We recently connected with Katrina Rojas and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Katrina, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

As a multifaceted creative entrepreneur, designer, poet and community builder, the legacy I want to have is one that inspires and empowers. I hope to inspire people to be authentic, creative, find the courage to be vulnerable, prioritize their healing, and strive to lead with positivity and intention. The first time I wrote poetry, I wrote about a traumatic experience I had as a child having witnessed domestic abuse and the effects of alcoholism. It was such a breakthrough moment for me because I started to finally release all of these feelings and thoughts I had, but just never knew how to talk about. Since then, I have learned to listen to my heart and practice healing my inner child by allowing myself to be vulnerable through writing and put my wellness at the forefront, (and of course a good amount of therapy). I want to inspire others to do the same through my poetry by creating more opportunities and spaces for softness, and meaningful things that remind people of their internal power. I want to be remembered as a person who encouraged you to embrace yourself and your truth. I want to transform society in a way that breaks boundaries and standards.

Katrina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a proud Boston-native, Afro-Latina who comes from a large Dominican and Puerto-Rican family. My journey as a creative started way back in elementary school when I fell in love with art and music class. For a few years I was a competitive gymnast which was a physically intense but fun way to express myself through movement. As a youth member of Hyde Square Task Force, I had the opportunity to connect more with music surrounded by my local community which led me to singing on multiple stages. In high school I joined the choir, but it was being part of the gospel choir in college that truly gave me a sense of belonging and empowerment that I spiritually yearned for.

I have always gravitated towards creative self-expression, but it wasn’t until I discovered poetry that I really began to dig deeper into vulnerability and experience an emotional release that was not only healing, but freeing. I like to say that in many ways, poetry found me. I was lucky to have supportive teachers at the time who encouraged me into programs such as the New England Young Writers Conference in Vermont where I got to have mentors, meet other fellow writers, develop my skills, and debut my first poem in front of a large audience – and yes, I was incredibly nervous. But, those were fears that I combatted for the sake of speaking my truth. Throughout the years, I have continued to write independently, sharing my poems every so often, and being inspired by many other writers like Elizabeth Acevedo and Rudy Francisco. In 2023, I self-published my debut collection of poems titled When She Loves, a chapbook about the emotional journey of love while striving to understand oneself. In reading this book, you bear witness to a path towards healing and freedom through radical vulnerability and acceptance. As a poet, my goal is to not only continue writing and working on my next book, but also curating more spaces for creativity in my community through writing workshops and events that foster connectivity and encourage vulnerability.

Inspired by my passion for poetry, and fashion, in 2020 I came up with the idea to start a fashion lifestyle brand called Sanamor. My mission through Sanamor is to amplify strength in vulnerability and celebrate resilience in all forms. By creating accessories engraved with meaningful statements, Sanamor is an ode to anyone that seeks to embrace themselves and their truth. While still in the developmental phase with a product launch set for 2025, I have been working behind the scenes on building Sanamor to be an extension of what poetry has been for me through fashion. As a long time fashionista and granddaughter of a retired bridal shop owner, I see the need for owning intentional items that align with our individual purpose. Sanamor accessories will serve as every day reminders of your individuality, transformation and power. Definitely stay tuned for its official launch by subscribing to our email list at sanamorsv.com/subscibe.

My creative passions, however, don’t stop here! I am also a self-taught graphic designer and founder of Katrina Rojas Design Studio. I love bringing ideas to life through design, helping individuals and businesses tell their story and stand out with confidence. I love especially working with badass women making moves who need a little help elevating their business or personal brand. I primarily focus on branding and website design, but I also offer a range of services. For me, graphic design is beyond just aesthetics. It is about storytelling and reaching the right audiences in a strategically visual way.

I do many things and have many hobbies, but if there’s one thing that ties them all together it is my love for storytelling and creativity. I hope that people know it is okay to be multifaceted and not fit into a box, and that to be authentically you is the ultimate goal.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Last year I felt myself going through a wave of emotions and it definitely felt like depression. At the time, I had all of these things going for me: the entrepreneurial aspirations, the speaking engagements, the friends, the relationship. Everything seemed okay, but I realized that the work that I was doing on a day to day basis was causing me anxiety and completely draining me. I had dug myself in a hole because I was battling between what I should do and what I needed in order to feel happy. I needed to re-evaluate what success and progress looks like for me. So I did. That led me to leaving my small corporate job with no real back up plan other than the mindset that I was going to simply figure out how to realize the life I wanted for myself. That vision included work-life balance, more energy for my creative passions, time for self care, being present for my family, growing my businesses to replace my previous income, having time to try new things, and simply having more joy in my life. The transition wasn’t easy and for some time I felt extremely lost. But, I knew that I had to go through that period in order to get to where I am now and where I will be 5 years from now. I needed to follow my intuition, pivot, and allow myself to be renewed in order to tap into my fullest potential.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think one of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is the inspiration and power of it. I think back to all of the times that I have cried hearing or reading someone else’s poem because it just resonated that deeply, or even reading back some of my own and hearing how others relate to it today. It serves a purpose that goes beyond words on a paper. This type of vulnerability is transformational, and has the ability to really move people and build community. Another aspect is the courage that has come with it. Being from a Latino family and having grown up with 3 brothers and a father that wasn’t really emotionally expressive, vulnerability wasn’t necessarily taught or front of mind. I, of course, was a very sensitive child and so when I finally started to express myself in this way, I would then write poems as a means to kind of communicate with people I loved. The most fond memory I have of this is when I was maybe around 17 or 18 years old, I wrote a poem for my father not only expressing things that I felt like he had done wrong, but extending forgiveness. I remember I had translated it to Spanish so that he could fully comprehend the message, and we read it together and he cried. That was probably the first time I had seen my father cry and thinking back on it now, I feel kind of proud of that courage that I had to be vulnerable with him and let him know that it was okay for him to be vulnerable with me too. I know that sharing that poem with him was a step towards having the close relationship that we have today. That is the power of creativity, words and authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katrinarojas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imkatrinarojas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrinarojaspoetry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-e-rojas/

Image Credits
Image 1: Skin & Bone (Rafael Lugo)
Image 4: Skin & Bone (Rafael Lugo)
Image 6: Tracey Crosby
Image 8-9: La Paz Visuals (Diana La Paz)