Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Sanchez.
Hi Alicia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
It all started with a fantastic, large, loud, loving hard working Dominican family. I was the only girl out of three boys, and my parents were entrepreneurs before I knew what that word meant. I grew up in a creative environment and decided to study Fashion right from high school which led me to experience fashion weeks as an intern with Oscar de Renta and Carolina Herrera.
Later on, life happened, and I encountered many health-related roadblocks leaving me wondering what’s next in my life. In the midst of business and fashion, I stumbled upon writing. Of course, it started with my childhood author obsession Judy Blume.
So, I began writing and published a book, I began a podcast and let my voice sing interviewing guests with a message, story, or conversations. I rebooted my YouTube channel and slowly building my tribe. I submitted to every publisher, and editor and even with all the rejections I kept driving through my journey. In the mix of life one day, I was reflecting on my travels, my life my experiences and all the people in my life that helped me along the way all through time shared experiences.
I began to pray which sounded more like ranting and raving and asking questions Dear God Why, Dear God how, Dear God where, Dear God when and I was spitting out the mouth when this little burst of energy came over me and I just started to write the first outline of what I wanted to do for the rest of my life; helping people, help people.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We were launching before COVID with hopes for our first trip to be in my homeland country in the Dominican Republic and local efforts in different cities like Denver, LA, Miami, Dallas, NY but we had to shift gears quickly and it forced us to look at helping others in a powerful way.
It’s like someone telling you to build a lake but you only have a cup of water. But if I contacted 100 people and ask them to pour one cup of their own no one can tell me it’s impossible to build a lake because our cups of water will surely add as we keep adding people. So, although our concept shifted my purpose didn’t.
It was hard then and as we grow honestly it gets harder. It’s not easy to launch a community and you’re wondering if people truly want to help or are they just doing it for the gram or a quick Tik Tok snap.
The ability to not being able to go to places and actually promote and only relying on technology 100% is scary! So many people who need help don’t have internet a computer and they rely on public Wi-Fi for cell phone connection.
I am optimistic for the future and that’s because I have a 2-year-old that keeps me going and I have a unicorn that lives inside of me that doesn’t let me get too sad and when I do get sad because the unicorn takes a vacation sometimes, I hang on to my faith in God. I think the world has changed and will never be the same and travel will never be the same and vaccines and healthcare, the government, nonprofits, and the list goes on but what will always stay the same is the insane amount of people in the world that need help in some way and that’s where my focus is at.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a volunteer community. Our vision is to provide life-changing volunteer experiences and matching communities to causes around the globe! We want to cultivate a socially conscious mindset that provides a time-shared approach for generations to come. Not just people overseas because we have so much work to do right here in our backyards. Encouraging parents to teach their children about social good so they are not raising entitled privileged little brats (yes said I that) I am a mom and I just kept realizing every part of my life and what I want for my daughter and all the children in this world that will grow up with her.
Educators and students and how learning doesn’t have to be defined by the walls of an establishment and how culture and people can give you the best life experiences. How small business owners can make an impact in their business model even if it’s a buy one give one approach or just rooting for what they believe in. Avid travelers who can explore the world differently and how they can change someone’s life but change their own life just with time shared experiences and seeing how the world really work beyond governments and statistics.
We listen to people’s needs, dreams, and plans. Then, we mobilize volunteers to work hand-in-hand with them on their community’s vision to serve youth and families whether virtually or in person.
We are like the match.com for volunteering on our platform. We will also provide guided trips with a small group of travelers to assist a community in need. These communities are not housed by organizations and they can be locally within the United States or internationally. We want to add value never take anything away from people.
We want to help empower these communities and make it a time-shared experience. A percentage of any profits from Dear God goes into our Impact Microgrants.
I remember volunteering in the Dominican Republic with a doctor and he always asked for a small application fee from office patients (super small). I remember him putting envelopes every Saturday he would divide it for syringes/ gauze, gas enough to go to the countryside and back and envelope to pick up food from a local restaurant and the other envelopes he would hand it to the four families he was going to see for that day. It wasn’t much but he taught me that no matter what I did in my life always give a little bit of what I get.
What do you think about happiness?
My daughter first and foremost. I never thought I would be a mother and everything I do is to be able to cultivate an experience for her about kindness, love, human rights, and knowledge.
Besides being obsessed with crafting and really digging into the tools of how we can get people onboard to feel passionate about volunteering. Which is why we created Crafts Create Change Book for the crafting community and or families. You can make a difference to children in Foster Care, women in Domestic Violence, NICU babies, local Elderly homes, empowering love to Children on the Spectrum, standing up for Farm Workers, and the list goes on! In fact, it’s so much more than a craft book. It’s a tool for positive change in your community and in the world. we show crafters and sewing enthusiasts how to identify opportunities for change around them and how to use their hands and creativity to make those changes happen.
These sewing & craft projects are easy enough for people of all ages and skill levels to complete.
We provide additional online resources: such as step-by-step instructional videos for each project and a donation directory for finding where to donate the handicrafts you create. Crafts Create Change has over forty different projects to choose from, including community projects. 80% of the profits from this book will go directly to the “Dear God, Are We There Yet?” Impact Microgrants
I know I cannot end world hunger overnight but being and advocate for it, sharing that knowledge finding small ways to help the cause is all it takes.
Pricing:
- Crafts Create Change Book $25.00 www.craftscreatechange.com
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@deargodarewethereyet.com
- Website: www.deargodarewethereyet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deargodarewethereyet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dgawty
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/dgawty
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqUwaPw-KlQ
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dear-god-are-we-there-yet/id1368081544
Image Credits
Fox Pointe Publishing
Peraza Inspirations Photography
