We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rosa Vasquez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rosa below.

Rosa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Last year, I finally decided to obtain my driver’s license after years of commuting for hours at a time, sometimes traveling back and forth is longer than the designation. As an entrepreneur, you have to visit many different locations of interest, start conversations with many new people, and attend many events – aside from the ones I coordinated. I also am a mother of two elementary-aged children, so I have to commute with them back and forth to school via public transit. I also visit family and check in and make sure they are well. All this via hours of walking and traveling. It was something that I normally do, and I made each time I spent on the journey valuable. One evening, I was organizing for an event the team and I were planning to do that weekend. As I was heading out, the team asked me if I wanted to grab a bite to eat. After saying yes, they told me I could drive them in my car. To my surprise, they all chipped in money to purchase me my very first car. Their reason was to show their appreciation and support for all that I do, especially for others without expecting anything in return, I am not the best at surprises, so I felt like a “fight or flight” moment kicked in. However, after all the excitement and shock of the moment was done, I went upstairs and cried tears of gratitude. It was something I never expected (maybe at times think I deserved), yet I appreciated it more than they could know.

Rosa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a former educator and worked in the social service public and non-profit field for over 17 years. After having children and being home with them daily for the first 3 -4 years of their lives, I took that time to discover what was something I was passionate about and could give me purpose. What can I contribute to my community, and make memories at the same time? My family suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and it is something in the back of my mind I think about how it might affect me one day. I wanted to make sure I could live in the moment, and cherish those and things around me in the “here and now.” Especially for my children to see me making a difference and following my heart.

Collaborating with a childhood friend in her networking business, it made me realize that I valued and was good at connecting with others and building collaborations. I decided to do it with my interests – anime, comics, cosplay, and gaming. It made me realize that this community would enjoy opportunities to find places to create and meet up as fans. In 2019, I set my first 3 social mixer series, and this is where I met many fans and creatives who were very local and lived near one another, without realizing it. This branched out into the idea of creating more social mixer events to create intimate themed-based events to connect and collaborate with all who attend.

When the COVID quarantine took place, I decided to do some virtual interviews and grew my digital connections with creatives and fans. From there, I affiliated myself with a friend brand– now we are known as Tokyo Bronx ACG. The mission and vision of Tokyo Bronx ACG is [Celebrating all things related to anime, comics, gaming, and cosplay – from The Bronx to Tokyo, and back. A cross-cultural social mixer engagement, inspiration, and influence through the arts, entertainment, etc. bringing artists, creatives, and enthusiasts together under one umbrella.] We aim to collaborate and connect local fans and creatives of these genres, through themed-based networking events, promotions, sponsorship, interviews, and more. We recently had the honor of being invited to march at the Japan Day Parade in May, presented by Japan Society and the Japan Consulate of NY, which spotlighted our platform to the rest of NYC for the past two straight years.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think as someone who was part of the “non-creative” field at one point in my life as a social service worker, I think there are those who (and have) told me that I was being stupid and impulsive for taking risks that will not “pay the bills,” “a mom shouldn’t be doing that,” or offer “job security.” I grew up with those around me and some societies that put so much time, energy, and effort into wearing the “mask” of what will protect them, and keep them safe, and in their comfort zone. However, living life on the “assembly line” was always something I could never fit into, or be comfortable with. Each time I tried the “safe route” of my “choose your own adventure” life, it would make me feel dragged down, depressed, and anxious. I was not living for myself, but for others and what they expected me to do and be. As a creative, that inner desire and passion will keep nudging at you, and eventually, you’ll get that “epiphany moment” that will keep you up for nights at a time, until you finally decide to listen to it, write down all the ideas that have been overflowing, and take the first steps. The journey isn’t pretty, or easy, but it is the life I have chosen for me and one that allows me to cherish each moment of this life, with no regrets.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I always believe in the beginner’s journey. So the ideal new client is fairly new, a small entrepreneur, who wishes to follow their dreams and purpose. They also have to be very open-minded, and vulnerable to making mistakes, because there will be many. More importantly, a new client willing to be the change, and make the changes by putting in the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tokyobronx.com
• Instagram: @tokyobronxacg
• Facebook: @tokyobronxacg
• Twitter: @tokyobronxacg
• Youtube: @tokyobronxacg
• Other: Spotify: @tokyobronx