What can cookies teach us about power? Meet Ilse Grijalva Lastiri, lead at Tu Voz Digital, the digital communications and community journalism project of Encuentro, an organization dedicated to transforming NM into a thriving community for all its residents through engaging with Latinx immigrant families in education and career development opportunities that build skills for economic and social justice.

Today, Ilse enjoys her work and spending time cooking for her daughter, but there was a time when food meant something very different.

“Since I was little, every day my parents would bring my brother and I cookies called Principes.” Ilse describes in her Nutritional Values booklet. “One month before coming to the United States, they stopped buying me my special cookies. The next day, they told me we were going on a ‘vacation’ to the United States. It’s been the longest vacation of my life.”

Throughout Ilse’s “vacation” in the U.S., food has remained a barometer of sorts: an indication of her circumstances, a way to understand what is happening in the world as a student, an element of her physical health as a fast food employee, but also a way to connect with her family and community.

To learn about how Ilse is working to build community power, visit www.encuentronm.org and check out their Nutritional Values conversation guide.