My journey extends back in time to when my parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1991. I can recall many critical moments in my life that shaped me while living as an undocumented immigrant for over twenty years along with obstacles every step of the way. Stories that are relatable and centered on family, community, traditions, and opportunity.

But, the story I would really like to focus on here is the story of how attending the “Digital Marketing Boot Camp for the Arts” conference validated my work in the arts and cultural sector. While that work has been shaped by my journey as a whole, these past ten years have challenged me and rewarded me in so many ways, shaping who I am today as a professional and as a person who is committed to sharing the lessons I have learned both personally and professionally. My experience at this marketing conference really made me reflect on the work I’ve had the privilege of being a part of, work that is both gratifying and validating.

“EASTSIDE Magazine will act as a collective platform with a vision to build an army of guerreros that fight the challenges of our community. It is my hope that by all of us coming together we can create a movement that is driven by a passion for a common goal. A movement of folks committed to relentlessly keeping East San Jose vibrant and culturally rich home with corazón.”

After the first day of the conference and after considering whether or not I should approach Erik Gensler, Founder and President of Capacity Interactive the agency in charge of the conference, I finally just went for it on the second day. I introduced myself and shared with him the value of the conference. I followed by sharing that all the techniques were great but was wondering how they would translate or apply to smaller budget non-profit organizations. I also wondered how I could connect this information to community in general. I then took advantage of the little time I had with him and asked him about advice for myself and Kooltura Marketing. He immediately followed by suggesting the book Tribes by Seth Godin, which is one of the reasons why I sit here writing this piece. One thing I learned from reading the book is that it takes an army to do what I do and cannot do it alone. One of the biggest takeaways from my quick interaction with him was also when he said something along the lines of, “Great, they need you.” referring to my marketing and branding service offerings in the non-profit arts and culture sector. READ MORE

- Omar Rodriguez is the founder of Kooltura Marketing. His work is specifically motivated by multicultural marketing, branding, and strategies that generate results for businesses and organizations.