Hi! My name is Diana Flores, I am 19 years old and I founded a local community organization, ConectandoUs. ConectandoUs provides the Hispanic community a foundation of connection that fosters an inclusive network of resources. We just recently submitted our 501c3 application and we are operating day-to-day with 4 different programs for all ages! I started ConectandoUs because I want to support and unite our community. Hispanic individuals and families deserve connection to their community, opportunities to grow, and so much more. At ConectandoUs, we offer programs that support the success of all Hispanic individuals and families. In addition to my work at ConectandoUs, I am also a peer mentor for Carroll County Kids for Equity, presented at Ignite Carroll 9, graduated from Winters Mill High School in 2021, am training to be a volunteer with Rape Crisis Intervention Services, was featured on the NBC TODAY Show after receiving the recognition 2020 Student Champion of the Year on behalf of the Children’s Mental Matters Campaign, am the Chair of Youth Defending Democracy, am training to be a bilingual volunteer with Crisis Text Line, am the Vice President of the Carroll County NAACP Youth Council, spend lots of time with my big family, and much more here in the wonderful City of Westminster!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family. Include your pets too!
My immediate family includes my 3 younger sisters, ages 17, 7, and 4, and my parents and my some of my closest local family includes my aunt, my 3 younger cousins, ages 13, 11, and 8, and my grandparents. In my house, we have our dog Megan and my 17-year-old sister’s fish Frank. My aunt has her turtle Sky and my grandparents have their bearded dragon Rio.
Q: What is one of your favorite quotes or lines in a song and why does it resonate with you?
“Yo te llevo dentro hasta la raiz y, por más que crezca vas a estar aquí” from Hasta la Raíz by Natalia Lafourcade This roughly translates to “I’ll take you with me all the way to my roots, and no matter how much I grow, you will always be here”. This entire song is about Natalia Lafourcade’s love for her country, Mexico, how all of its beauty will always hold a special place in her heart and how she will carry it with her forever. These lines and this song resonate with me because this beautiful homage to Mexico makes me relive so many wonderful memories of the times I’ve spent visiting Mexico. The love and appreciation I feel for my family and our history. Not only will I carry my entire family and all of our ancestors with me forever through all my journeys in life, but I will carry all of my love for them and their love for me within me no matter where and no matter what, always and forever.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I am currently the founder and executive director of ConectandoUs and I love absolutely everything about what I do. From working with kids to working with teenagers to working with adults, I love and appreciate every second of it. And although it can get frustrating and overwhelming, this work is my passion. My whole heart is in it. This is my family, my love, my community. I am so excited for what comes next on this journey.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
You deserve and are worthy of unconditional love, growth, safety, joy, healing, and support. Reach out when you need to. There is always someone thinking of you, even when you think no one care about you or worries about you or is even thinking about you, there is always someone out there who is. You are not alone. You matter. You are loved. You are cared for. You are enough. You are not alone. You are worthy of more tomorrows. Reach out. We all deserve the support of a community. Connection is vital for success.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite places or events in our community? What is something unique about our community?
Out of the Darkness Walk and Luminaria Event. Rudolph Girls. Oyster Stroll. African American Read-In. Tim Thai Classic. Hashawha Environmental Center and Bear Branch Nature Center. Together We Own It. Kountry Kafe. Hoffman’s Ice Cream. Ignite Carroll. Trivia Nights at 84 East Woodfire Kitchen. Baugher’s Pick Your Own Orchards & Farm Market and Petting Zoo. Fall Fest. And so much more! We are a community full of light and hope. We work together to create joy and experience it together. We value our connection. We value our community.
Q: What advice would you give to people living in Westminster or looking to move to Westminster?
Keep an eye out for all the great community events and be sure to support the amazing local business and restaurants! There’s always something here for everyone
Q: What 3 words come to mind when you think of Westminster?
Growth. Caring. Peaceful.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A fall cookout and campfire with my family. We love to have evenings like this all together after a great meal, sitting around the fire and singing our favorite songs together.
Q: Tell us about your bucket list.
Travel to all states in the U.S. and in Mexico. See the monarch butterfly migration. Start a scholarship fund with my dad for his hometown in Mexico. Be present and enjoy all of my experiences, accomplishments, milestones, and all the moments in between!
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Two of my absolute favorite things in this world start with the letter P. Potatoes and Puzzles. No, I will not expand, but you should love them too.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My sisters. My cousins. My family. My community.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Alena Gaskins. I have known her since my junior year in high school, we met on the bus going to the Carroll County Career and Tech Center and have kept in touch ever since. She has been there with me throughout all of my biggest moments in life. We stay up late working on our big projects together from midterms to a nonprofit business plan to talking about our life plans. I would love to get lunch with her to catch up on life and have our philosophical conversations at Liberatore’s because it has a warm ambiance and they always make you feel like family.
Q: Who in Westminster should be featured on The Faces Of Westminster MD and why?
John V. Lowe because he is a very active member of our community. He is an author, a high school Spanish teacher, a wrestling coach, just an amazing human being, and so much more.
Q: Finally, how can our readers and I know if someone we come in contact with is a good connection for you or a good person for you to meet?
I love connecting with anyone who wants to help the people in our community and wants to continue making the City of Westminster a flourishing and inclusive space for everyone!
Please include your website link if you have one!
conectandous.org
