Chapter Three: Rest

An honest conversation about the state of our rest.

The third installment of The Herstory Project features 15 new women who are making a positive impact in San Antonio and beyond.

Akaimi the Artist, Alexandra Vazquez, Alicia Sebastian, Amanda Dominguez, Caroline Gonzales, Cathi Aguilera, Christina Jovanna Olivarez, Jenny Park Gallegos, Jonabelle, Jordan A. Maney, Juany Torres, Julie Ledet, LadyStacie Rimes- Boyd, Taylor Mobley, and Uel Trejo-Rivera.

The theme of chapter three is rest. As we continue to navigate a global pandemic, worsening political tensions, a war in Ukraine, and a financial and housing crisis in addition to our normal daily duties for survival and sustenance— how do we find time and space for real rest? Hustle and grind culture add another layer of complexity as we push our bodies to unsustainable limits to keep up with the demands of work and life.

Each of the featured women answers these three questions:

• how do you find rest?
• are you getting the rest you need?
• what are some ways we can make rest more communal?

Enjoy their portraits, read their bios, and listen to their voices guide you through important parts of their truth. Experience Rest.

Akaimi the Artist

Akaimi Davis, born and raised in Austin, Texas, knew her life’s calling was to become an artist at the age of 5. Fine art is her third career, following 12 years as a licensed hairstylist, as well as a graphic designer and art director for 11 years. Following a very rare cancer diagnosis in 2012, Davis chose to resign from her position as art director for one of the nation’s top 25 retailers. She delved into painting as a full time career to support herself and her three children. While undergoing 2 years of chemotherapy, she sought art as a therapeutic process, which is still utilized today as a form of meditation and prayer. To see more of Akaimi’s story and work, follow her on Instagram @akaimi.the.artist.

Alexandra Vazquez

Alexandra is a public health advocate and tech startup co-founder based in San Antonio, Texas. She’s passionate about creating spaces that empower people to form healing connections within their community. In her free time she loves baking, traveling, and exploring food & culture with her partner and their two dogs.

Alicia Sebastian

Ms. Alicia Sebastian is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and has been a San Antonio resident for 17 years. Ms. Sebastian has worked in nonprofit development and program management for over ten years leading and serving several community initiatives that support positive outcomes, focusing on mentorship, life, and career readiness concentrated on youth development. Sebastian is also an entrepreneur who owns and operates several businesses and has focused on employing single mothers and recent high school graduates, emphasizing teaching them to start and successfully operate businesses of their own. Her academic studies include Interdisciplinary Leadership, Business Management, and Educational Leadership. Ms. Sebastian is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications at Essence Preparatory Public School and serves as the Vice-Principal of the San Antonio Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Amanda Dominguez

Amanda Dominguez owns and operates Digital Pro Lab, a full-service professional photo lab located in San Antonio, specializing in image printing and archiving. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from the University of the Incarnate Word. With over 20+ years of experience printing, photo editing, and image archiving, she is dedicated to helping photo takers of all levels document the world and their point of view through printmaking. Amanda Dominguez is an active community and industry member, sitting on the Boards of the Independent Photo Imagers (IPI), Musical Bridges Around the World, and the American Marketing Association.

Caroline Gonzales

Caroline Gonzales is an abstract artist, born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. Gonzales’ work reflects her journey as a woman through obstacles, challenges, and celebrations. Gonzales envisages her blank canvas by digging deep into her emotions and realizations. Colors, forms, and movements all playing a part in her orchestrated conclusion- whether it be one piece or a series for this to happen. Caroline Gonzales obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Texas A&M- Kingsville in 2015. Gonzales has since moved back to San Antonio, where she met her husband, Albert Gonzales. Both having a passion in the arts, and goals for a larger picture, they learned to work together on business endeavors, while still encouraging the individuality of one and other’s space and freedom as artists. Gonzales co-owns Southtown Art Gallery with her husband in San Antonio. In 2019, they decided to consolidate their studios and the gallery into one place, making it a studio/workspace and gallery. During this year Gonzales also gave birth to their first child. This gave much change and form to new bodies of work she started creating. In February 2021, Gonzales made the leap, and went full-time into her art career.

Cathi Aguilera

I’m a seven-year teaching veteran teaching our future leaders to be decent human beings along with academics. I believe that I’m helping to shape the future of our country with love and tenacity. Everything I do is for my daughter I want her to grow up and see all her mother has accomplished and been through and say, “yes that’s MY MOM and she’s a badass, I couldn’t be prouder.”

Christina Jovanna Olivarez

Christina Jovanna Olivarez is an award-winning Strategist, Coach, Trainer & TEDx Speaker. She has coached and impacted thousands of minority-owned businesswomen through the Hustle + Socialize conference, summit, educational events, social media trainings, and 1–1 business coaching. For over 8 years, Christina has empowered businesswomen to generate over $500K+ in revenue dollars for their businesses through my coaching, events, training, and social media campaigns. In addition, she has coached prominent individuals, including numerous CEOs, executive directors, political candidates, and elected officials. While Christina is passionate about entrepreneurship, she is also very passionate about community organizing, mentoring youth, & civic engagement. Throughout the course of her business journey, Christina has been able to impact the next generation through mentoring programs and speaking engagements with non-profit organizations such as NAWBO’s Entrepreneurial Connections, Girls Inc, The Boardroom Project, Latinitas, New Leaders Council San Antonio and had the honor of working alongside Councilwoman Rocha and City Leaders for the City of San Antonio’s Girls Empowerment Summit.

Jenny Park Gallegos

Korean-American, a child of the US east coast, a later transplant and believer of San Antonio, Texas. Gratefully married, pursuing a career in commercial real estate as a means to a purpose. Thankful to wake up another day.

Jonabelle

Jonabelle Josiane Timms is a big dreamer who believes in taking leaps to receive the most out of what life has to offer us. She grew up in a family business and has always had a desire to create a space like no other. After growing a large following on social media through her passion for videography and marketing, she opened Beauty Haus, a beauty studio and energy studio which has served as a safe space for all persons in need of devoted self care in downtown San Antonio. Less than a year later, she founded Vice Versa Coffee & Jazz bar with her partner.
Jonabelle is a huge supporter of individuals who put their passions and happiness first and constantly searches for ways in which she can pass her wave of influence to anyone who have a dream too. One loving interaction at a time, she is always ready for the next challenge.

Jordan A. Maney

As the Radical Joy Coach™, Jordan helps bleeding heart business leaders learn to be advocates for themselves and their communities through the practice of rest. Jordan has coached business owners from a variety of industries like: public relations, life coaching, floral design, event planning, copywriting, and local government learn how to rest, dream, and (imp)act. Having spent four years lovingly disrupting the wedding industry as a planner and advocate of marginalized couples, she pivoted exclusively towards rest and joy coaching with an equity lens in 2020. She’s been featured in New York Magazine, Yahoo, Attn, Oprah Magazine, San Antonio Magazine, and Martha Stewart Living. She currently serves on the Liftfund’s Women’s Business Center Advisory Board in San Antonio.

Juany Torres

Juany Torres is the oldest daughter of working class Mexican immigrants and a first generation American. She was born and raised in the south side of San Antonio, Texas and attended Stanford University on a full scholarship by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation before receiving her Masters in Public Policy from UT Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs. Juany is focused on increasing equity and opportunity through public policy and local government, organizing with immigrant rights organizations in San Antonio, Texas and working on racial equity and community engagement projects in Austin, Texas. Juany’s background includes having worked at the White House as part of the Domestic Policy Council under President Obama in 2011, serving as the Nevada Deputy Digital Director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential Campaign, increasing civic engagement in her home state of Texas through the creation of OrganizeSA in 2017, and serving in leadership roles for various elected officials and candidates across Texas for the past 5 years.

Julie Ledet

Julie Ledet is an artist, writer, and gardener residing in San Antonio, TX. Through her interactive installations, photography and printmaking, Ledet explores the ritual behavior she finds specific to her native Southern Louisiana, examining the undeniable allure surrounding its culture and people.

LadyStacie Rimes- Boyd

LadyStacie Rimes-Boyd is the Associate Director of Campus Relations in CELCS at Trinity. She made her way to Trinity through untraditional routes that started in a small East Texas town, led her to Baylor University and then to Georgetown Law followed by non-profits in DC and finally to San Antonio. LadyStacie strongly believes in lifelong learning, curiosity, and connections. She brings energy and vitality to each space with a genuine spirit. As a wife and the mother of a young daughter, she intimately knows the struggles of finding, resisting, and redefining rest while trying to engage in her own various interests and hobbies.

Taylor Mobley

Taylor Mobley is a television producer, host, hyper-creative, and philanthropist whose work is always rooted in serving others. Taylor’s work as a producer for reality television has taught her to expect the unexpected! Taylor began her career in television as a producer with “San Antonio Living” on the local NBC affiliate, and “Daytime with Kimberly & Esteban” on the local Fox affiliate. Her most recent production credits include Netflix’s “Love is Blind” and HGTV’s “Flip to a Million.” When Taylor is not working in production, she fuels her philanthropic interests through her Taylor’d For You organization, which she founded in 2016. Taylor’d For You is a fundraising platform that provides fuel to high-impact nonprofit community organizations. The award-winning Taylor’d For You fashion show has raised nearly $100,000 in support of empowering women, adult literacy, homelessness, youth enrichment, and senior wellness. Taylor continues to expand her brand and leverages it to put a spotlight on the community’s greatest needs. She has been recognized as one of San Antonio’s “Top 50 Women to Watch.” She works tirelessly to grow her partner and nonprofit network for the greatest good. As a proud graduate of Trinity University, she remains active in her support for the university and often mentors and shares her personal journey with current students. Taylor is honored to be included with such inspiring women as a part of the HerStory platform.

Uel Trejo-Rivera

Uel is a native San Antonian, representing the Eastside for 21 years. She is a housing and environmental advocate. She believes that policy must be rooted in the community in order to make the most impact. In her free time, Uel likes to hang out with friends and family to recharge and drink matcha.

How will you experience rest?