Interviewed by Dhayana Alejandrina. Lead Poetry and Cultural Collaborator at Noire Magazine. Today, I am excited to present a special interview with Carmen Danae Azor, a multidisciplinary artist specializing in video, performance, photography, and earth art. With a profound commitment to ocean conservation and environmental justice advocacy, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives through various collaborative projects. Carmen combines her artistic creativity with a passion for biodiversity conservation and climate action, aiming to foster positive change globally. Why this interview, you may ask? As someone born and raised in the Dominican Republic, nature has always been very important to me. The other day, I discussed the effect nature had on my childhood and stated that, “I am grateful for the way my parents exposed me to thebeauty of nature and the lessons she bestows. It is one thing to admire nature, but a completely different one to respect it and want to take care of it.” Now, as an adult, I have learned that nature is a reflection of us, and we are a reflection of her. In “Spiritual Ecology,” a book Rudolf Steiner that I have been reading, he emphasizes the interdependence between humans and nature. He argues that humans are an integral part of the evolving natural world and that this world surrounds us, allowing us to rediscover ourselves within it. Steiner’s work highlights the necessity of a balancedrelationship where neither exploitation of the Earth nor seeing ourselves as mere irritants is appropriate. Instead, we should strive for a conscious equilibrium, understanding that our existence and the well-being of nature are deeply intertwined. With this important perspective in mind—that “our existence and the well-being of nature are deeply intertwined”—I hope this interview inspires you to consider the ways in which you can contribute to environmental conservation andawareness. Let’s explore how our individual efforts can collectively make a significant impact in preserving the beauty and vitality of our natural surroundings. An interview conversation with Carmen Danae Azor Thank so much for joining me in a very important conversation about nature and environmental justice, Carmen! I would love to start by discussing your upbringing a bit. How have your culture and environment played a role in your journey as an Environmental Justice Advocate? My mother is from Samaná, Dominican Republic, and my father is from Spain, placing me at the intersection of worlds. As a diplomat’s daughter, we moved every few years— Costa Rica, Uruguay, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and the United States. Each move offered a new lens, revealing the beautiful diversity of our planet. Growing up light-skinned in a world marred by colorism and racism, I was painfully aware of the privileges and expectations imposed upon me. My hair, a symbol of my Afro- Caribbean heritage, was straightened weekly to conform to Eurocentric ideals. These experiences taught me the harsh realities of assimilation and the cost of invisibility. Returning to Ayiti, my mother’s homeland, after nearly a decade away, was a pivotal moment. The island’s beauty was overshadowed by the pervasive presence of plastics, pollution, and environmental degradation. This stark reality cemented my passion for environmental justice, merging my personal experiences with a commitment to fight forsustainable and equitable solutions. Through my art and advocacy, I aim to address the intertwined issues of environmental degradation and social inequality, striving for a future where both people and nature can thrive. What does it mean to you to be a multidisciplinary artist? Being a multidisciplinary artist means embracing the freedom to express myself through various forms and mediums. It allows me to weave together different threads of creativity —visual art, writing, performance, and activism—into a tapestry that speaks to the complexities of our world. This approach not only broadens my creative horizons but also deepens my understanding of the interconnectedness of social, cultural, and environmental issues. What is the “why” behind your work? The “why” behind my work is rooted in my desire to disrupt the status quo, and to tell stories that matter. Growing up in a world marked by environmental degradation, social injustices, and cultural erasure, I feel a profound responsibility to use my art as a vehicle for change. I strive to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, highlight the beauty and resilience of diverse cultures, and advocate for environmental justice. My work is a call to action, urging people to see beyond their immediate reality and to engage with the broader struggles that shape our world; it’s about decolonization and unlearning. Ultimately, my art is about connection—connecting people, to their environment, and to the deeper truths that lie beneath the surface of our everyday lives. Through my multidisciplinary approach, I aim to create a space where dialogue, understanding, and transformation can flourish. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, surrounded by the beauty of its nature and fruits, and influenced by my parents and grandmothers, I developed a profound connection with nature, seeing it as a reflection of myself. How has nature shaped you? What is one of the biggest lessons it has taught you? Having Taino ancestry like we do means that we are aware, and in touch, with our deep and ancestral connection to Nature and other species. Nature has taught me resilience. Watching the cycles of growth and renewal, I have learned that even in the face of adversity, life finds a way to persist and flourish.The way a tree bends with the wind yet stands firm, or how a river carves its path through the toughest rock, has shown me the power of adaptability and perseverance. One of the other biggest lessons nature has taught me is interconnectedness. Everything in nature is part of a larger web of life, where each element plays a crucial role in the ecosystem’s balance. This understanding has profoundly influenced my approach to environmental justice and activism. It reminds me that our actions, however small, have a ripple effect, impacting the broader world around us. This lesson of interconnectedness drives my commitment to creating a more sustainable

INTERVIEWED BY DHAYANA ALEJANDRINA   Welcome, Noire Family, In this interview, I had the pleasure to sit down with the talented and amazing writer, CarolLaine M. Garcia., as she offers a captivating glimpse into her inspirational journey, delving into her roots, the reasons driving her creative endeavors, exciting future projects, and more.   Please join me in welcoming CarolLaine M. Garcia. to Afrique Noire Magazine!   Can you share a bit about your background and what initially inspired you to pursue writing/poetry?   I’m a first-generation Dominican-American immigrant woman who came to America on my mother’s back to chase the American dream. Much of my family had already emigrated, and my brother, mom, and I arrived on travel visas. Years later, after an encounter with immigration authorities on a summer visit, I was forcibly sent back to the DR for a year while my case cooled off. Upon my reunion with my family in the States, my mom was on a mission to acquire citizenship for us and halted our travels so no one would risk deportation. All of those changes between countries and school were incredibly challenging, as I adjusted to leaving my island and father behind and adjusted to the American life. It was writing letters to my father that first awakened this gift within me. Through the ups and downs of my life, writing has always kept me connected to myself and the happiness I’ve so desperately sought to find.   How does your identity, including cultural background, influence your writing and the themes you explore? In what ways do you navigate the intersection of your personal identity and the broader cultural context in your work?   After completing my PhD, I stepped away from writing for quite some time. The rigor of my doctoral studies eventually wore me down, dampening my passion for reading and writing. As I drifted from writing, I lost touch with myself and my ability to connect with my truth and experiences.Despite always harboring a desire to be a writer, I found myself in a “successful” consulting career, viewing it as a significant milestone in my American success story. However, it was during the pandemic, with the help of modern technology, that I stumbled upon authors who finally resembled me. This discovery sparked a realization that I too possessed a voice and a remarkable story to share.   In my writing, I delve into my intersectional identities, the distinctiveness of my upbringing, and my journey through the American experience. Through my words, I strive to break free from the societal labels that confine me, embracing a more expansive version of myself—the divine queen within.   In my poetry, I contemplate the experience of belonging to no group but oneself, reveling in appreciating the diversity of nature, whether in human company or not. In essence, my writing allows me to embody my true, multifaceted self.     How would you describe your creative process? Do you have any specific rituals or routines that help you get into the writing mindset?   Crafted over the years, my approach to writing has evolved into a practice of romancing my words. For me, writing is no just a creative outlet; it’s a spiritual and ancestral connection. Through my writing, I honor my ancestor father and other ancestors, recognizing the hurdles they overcame so that I could freely express myself. In my writing space, I adorn the walls with old family photos, including ones of myself as a baby, alongside inspiring art. Each piece holds significance: a print of a wild mane in a field symbolizes my “untamed” years on the island, while a sunsetty picture of the Brooklyn Bridge represents my entry into the American experience through New York. Another piece depicts just the hips of a thick woman, adorned with a massive butterfly—an allusion to the freedom of expression I cherish.To enhance my writing experience, I light candles and immerse myself in the soothing sounds of lo-fi or reggaeton. Recently, I’ve come to see my writing as an integral part of my being, a necessary and fulfilling practice that enriches my life.     Who are your literary or poetic influences, and how have they shaped your work?   Since I was a young girl in America, I’ve been an indiscriminate reader. My obsessions lie in genres that depict women overcoming their fears, poetry that explores the gamut of human emotions and experiences, and non-fiction books chronicling authors’ triumphs over their lives and the limiting narratives they faced. I’m also drawn to memoirs that offer diverse perspectives, broadening my understanding of humanity. Through these writings, I’ve been able to cultivate a more liberated and bold version of myself, almost as a rehearsal for the embodiment that typically follows.   What challenges do you face as a writer/poet, and how do you overcome them?   The initial challenge was accepting myself as a writer. I had to overcome the notion that pursuing writing, something I hadn’t studied and divergent from the typical American pursuit of maximizing income, was a valid path for me. It required extensive therapy and coaching to believe in my ability to blossom late in my writing journey. Today, I find myself exploring my creative blocks around writing as much as I do my daily experiences and musings.     Could you share one of your favorite pieces or an excerpt from a project that holds personal significance? What does it mean to you?   During my first writer’s retreat, I penned a piece prompted by the task of creating a character embodying our essence rather than a literal self-introduction. This exercise symbolizes to me the essence of freedom as the quest for happiness. Through the struggles of my immigrant journey to the US, a passion ignited within me to explore and understand myself, culminating in the realization of the woman I was destined to become: free. The Mountain Climber Her name was Mountain Climber. She just loved the feeling of crowning a