Lisa: Tucson & New Orleans

I am a writer and teacher and editor and podcast producer. I moved to Tucson a little over 12 years ago to go to graduate school. I’m originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I feel most connected to my culture when I am home in Louisiana, because that’s where most of my family is. My mom’s whole side of the family is Cajun, so that’s really present in the food and the music and the events around town. The place is very different than here in the desert, with the giant oak trees and the Spanish moss and lots of water and humidity. I play music and being in spaces and community where there is expression of music or art or reading people’s writing brings me a lot of joy. One of my greatest memories was when I was a little girl and my dad used to play guitar—one of the three songs that he knew how to play—in our living room. I just remember listening to him play and singing together and my mom being there, and just feeling a level of just happiness and connection. I really love Tucson Meet Yourself for the way that it allows people to understand kind of the breadth of wisdom and culture and experiences that exist within this community. It offers all of these opportunities for people to really feel seen and understood and to learn about other people. And it does that over the things that most unify us, which have to do with food, conversation, music, art, and craftsmanship. I feel a sense of belonging when I’m surrounded by people who feel like most like home to me. That sometimes is here in Tucson, and sometimes that’s in Louisiana. And sometimes it’s in those magic moments when you’re in a space and suddenly you feel like you’re connected to other people, even if you’re strangers.

-Lisa