We had the good fortune of connecting with Leana Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leana, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Hands down, the most important lesson Lele’s Project has taught me is; Be authentic. For most of us, the journey to follow our creative hearts is filled with highs and lows. My many lows in Lele’s Project’s early stages left me jaded and confused on what my path would be. I would be consumed with anxiety, uncertainty, and an overwhelming sense of being lost. In a sense, I did lose myself and my passion for a time. A hiatus from Lele’s Project, self-realization, acceptance, and letting go is what saved me. I knew that in order to continue pouring out into the community, I needed to constantly fill myself. The word authenticity manifests itself in many different ways to me. Authenticity is knowing no one else is me and that is my strength. Authenticity is owning my mistakes and not being afraid to make new ones along the way. Authenticity is carrying out my heart’s vision despite how many people don’t believe in it. Authenticity is reflecting on my past and accepting that it is my responsibility not to blame, but to be better. Authenticity is listening to my mind and body over any outside influence. Authenticity is affirming to myself every morning who I am, what my goals are, and how I will achieve them. There is no guidebook to loving yourself and being authentic. It’s an everyday job. It’s HARD. We are are own biggest enemies and our minds will break us down sometimes. The first step is sitting with your thoughts and not trying to suppress them. I want to normalize feeling emotions. I want to normalize sorting through your feelings and understanding how they make you stronger if you listen and learn. This has been nearly a six year process for me and I’m still growing through it. Being genuine with myself has helped me grow with Lele’s Project. I’ve gained a stronger voice, clearer vision, and fresh perspective. My hope is to exude authenticity in everything I do. When you see Lele’s Project, I want you to see my heart and the hearts of all those who have built this organization up to be what it is today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Lele’s Project is a community based organization focused on giving back in various ways. Our efforts are mainly in mental health awareness, events centered around mental health, and fundraisers surrounding other issues in our communities. To date we have done a holiday giveback, homeless outreach, a mental health awareness basketball tournament, outdoor boot camps for mental health awareness, paint and sip for mental health, disaster relief fundraisers, and a BLM car wash. I love hosting events for Lele’s Project. Our events are focused on bringing people together for a cause and showing them what their impact can do but in a fun and interactive way. It’s the perfect equation to me; community + fun + important conversation = impact. The impact Lele’s Project has made is what makes it special and I’m crazy proud of that. Lele’s Project was supposed to be a one-off thing. I had no clue what I was getting into when I made the decision to help a couple families when I was 18. Because I stumbled into it, the journey was extremely difficult. I would fight with myself on whether or not to continue. There was rejection, disappointment, fear, and tears but even through all of that, I knew something bigger was on the other side so I didn’t quit. If nothing else, I want people to feel inspired to bet on themselves. I started with an eager heart to help, dead broke, young and naive, in a terrible mental state, but I started. If you have something heavy on your heart you want to pursue, start small, start slow, but start.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
My friend’s know that when they’re in town, we’re eating our way through some cities. We can start our day off at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder for a morning of kayaking on the lake. Then let’s hit Beto’s Tacos for some authentic tacos in Suwanee, GA. Afterwards, we are picking up a bottle from Greg and Laurie at Sip Happens off of Lawrenceville-Suwanee road and popping it open on the lawn at Suwanee Town Center Park. Responsibly of course. Later we can grab a bite at Sabor Inka off of Pleasant Hill road or at El Ceibeño off of Beaver Ruin. We’re still hungry a few hours later so we will take a ride down Buford hwy, the foodie hwy. We can choose between tacos again at Asian street food at Food Terminal, Vietnamese cuisine at Lee’s Bakery, Colombian at Las Delicias De La Abuela, or fancy sushi night at Umi. The next day we are hitting up Desta Ethiopian kitchen in Druid Hills, no questions asked. Not too far away, Eclipse Di Luna is waiting for us with happy hour and tapas to munch on. Right down the street is the Painted Pin where we can bowl and play other games in a modern, upscale atmosphere. If bowling is not on the menu then perhaps the High Museum is the move for a cool art scene. Gotta hit Ponce City Market afterwards for shopping and a donut, or two, from Five Daughters Bakery inside. We can walk along the belt line, maybe ride a bike to work off the insane amount of food we have eaten thus far. Then let’s stop by Two Urban Licks for some brisket or JCT Kitchen & Bar for their grilled watermelon. Our night is almost finished. We can dance the night away to a Latin band at Loca Luna or check out Top Golf for fun. Its late by the time we leave either of these places, and of course for some reason, we are hungry, so Waffle House it is.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ah man, there are so many people who have inspired me throughout life. I always say Lele’s Project is bigger than me. I thank my parents, sisters, family, & friends for my success thus far. One of my biggest motivators is my abuelita, Dora Escobar. One of the first female, Hispanic entrepreneurs in the city of Tucker, she opened three hair salons with hardly knowing any English. She successfully ran her businesses and taught me the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and following my passions. She remained fine while doing it all too. She is one of my biggest mentors and supporters to this day. I credit a lot of how I move to her. I also dedicate this shout out to Eugenys Contreras, aka Jenni, my right hand woman. Jenni has been along side of Lele’s Project for several years now and has grown to become a soul sister. Through her own strides in life, she has taught me how to love and has helped me grow as a woman. She’s been a light as I find my way through life and through Lele’s Project.

Website: lelesproject.com
Instagram: @lelesproject

Image Credits
Xavier Shorthouse Yarashua Webb

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