Laura dePaz Cabrera: being a mom, the core of everything she does. Written by Karolina Banda Photos by Libby Clifton In a city like Gainesville, where cultures, hard work, and shared dreams intersect, there are women who hold multiple worlds together with a quiet strength and effortless grace that inspires. In this special Mother’s Day edition, we share the story of Laura de Paz, a closer look at motherhood through her lived experiences, and how it reshapes who you are. A recognized immigration attorney in the community, a trusted voice who informs and guides, a singer on stage… and a mother. For Laura, motherhood isn’t just a role; motherhood is present in everything she is and everything she does; the one hat she never takes off. A mother of three, Laura has learned that [...]
How to create new emotional patterns The emotional brain. Lili knows exactly how she’s going to react. Every time her boss asks her for a report due the following week, something in her immediately activates—the same knot in her stomach, the same urge to do anything but that. She calls a friend she hasn’t seen in months, reorganizes the kitchen drawers, buys things she doesn’t need. The whole week goes by like this. And the day before the deadline, her body sends the bill: sweaty hands, a racing heart, a mind that won’t stop producing images of failure, of being mocked, of her boss’s disappointed face. Sleep-deprived and exhausted, she manages to turn in the report on time. But the experience, once again, was terrible.Lili knows this pattern by heart. She criticizes herself, promises that [...]
Four moms, all immigrants, with one common thread: their kindergartners. It was the summer of 2016; little boys and girls were leaving the safety and familiarity of their homes to step out in the big world. The elementary school was buzzing with a constant influx of parents and children. Did these moms cross paths or see each other amidst the chaos of the first day drop off? Maybe yes, maybe not. The school year commenced and slowly four boys gravitated towards each other. They were either desk partners, shoulder buddies during reading, or together in other activities which fostered their friendship. After a few weeks, one of them invited his three new best friends to his most memorable sixth birthday party. Four moms met for the first time and instantly connected. A sense of ease [...]
There’s a weight that comes with being far from the place where we were born, far from our families, and from the traditions familiar to us. It’s a feeling that’s hard to explain but easy to recognize, like something within us is still missing or unsettled. Immigrating, in itself, is a difficult journey. For many, it requires starting over, often from zero, and sometimes alone. We learn how to navigate systems we don’t fully understand at first, adjust to a new language, and keep up with a pace of life that feels constant, fast, and overwhelming. Here, everything moves quickly, and it can take time to find our place within it. In the middle of that process, something as simple and as powerful as community can make all the difference. Finding community grounds us. It [...]
Elio’s story is a reminder that professional growth is never a straight line. It is something built day by day, through focus and discipline. We sat down with him to talk about his beginnings, and took a stroll down the memory lane. With smiles and quiet nostalgia, he took us on a journey to his humble roots in Cuba , subsequently leading to his life in the United States, a life defined by the ability to adapt without ever losing sight of who he is. Today, Elio stands as living proof that with dedication and a clear sense of purpose, anyone can accomplish their goals. He arrived carrying a plastic bag as his only possession, but with his diligence, tenacity and perseverance, he has come a long way and now leads meaningful projects that shape [...]
