8 Signs You’re a Latina DIY Queen of Creativity and Resourcefulness

creative woman holding paintbrushes

Making do with what you have is something a lot of Latinos have learned either out of necessity or out of a desire to be as self-sufficient as possible. That almost always leads to a DIY mindset, which not only saves you money but also helps you think outside the box and engages your brain in a super creative, fulfilling way. It’s that Latina resourcefulness, you know? So do you embody the spirit of a Latina DIY queen? Here are 8 indicators to help you answer that question:


You repurpose EVERYTHING

"Focused woman handcrafting a decorative project

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

Latina DIY queens don’t waste anything that can be repurposed or reused. Oh, no, no, no! If it can have a second life, it will, and you have a knack for seeing the potential in items others might throw away. Whether it's turning old clothing into trendy accessories, repurposing jars into storage containers, or upcycling furniture with a fresh coat of paint, you find joy in giving new life to old things.

Your home reflects your beautiful creativity

decorated living room

Photo by Steph Wilson on Unsplash

Walk into a Latina DIY queen's home, and you'll immediately notice the personal touch in every corner. From handcrafted wall art and DIY furniture renovations to custom-made decor items, the space you live in reflects your style, your creativity, and exactly who you are.

You're always learning a new skill

a woman carrying out a knitting project

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Latina DIY queens are lifelong learners who thrive on learning new skills all the time. Whether that’s learning to knit, experimenting with woodworking, trying different techniques for restoration, etc., you never tire of expanding your skillset. That’s the thing about creative people: there’s never a finish line, there’s always a new level to reach.

You love a good challenge

a woman working on a creative project

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One thing about DIY as a hobby or as part of your lifestyle is that not every project will be easy. In fact, some projects are so stressful that they’ll lead to some gray hairs on your head. But, you see, DIY queens love that. A good challenge is an opportunity to push your creativity further and grow. Once you succeed, the feeling of completing the project adds so much to your self-confidence. Whether it's creating a Pinterest-inspired craft or revamping a room on a budget, you embrace DIY challenges with the joy of a child with a new toy.

Your gifts are usually handmade

woman making a piece of pottery

Photo by Hana Mara on Pexels

When it comes to gift-giving, you prefer the personal touch of handmade creations instead of buying cheap stuff from, say, Amazon or Shein. Hand-painted mugs, handmade jewelry, etc., you’ve done it all and it’s always personalized, making the gift that much more meaningful and special.

You often take inspiration from your Latino culture and heritage

Latina in front of an artistic and colorful mural painting

Photo by Robinson Avila on Pexels

Latinas usually have a deep connection to their heritage and culture, so it’s impossible for that not to shine through in your DIY projects. Whenever you’re making something by hand, repurposing, or renovating, it’s natural to incorporate traditional motifs and take inspo from Latino craftsmanship. It’s how you show cultural pride in everything you create, even if you’re not consciously aware that you’re doing it.

You embrace imperfection

woman working on creative project, enjoying the process

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels

To Latina DIY queens, “imperfection” is not a dirty word or something to hide. Perfection is overrated and you learned that very quickly when you started to make your own things. Imperfections are part of the process and they make your projects one-of-a-kind. There’s nothing wrong with a few quirks here and there!

You’re the go-to person for solutions

Couple working on interior painting project

Photo by Blue Bird on Pexels

DIY queens know how to problem-solve, so it’s not uncommon for friends and family to turn to you when they need help with some project. Whenever they’re dealing with damaged furniture or broken items, or they don’t want to throw something away but have no idea what to do with it, they come to you. You always know what to do or can at least find a way to make it work, and that’s why they trust you.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).