“SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU HIGHER” - OPRAH WINFREY
HAPPY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH FROM THE CAFETERIA TEAM.
BEFORE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IS OVER, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT DOPE WOMEN DOING THEIR THING IN CONNECTICUT! WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INTERVIEWING CH’VARDA, LINDALUZ CARRILLO, ALISHA CRUTCHFIELD-MCLEAN, AND MADYSON “BIZZIE” FRAME. WE HOPE EACH RESPONSE GIVES YOU A DEEPER LOOK INTO WHO THEY ARE.
“Ch’Varda is a producer/dj/artist based in CT. She started her journey back in 2015, and has been Creating music and art ever since. Ch’Varda’s mixes are a reflection and expression of her love for music in all forms.”
Who are the most influential women in your life?
My mom would be the most influential woman in my life. She taught me everything about how to conduct myself, be a boss at everything I do, and to always try my best and that my best was good enough. Most importantly, she continues to show me what love and family really means.
What inspires you?
Life truly inspires me. I know it sounds generic, but It’s the only raw and unpredictable thing that we have. Regardless of how we want life to be, it’s always here to remind us of what’s real. It’s really an honor to be here.
What does being a woman mean to you?
Being a woman to me means, that we are limitless. We are the extension of grace. Yeah, we can be flowers and yes, our skin is soft, but that’s not what being a woman is about. We are the dispatchers, the healers, the nurturers, the warriors, the undertakers — we are the ribs to this operation.
What do you like most about what you do?
What I like most about being a producer and DJ is simply making people happy. I love to see reactions when I play a beat for someone, or I’m at a party and connecting with someone in the crowd over a song I just played. At those moments, I know that I have created a memory that’ll last forever, and it means more to me than fame or popularity.
What is something you would tell your younger self?
If I could tell Lil’ Jaz something, I would tell her to not be afraid of her feelings and create through them. I would tell her that she’s beautiful and that there’s nobody else like her in the world right now. Oh, and to stay true, stay focused, and stay humble.
“Lindaluz Carrillo was born in New York and raised in the South End of Hartford. She is an afro-peruvian Urban Artist and Graphic Designer. Carrillo uses typography, textile patterns and graffiti elements to tell a story about her life experiences and values. Her work reflects topics such as self-love, growth, resilience, and encouraging others to stand in their truth. Her work serves as a message to speak your mind with honesty, and without fear, to embrace who you are.”
Who are the most influential women in your life?
It’s always been my mom, aunts and grandmothers. They all are and have been creatives in their own specialties. it always amazes me how much knowledge and skills each of them hold and use it to take care and love for one another.
What inspires you?
The youth, as a teaching artist, they are constantly teaching me. They keep me humble and on my toes. I hope they know how important they are.
What does being a woman mean to you?
The blessing of being able to go create life one day. I look forward to being a mother and grandmother one day.
What do you like most about what you do?
I love that I get to play and connect with other playful souls.
What is something you would tell your younger self?
Don’t let frustration set you back. And definitely don’t trip over other people’s ideas of you. Always keep true to yourself and stand your ground. I love you.
“Alisha is the owner of STYLEWISE, a lifestyle company creating content and products for self, home and career advancement. STYLEWISE is the lifestyle hub that all her businesses are under, including BLOOM. Alisha created BLOOM out of a desire for quality goods, thoughtful gifts, and for items rooted in wellness. Most of what BLOOM sells is made by local, homegrown small businesses. After more than twenty years of working in retail and entertainment, she decided it was time for a change – time to start from scratch and carve out her own little corner of the world.”
Who are the most influential women in your life?
The women in my personal and professional circles influence and inspire me. They lift me up, sometimes literally. Many of them are entrepreneurs AND mothers who work tirelessly to provide for their families and enrich their communities.
What inspires you?
The love and support from these women, including my phenomenal mother, is what I think about when I reflect on what it means to be a woman.
What does being a woman mean to you?
To me, being a woman means overcoming adversity. It is strength and empowerment. It is having a strong sense of identity, accepting our bodies as one that adapts and changes over time, being confident, and building up the people in our lives. It means having the wisdom to be grateful for what we have while still being hungry for growth. It means looking out for other women and girls on all levels.
What do you like most about what you do?
The latter is what I love most about what I do: looking out for others!
What is something you would tell your younger self?
I would remind my younger self to trust your gut. Don’t be afraid to change course if your gut is telling you something. It’s those gut decisions that change your life.
“Bizzie R. a.k.a Madyson Frame, is a young multifaceted blk femme artist from Hartford, Connecticut. She began her artistry as a spoken word poet at the age of 13 performing at countless events. As she entered her last two years of high school she found a love for digital art in the forms of filmmaking and photography as a means of taking her poetry and putting imagery to it. She recently curated her first gallery titled, “A BLK WRLD” in November of 2020 where she exhibited photographs along with poetry detailing the beauty of blk love, blk art and blk kulture. Bizzie is also the Founder and Director of a new art curation company by the name of The Photobooth, LLC.”
Who is the most influential woman in your life?
This is an interesting question for me at this point in my life as I’ve come to recognize the one woman who I want to say, as many people do, my mother, is no longer as influential in my life as I’d hope she’d be. As I’ve begun to detach myself from the influences of others, I’ve come to see myself as the most influential woman in my life. Shall I clarify…my higher self, my best self, my final form whom I am actively working toward becoming. She is the most influential woman in my life. Yes, it sounds cocky, in layman's terms but it is a reality I have become comfortable with as I continue in my constant state of growth.
What inspires you?
In short…life. On almost a daily basis I am inspired by something or someone. More specifically though, the lives of the African Diaspora. We are so vastly beautiful and amazing in such an effortless way. Every time I think about it I am inspired.
What does being a woman mean to you?
To me, being a woman means a lot of things. To be intentional, to be understanding of others while still standing by your truth. An oxymoron if you must. To be both selfless and selfish, to be tough yet nurturing, to be beautiful and sometimes to get ugly…but to do all of this gracefully.
What do you like most about what you do?
My authenticity and in the same breath recognizing when I am not operating in my most authentic form.
What is something you would tell your younger self?
Keep going. If it doesn’t scare you, you shouldn’t be doing it.
