girl, you know, I always remember being very quiet, very shy. And I would tell people that even now I tell people as I do presentations for over like, you know, 600 students for orientation or talk to vice presidents and presidents like an advocate, I still am very innately shy.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

But I say that because it's a gift, you know, I think it was part of like my gift and sense of being in tune with people. And I've just been in tune with people, but into people's like, hearts and their desires and their purposes. And I think with, with that, you know, being able to experience that as a child, just watching people and really paying attention to them, I felt like that, that then developed into my ability to just, you know, want to stay connected to people and to places. I was an avid reader as a child, like, I don't know, if anyone remembers that Pizza Hut. You know, if you, you read a certain amount of books, you get like a button and stickers, and then you get a free little small panel. I was all about that, you know, but in reading, I was able to, like discover new worlds and places and, and then, you know, through undergrad, I was able to get into leadership positions on campus.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And my first conference as a student student conference, as an undergrad was in Utah was at Utah, you know, like, I remember thinking, like, oh, like, what do I know about Utah, and just just exploring, like, the places that different people, you know, occupied, and who they really were based off of what I read or what I saw, but also knowing that, like, there's more to it, right, there's more to each individual. And so, but that's what just like, you know, pushed my creative, academic nerd power into, like full existence, being able to just understand that there's more to everyone than what we see. And then just always, always, always just being creative and asking lots of questions.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I think that that has helped me see, like, there's gaps, you know, then when I started my doctoral program, they talked about this gaps. I mean, the first time I learned about critical race theory, in terms of a term was in my doctoral program, but that's the way I thought all my life, right in terms of just like, the lens that I saw, I was the brownest in my family, I have curly, dry, frizzy hair, I always mentioned Selena was a huge part of like, being able to see myself and not see my and know that I hadn't seen myself in beauty magazines. And, you know, that shapes who you become right, it shapes who you know, to advocate for, because you're almost advocating for yourself.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And so I think with Doctorahood, the beginnings of that was really about, you know, seeing that there was not a lot of us. But then even those that existed, at least my experience, there wasn't like a whole been a handout to help push the next people the next move ahead is to now next, from his forward, my experience was unfortunate, a lot of like, I went through it, you have to to and so I just didn't see that as that's just not who I was, who I am. And so I needed to create in and you know, the creation also happened around the time when, you know, 45 got into office, and I think many of us got into our creative spirits and developed a way to just be seen until so counter what we receive in the national news.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I was going to ask you a couple of follow up, I was gonna ask you like, when did this get started? Was there some sort of impetus or catalyst like some shaping moment, formative moment that led you to think, aha, like, I need to, like, provide support? And also what does Doctorahood mean to you? How do you define it? You know, how has it developed over time?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I feel like I've given I haven't given it my all. But I think that that is okay. And I think when it started, it was actually 52 weeks rising. So handle it after two weeks rising. And it was because of the 2016 elections. And just like almost my messaging of every single week, right? 52 weeks in a year, we will rise and it was for women of color. So it was like women of color messaging and highlighting. I think it would go all the way down that all all that stuff still is there. But then it developed into just who I was and who I was around and finishing right so my doctoral program because of this a family accident as well. It was just my parents were in the hospital, my sister lost her husband.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

You know, we had a tragedy and I think when tragedy happens, you also start realizing like wow, like what do you what are you doing, you know, with your life and what's your purpose and so I feel like I was able to just take all the dark. Ironically I'm in the dark, for those that will be on YouTube, and try to provide some light, you know, trying to do the countering of that. I think when we talk about the academic sense of countering the counter narrative and storytelling, right, that's the counter to what has been created for us.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I too was like, okay, what am I going to create in order to uplift, uplift them to create some, some good in the world, because there is good. And I think there was a time, you know, very much reason why, but we're just all really negative. And so I wanted to counter that. And so, naturally, 52 weeks rising, became doctorahood. Because I finished, I had to take some time away from my dissertation writing and complete completing that, because of the, my family tragedy. But I finished and I, and I knew that it was important to then like, show that off, you know, and silver first, the first thing was like, me as a marketer, through and through, I understood the importance of like visibility. And so I created the photo stickers and literally posted it on the Latinas completing doctoral degrees on the Facebook group.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

That's when I first heard about doctorahood and heard your name, actually.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, I mean, you know, the founder this year, like, I mean, she's created a network of heads who definitely are just like, pushing each other, pushing each other. And I think I just was like, here's a sticker, like, you know, cost me like minimal to make so many stickers, I want more tourists to show up. And so, and it was looked at, I was very purposeful, because I am not a, you know, doctor felt so disconnected from like, why I went to my to get my doctor, right. It was for my mom and dad, it was for my community, my my language, my culture. And so all that was very intentional in terms of the continuing to develop visibility, right. So when I talked about cylinder like I felt seen, so you know, how do I handle not just I feel seen being this the daughter who is, you know, the smallest percentage possible, but also I because I'm privileged to have this education. I also know many doctoras, right? So I'm like, there's a lot of us, you know, there's a lot of us, but there isn't right.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

It's funny because when you are in it, it feels like there's a lot of us, but on the outside, it's actually like, it's very few.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, yeah, yes, I just wanted to be able to really highlight that and give it a like, ask for people who ever wanted a free sticker. And it was just the postage stamp and, and then started to build, you know, asked for emails, just because I know the importance of collecting emails, in terms of marketing, and then just started slowly to build in that way. I mean, everything was done just sometimes on impulse, like, oh, I have this idea and take this picture of the sticker and post it on Instagram and see who, who likes it or posted on like, the group, the Facebook group, and, and then I just started, you know, I think with my academic, brain, my logical, I feel like I go back and forth from being able to, like, accomplish goals and, and make sure that I'm, I'm thinking about the collective. I started kind of paying attention to the gap of what what women were seeing, when they when I asked, why do you want the sticker and just so that I can, so I can, I'm one of the few in my program where I want to be able to, like, be reminded, and so so then that's when I was like, wait, let me make some let me make a shirt. And I made a shirt, and it just sat in my closet forever.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And then I finally, you know, the launch point, I feel like of doctorahood really was when NASPA was NASPA, march 2018. I believe it when it was at LA, and I said, You know what? I'm wearing this shirt. I did my presentation on my research had a full house of folks that just resonated with, you know, parental engagement. And I feel like it's chcanx Latinx parental engagement, but it's parallels right people of colors parental involvement. And not all I mean, I have to be understanding of that as well. But it was a full house and my parents and parents and other parents, it was a collaboration with other folks, but we're the ones that were actually speaking.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

So I did a quick like run through my research, but then we heard from the parents and you know, there was a lot of tears in the audience. And that was then and I was wearing my doctora shirt and that was when I said, tweet it post it, wear it right and I started to I started to sell the shirt as a way of, you know, just making sure that it would get out there and I think that weekend, you know, maybe you got like five people who who, who requested and bought a shirt, but you know the first person that bought it like she was out in the East Coast. And so it was already like, wow, like, there's this need, right? There's this want to be able to say like, I'm I'm going to finish because she hadn't finished. But yeah, I guess it was just like, you know, knowing my own network, knowing my own interest in being able to like create representation and highlight, it was kind of where it started. And then, you know, dinner con doctoras was something else that I feel like.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

That's what I was gonna say. I was like, Well, wait, hold on, hold on, like, at what point did dinner dinner with doctoras come to fruition?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I think I mean, I think it was that same year, April 2018. And I used to have birthday months, and I say used to because now as a mother, like, I wish I just slightly celebrate my birthday on the day. But, um, and I'll get back to that. I know, I will get back to those just the seasons, right. But I do feel like it was just again, like, somewhat of like, you just have to try, you just have to do it. You just have to see who comes through. And so I just put it as part of one of my April birthday month events is like dinner con doctoras anyone want to want to show up? And five women came that day and we met up in Highland Park. That was the first dinner conducted us and posted it on the Facebook again, the Facebook group, and a lot of women just resonated with like when's the next one who's doing this? What about someone in Miami? And so I just saw the need, and then posted made more. So I made more happen. And it was like this was like a West Coast tour almost, that I did, like in different campuses and just across the state. And and women were just like, I can just tell that there was a need to be in community with each other.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And then I created the toolkit. So because people were asking me, are you gonna do one in Chicago? And I'm like, can you send me to Chicago? Yeah. But I also knew, like, like, nothing stays with me, it wasn't about me. And so it was really about just like empowering other women to just do it. And it's simple, right? Just find a spot, a local spot. I mean, I encourage a woman of color own spot restaurant, and, and put a flier together. And I even had like a fire template that I would share, just to make it as easy as possible. And before I knew it, you know, there was at least 20 to 30 dinner con doctoras that popped up across the nation. And I think that for me, that was that was just me paying attention to the gap, you know, talk about the research is just paying attention to the gap.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And when you ask me like, What is doctorahood, you know, I don't know if I completely knew when I started what it was, but it really is about like that collective community care. The ability to say, like, come on through, I have the door wide open for you, it reminds me of like, you know, a tupac video about when someone's hungry, and they're asking for food. And they just like, first they asked, and then they knock and then they tear down the door. It's like, I never want to be the person that's like a gatekeeper, right, I want to be someone that's completely open and available and accessible with boundaries, you know, gotta learn those boundaries. So to help others, like reach their potential too. And I think in doing the work that I did with undergrad students for so long, and student support services, just became the next step, the next level of like, how to do it for, you know, grad students who had us that were in grad programs, and to show visibility to those that have master's or were getting masters at this is the next step.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Because the beautiful thing about higher ed, is that, you know, we can get our bachelors and our masters, but it doesn't have to end there. And but I'm also very honest about like, making sure it's what fits for you, right, everyone needs to have their doctorate. And so I think that the dinner con doctoras the creation of those just helped for many more heads to come together and dinner con doctoras really like was then what helped create the future doctora sticker to ensure visibility, because then it's about that aspirational capital, right, like, able to tap into like I too want to be able to be a doctora, that was part of their path. And that actually came through a dinner con doctoras in Pomona. When I had like, former students, student social justice leaders that worked for me come and we're like, what about us, you know, that we're not like, you know, they're either younger and but they had aspirations to maybe receive their PhD or EdD. And so, yeah, the future doctora was basically doctora and then just add future on top.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

But the future the future text is connected to the future is female, the font is connected to that. So, you know, there's always like connection to, I guess what I do, I am very like strategic. And I think in my marketing, I've been able to just, you know, try to understand people, whatever, whatever that means in terms of people, obviously, the work I do, as the director of the cross cultural centers, the many different layers of who people who we are. But also then in this space, you know, I mean, it's, it's not, it's not a side hustle, it's really a passion passion of mine, to be able to just pour into people and to let them see their amazingness. And I think too often, especially as people of color, and more precisely women of color, we aren't given those kinds of affirmations growing up, even from our own community and families. And so I just wanted to be able to tap into that. And do more of that. And it's, I feel like, I feel like I continue to do a little bit in my own way, my own pace, but then, you know, being able to see mujeres like, I mean, I've sat on dissertation committees now because of it right? And to see mujeres just thrive and do their thing. I mean, I think Latinas with Masters, my first podcast ever. No, no, that was my second, was with, from what Christina?

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Christina Rodriguez, Yeah.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And, and, you know, just, yeah, academic mujeres the partnership that her and I have, we will text each other about life, you know, and I think that academic mommy, and just, you know, it's like I say these handle names, but they're all mujeres. And I think that, you know, even you the work that you're doing, is just so important that we, we continue to create, in our own way, for what is needed, you know, and I think that, like you said, this was long time coming, but no, we've been, we've been watching each other, supporting each other. And to me that that's like.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Folks don't know it's been so long.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

That's a model. You know, I think doctorahood, it's like collective care. It is about like, how do we show up and model how we should all be with each other in terms of support, and not just in the higher ed realm? Obviously, that's the area that we focus on. But I think, you know, it shows up in just how we care for ourselves, how we care for our families. And then just to also remind us, because some days, it gets hard, when I'm not able to post I mean, there's some of there's someone who's out there, they're like on Latina grad guide. I mean, shout out to her. So many, right.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

There are so many. I can barely keep up. I'm like, trying to invite folks over. And I'm like, there's so many folks doing really good work.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah. And to me like that. I know that like, you know, the OG veterana was Mari, right. And I felt like, maybe there was two or three and then it just kind of, because because she because she did something than we were allowed to. So let's give it a try in our own way. And I think that, you know, women definitely just need to support continue to support each other in that way.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Yeah, it's really incredible. When I look back at just the last couple of years since I've become a mom, I became a mom eight years ago, and was part of a collective called Chicana motherwork. And at that time, when we started doing work on mothers of color in academia, there wasn't a lot of literature and there weren't a lot of collectives. And there wasn't this big, like, boom of folks sharing, and claiming their identities and being proud and putting stuff up on social media. So it felt very isolating. And now I feel like everywhere I look, there's more and more folks showing up and I love it. I think it's what we need because people relate to us in different ways, shapes and forms and we can you know, build community together. Yeah, so as I'm like, I've it's been a long time coming I've been wanting to have you on because I feel like there's so much there's so many parallels with the work that you do and I also want you to share the message of brown mujer magia, and yeah, no, that's that's another term.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I got chills when you asked me that because I think of like even the evolution of that like I started with brown girl magia and that was I think before my daughter and then brown mujer magia to me. So Brown Girl Magia is about like, what are we doing for our little ones right and celebrating their magia but then also like not forgetting ourselves as mothers sometimes we forget ourselves and so have, you know the importance of being able to like uplift ourselves in order for them the brown girl magia to, to also grow and to develop into, you know, these mujeres with with their magia and magia is whatever it is that makes you you. And I think I just wanted to be able to like, you know, pay, pay my respects to, you know, black girl magic, black, black girl joy black like I mean, I have read so much and have been informed by so many black women, that it's important to be able to say that, you know, what you need modeled also comes from others.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And often times, we forget to say like, acknowledgement of like what we read, you know, and who has informed our thoughts or ideologies, our ability to like, think critically, you know, and I think for me, when I think about brown mujer magia you know, it's like women of color, right? But I think it doesn't, it doesn't just say, Latinx, Chicanx, identities, but really, it's just a collective, a collective, like, seen who we are, and also asking for yourself to show up no matter what, you know, I think that, um, when I was in athletics, it was a lot of white men that were occupying the space. And oftentimes I had opportunities where I would share this magical idea, and it was ignored, and then it was shared, like minutes later, and it was the most amazing, you know, idea. And so I know that that exists. And I don't want I want us to focus on, I know that that exists. So I but I want us to focus on our magia you know, and to continue to, like practice it.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

When I was little because of my curly, frizzy hair. It's, it's funny, right? But like, I had some cousins that would call me and my sister like brujas, because of our hairs, like, all over the place. And you know, I think about just the like, why, why that was a part of my experience. I mean, I feel like I'm a spiritual person. And being able to call yourself a bruja is to know your magic, you know, to know your magia, and to understand it, where it needs to be and where it needs to be leading others. And so, oftentimes, like, I don't know how I got here, like, with doctorahood with these hashtags that I create. But I know that it's, it's from, from a higher purpose, what I need to be doing while I'm here. And I'm really just excited to, you know, like you said, finally be here in order to just excite get more excited about what's to come. Because there's a lot of ideas in this head of mine.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

What is to come? Don't tease us.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Why don't you reference it, you know, dinner con doctoras. Some virtual ones that are happening February 17, and 18th. So just excited to just create community and to listen, you know, listen and hear also what is needed. Because that's how I've always navigated is just like, I create, because I'm paying attention, right, and paying attention to what is missing, what's the, what's the gap. And so I want to be able to create community, it's been hard for all of us because of the pandemic, and many other other things that are occurring with mental wellness and, and whatnot. So I want to be able to just create space. But you know, I've had this hope, since I've created the doctora shirt that I would have a space, like almost like a conference where everyone would wear like a doctora, future doctora shirt and be like, 50 of us coming together, like the conference, wearing the shirt, and like, how powerful that is, you know, how powerful that is to create an image like that. And then to like, get it posted somewhere big and yeah, you know, I think that the, our minds are so powerful. And so that has always been there. And I don't I don't know, I believe that it will happen. But it's also in its own time, and I have certain gifts. And then like I mentioned other mujeres that we know, and we follow, they have other gifts, it's just like connecting them. It's not a competition. It's just like, let's connect and make this happen.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

And we all have our own pace, like you said, our own pace our own timeline. And yeah, I love that.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And you know, I think I think even in like saying that and being in this role, it's it's also modeling that because I think this world of producing and, and getting it done yesterday, I'm always saying to, to, to the folks that I work with, it's just like let's let's really think it through you know, and and let's be smarter and not work harder, because I think sometimes it's like the connection piece. If that's not there, then you're not going to leave an impression you're not going to make something that's going to withstand time to some degree. Right. And so just really just really excited about like, you know, sharing that out loud right now with you. So other folks can then just jump on and say like, Yeah, let's make that happen, because I need that to write the accountability piece. And I am one person, but when I think about doctorahood, and why it's doctorahood, you know, you get hooded when you get your doctorate. So and it's also about like, being being okay with whatever hood, your hood looks like, whatever, like bringing your hood with you.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Your hood, your barrio, your motherhood, so many hoods.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, yes. And, and I think that, that's so much to say like, right, again, I mean, I think when I think when I put things together, there's always like, deeper meaning, because that's just who I am. And I know that, like, if you do that kind of work, where it's like, being as vulnerable and open about why you're doing and what your why is, it comes back to you, you know, it's never it really isn't about me. So I think, you know, my innate shyness of even just like jumping on a podcast or doing an IG live is hard, but it's because it's like, I'm not used to, it's not about me, it's about my, my reason for doing what I do is about like, yes, let's get it out there. You know, making a pen that says future doctoras to be able to like, have someone look at it and ask, what's that about the shirts, you know, when I get people tagging me on the shirts, the tote bags, whatever it is, it's just like my reminder, like, there's that messaging is going across across the United States. And you know, I think even overseas.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

I need a shirt so that I can take your picture here in Portugal.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Send me send me your shirt size and address. And yeah, I think, I think you know, it's just really like developing the network of like, and I think about now like, I thought about it before, I've always thought about little girls, right? Because I think about myself as a little girl. But now that I have a little girl. Yeah, it's like how do you how do we how do we insert ourselves to make sure that the experience maybe the experiences that were not so so positive that we counter those so that then, you know, and my daughter, oh, my goodness, she is something else? Like? She is not shy.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Same with him. How did she come out from me? I was also very shy, very quiet as a little girl. And she is so expressive and vocal.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah. And she's not even too. So her dad is a thinker, her dad definitely knew that she was going to be ferocious. He literally said that as like a newborn, I'm like, Oh, she's gonna be like this, like, but you know, she helps me, she helps me in her being her full self. And she helps me. She reminds me to like, you know, be to completely show up and to continue to do the work that I've been doing. And that also life is hard. You know, and that's okay, that like, it's hard. It's just, we're not meant to do it alone. And so being able to create, create, and create community and create spaces and gear and whatever it is to connect this and just that reminder of like, hey, you know, I have this future doctora shirt. And I know, there's other doctoras that are out there. And just Yeah, I think for me, it's always been about making sure that it's about this collective support. And I and I know that like the little girls, there's more to come. I mean, I've always said I wanted to be a children's book author and the concept of like, you know, a future the thorough book is there, but it's just making the time and all kinds of things. But, again, I'm not like.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

I feel like, I could be saying something similar, because I've been telling myself and other comadres, like we're gonna work on a children's book. Yeah, it's gonna happen, we can make it happen.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Well then let's make it happen. Right? Yeah.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

So, as we get close to I'm checking the time, I want to make sure that I can get your your consejos, your advice to the next gen. The folks listening who are undergrads who are aspiring doctoras who, you know, it's been rough, they may be struggling, they may be feeling a sense of isolation. Yes, we have a lot going on on social media. But on the other hand, you know, a lot of us are still seeking community and like it's a collective forms of collective care. So what kind of advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing grad school who is interested in building community and just isn't quite there yet?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, I guess the first thing I will say is go ahead and message me and I'll mail you a free future doctora sticker because I think sometimes those the those affirmations, those reminders are super important to just do the work and continue to do the work. But the second thing I'll say is, you know, definitely reach out to anybody that you feel like you have some similarities around. Like, I mean, like we have been mentioning, there's so mujeres doing such great work, and I feel like all of them, but are doing the work that's very similar, like, making sure that we're all rising. When I when I talk about like 52 weeks rising it is it has been a struggle to week by week by week, sometimes day to day, moment to moment to rise.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

But there's others that have done it, you know, and are ready to also continue to support and I think there might be a hesitation to reach out, but in the world of, you know, social media and DMing folks, I know that individuals will, will be more than happy to just set up, you know, 20 minutes of some time to have a chat. And I think, you know, if that still feels like a lot because of different personalities and ways of connecting, you know, they're now plugged dinner con doctoras you know, February 17 and 18th, the sign up or, or email me directly message me directly in terms of getting more information. But I do think that accessibility because of the positive of the pandemic has been that we can see how connected we can be through the use of technology and social media. Right. And so you're, you're in Portugal right now, right? Like, and yes, you're in LA. And we're having this conversation. And I think that yeah, I think it's important to just give it a try. In my story, it's telling of like, doctorahood and the hashtags, and everything was just like, let me just try it. Let me just do it. Let me just like and it's grown. Right.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Isn't that amazing what you can do when you just say, let me just try. Yeah.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And so that's the same concept. What I would say to, to anyone that listens, is just try, and sometimes someone might not respond, but then try again or try with somebody else. But if you don't, then you're just right where you didn't start. And I think that that's something that I've learned. Because I think why when I said I made the shirts, and they just kind of sat in the closet was like, Where do I wear? And what will people think blah, blah? And I'm not usually like, What will people think, but for but I think because I knew it was something that was that I truly believe that it was, it was like, okay, if I do this, it's a launch, you know, and people will see it and people will know, it's me. Everyone does it their own way. You know, I think that that's okay, like it's okay to, if I don't do IG live that's fine. Someone else is doing. If I do some posts, one month a live one month, I don't you know, like, it's just, it's just just do it. I think it's just do it.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And I think I think being able to just try is, is huge. And it's always like those small little habits. I've been reading atomic habits by James Clear. And he talks about like, you don't become a runner. Like you have to what's your, like, what is the identity you want to be right? You don't become a runner overnight, you have to first become a walker, and then you develop and build upon that. And so I think the concept of just trying is, is exactly that, you know, just try do something small write a journal about what it is that you plan and want to do in the next five years, and then start looking at that and and figure out how do I get there? It's just very small baby steps, but they're consistent, consistent baby steps. I mean, you know, for all the mothers out there, right, a child, perfect example, in terms of before they walk, they do a couple of things before they walk, crawl. And they take a couple steps and fall, right. A lot of falling. And then they're running. You can you can you're like, oh, I can just I can just like leave them some spot and yeah.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, I would, I would definitely just say like, the biggest thing is just just give it a try. And, and not just once a couple times it takes it takes a lot of work. I mean, the work that you do, and the work that I do, it's not just it's not easy work, but it is fulfilling work. And that's why we come back to it every single time. And so, you know, don't chase the fame or the money, chase whatever is in your heart and I think that just giving it a try will help.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

That's really that's really great. I'm gonna have to like quote you on that because it's all true, I would when it comes to the baby steps when it comes to how you form habits when it comes to even the things that shape your identity. It's all just with allowing yourself to try and it. It sounds, it's easier said than done. But yeah, I couldn't have said it better myself. So I want to thank you for your time. And I want to ask you one more question. For folks who want to connect with you, who really appreciated having you on and want to kind of stay in touch in some way, shape or form? Where are the places that they can reach you?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

I mean doctorahood on Instagram is the best place doctorahood and underscore is the best place to reach me. And if anyone wants to email, doctorahood@gmail.com

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

And where can they get swag?

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Yeah, it's Etsy online shop. Doctorahood. I will put the link in the show notes too. Yeah, there's some there's some new ideas necklaces, potentially. The pens are pretty recent. And then you know, if you follow at doctorahood underscore on Instagram, there's always like giveaways. I've worked with individuals who want like donations to help, like, promote higher education for girls. So yeah, I think I'm always open to train as well, in terms of how to like connect and work with others. It's definitely a passion that with what's happening in the world, and also just personally, right, being a new mom. It has like shifted and changed, but it's also really exciting to just be here on this podcast, because I think you know, femtoring for me, when I discovered that word really is about like the support of, you know, brown women supporting and uplifting brown women. And so that's doctorahood but it's also about the collaborations that can exist in creating more visibility for like, you know, women of color and that there's this really great individual that just continuously supports and I think that it's my reminder that how do I do that too? You know, right when you when you receive the support like how do you also give the support to others in their spaces and the way that they do the work too.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

That's exactly what you're doing right now and I so appreciate you I appreciate your time I appreciate you sharing space sharing your wisdom sharing so many gems it's been really wonderful having you on and I just want to thank you so much.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

And I'm gonna put this out there one day I'm gonna go visit you.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

Oh my good. Just so you know I'm in Porto not Lisbon because all the cool people apparently got to Lisbon. But I'm in like the literally the cooler northern area of Portugal. Yes come visit I would I everybody who is more than willing to take that that leap of coming to Portugal coming to Europe, you have a home you have my, mi casa su casa. And yes, I'm put it out there.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

It's so weird that you move like to another country because I'm like, I thought I would meet her one day.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

I thought so too. I was like, Oh, I'm probably gonna meet up at a conference at some point. And maybe we will I don't I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up flying with butt over to the west coast for our conference. Yeah, now it's like oh, no, I can't make it to the dinner con doctoras because it's like, eight hours ahead. So yeah, middle of the morning.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Maybe we'll do a Porto version.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

I know a breakfast or lunch con doctoras.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Build the networks over there. Seriously.

Dra. Yvette Martinez-Vu

All right. Well, thank you again. It was it's been really nice chatting with you.

Dra. Lorena Marquez

Same glad we actually did it.