Latinas of Influence 2024

Improvised before my actual speech: Before I get started, I say this with love… my last name is Yañez, not Yanez. I say this because it’s important to share how our names are pronounced. There are many European names with no vowels and people learn to say them. If they can say those names, they can say yours…
Speech:
Wow. Im truly humbled being recognized along all these spectacular women.
When I was a little girl I never felt enough and felt too much all the time.
I didn’t feel enough because I’m 2nd generation Mexican American and English was my first language.
Most of my family was in the U.S. so I didn’t have cousins to visit Mexico for the summer like many of my friends. like most of my friends.
On the other side,I was short and chunky, spoke with a small accent and but didn’t know much Spanish. But my culture was always around me and I loved what it represented. Family. Love. Music. Food.
But still those thoughts of inadequacy followed me into adulthood.
Because my culture is so much a part of me I felt too much for some. But the lack of struggle made me feel not enough for others.
But eventually I began to embrace what defined me, not only as a Latina, but as Jessica.
Someone who stands up for who and what I believe in. Someone who knows my worth within my culture and as a woman. And although I can now speak Spanish, albeit not perfectly, knowing the language doesn’t define my latinidad.
So when I finally started the wine & chisme podcast I knew it was to highlight amazing people not only from the latine perspective, but from those from across all communities of color.
And through this journey I was able to create the first and most comprehensive list of Latine owned wineries based in the U.S. because with approximately 80% of all agricultural workers coming from our community, it’s important to note that we not only work the land but own the brands as well.
Being recognized as a Latina of Influence is a tremendous honor and I want to thank my amazing amigas who have supported me, my family, Hispanic lifestyle, and of course my husband, Antonio, who has decided to be a willing partner in this wild ride.
#wineandchisme #latv