Born Worthy

Storytelling
Written By José Rosario

Created in purity

Swaddled in innocence

Fruit of a complex tree

Roots in toxic soil,

Attempting to thrive.

You didn’t choose this life.

You didn’t choose this fight.

You were thrown into the fray.

An unwilling bystander drafted to battle.

None of that matters.

The jaded memory of innocence.

The resentment. The exhaustion.

You need to fight.

You do not carry the weight of your lineage.

You do not lay down your life for their approval.

You fight to dissent.

To break away from the noise.

To submerge yourself in fresh soil,

Where you begin your legacy.

Fertilized in love.

Kept warm with joy.

Quenched in hope.

Grow strong, little tree.

You give life;

Welcoming new peace into the world.

Like you, they are born worthy.

Worthy of being loved.

- José R. Rosario

José Rosario

José R. Rosario is a speaker, researcher, clinician, and above all, an advocate. As a member of many diverse identity groups, José recognizes that common experiences bring people together and that taking stock of who we are gives us power. José wants to inspire others to acknowledge their identities, share their stories and empower those who are underrepresented to rise. As a mental health professional, José understands that this empowerment, and the creation of a space to be vulnerable, can lead to individual and group growth, awakening agents for change. José is a Clinical Psychology Ph.D. student at Clark University studying the factors associated with cultural trauma and healing within minoritized communities. From this passion, José launched The Phoenix Empowered, an organization focused on mental health disparities in minoritized groups. In addition, he is an Expressive Arts Facilitator through the PeaceLove Studios.

https://www.thephoenixempowered.org
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