Hi my name is Emily Cerezo. I am 15 years old and I was born and raised in East LA. I am currently a sophomore at Garfield High School. Someone who inspires me and is my idol is my own sister. Not only that but my sister introduced me to photography and showed me how to love it. The reason why I like photography is because I am able to capture moments of my life that are meaningful, and I can use it to express myself. One of my favorite parts of being apart of Las Fotos Project is being able to learn about how to use a camera and getting to know all the mentors and my subject. To me my artwork must be aesthetically pleasing and dynamic; to be bright with colors but also dark . What I consider to be a really good picture is when the photo is focused and it pops with color, for example a picture of neon lights. With Las Fotos Project I was able to use the camera they provided to me to express myself with photography and if I can I will join Las Fotos Project next year. It was a great experience and I recommend it to other girls who enjoy using cameras.
When Irka was 20 years old she started to get curious about her ancestry, specifically her indigenous roots. Listening to the music of her culture motivated her to seek and learn more about where she came from. She traveled to the country side of the Dominican Republic to connect with her people, which ended up being the start of her spiritual journey.
To Irka all cultures are beautiful but she is mostly attracted to the indigenous peoples around the world. For example the Arabic, West African, and the Americas. She feels the indigenous peoples are very spiritual and their songs are like a prayer. This inspired her to create music about who she is and where she comes from. She wanted to create songs about her own ancestors, to share their stories with the world, but also for her to forge a deeper connection with them.
When Irka sings she says she feels connected spiritually to her roots. She calls herself a Spiritual Singer Healer. As a healer Irka wants to share positive energy with her music to help people spiritually and emotionally.
Today Irka devotes her time to support the School for The Shamanic Arts. Located in Glendora, CA, the School for the Shamanic Arts is a training center for people who wish to become Shamanic Practitioners. Irka recently participated at a fundraiser event for the school, where she sang and gave an intimate performance for the students and other attendees.
Irka ignores all stereotypes of ageism. She is proud of her age and she believes that she can accomplish so much more. To her she is still learning, whether it be improving her guitar skills or learning others peoples cultures and their perspectives on life. She honors her ancestors and is grateful for their sacrifices and the path they paved for future generations. Irka hopes that the younger generations will continue to be respectful, aware, and proud of their ancestor roots. In her words, "Keeping the ancestors ways."