The results of this year's presidential election left many discouraged, stressed, and even anxious. Some of us never believed Donald Trump would actually win. But Orange Is The New Black actress, Dascha Polanco doesn't want us to freak TF out. We chatted with the Dominicana at the 5th Annual Sueños NYC Benefit, where she opened up about the importance of educating our youth and what we need to do to stay empowered during this difficult political time.
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The 5th Annual Sueños Benefit, which took place at the exclusive 40/40 Club in Manhattan on Thursday, November 10, honored Dascha for her philanthropic work and her role in developing a new theater and arts program for youth in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the DREAM Project. The DREAM Project helps mentor and educate more than 7,000 underserved Dominican youth.
"I think especially in the times we are living now, that it's very important to be educated and to educate our youth," Dascha told MamásLatinas. "Ignorance prohibits us from moving forward, progressing, and getting along. As a Dominican woman, as an immigrant to this country, I believe it's crucial that education be spread amongst us. It builds a platform to execute your voice."
Dascha spent three days down in the Dominican Republic to help expose the arts to children who otherwise would never have access to music, theater, or art education. "These kids haven't had the easiest life, but yet they are so determined and enthusiastic to get an education. That to me is amazing and proves just how necessary this is," she said.
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Despite being an educated Dominican American, Dascha admits she's still experienced her fair share of discrimination as a Latina woman. "I spoke with someone recently who addressed this syndrome, and it's basically that sense of not belonging. Yes, I have Dominican roots. But I'm just as American as anyone else here, and yet it still hasn't been easy," she says. "No matter what I do, I always feel like I'm not fully accepted. I'm constantly battling not feeling like I deserve what I've earned, and I'm still working towards overcoming that even as an actress."
She goes on to address our current election results and the role education plays in that. "First of all, there was a very large percentage of registered voters that didn't vote — and it starts there. I made sure to go out and vote because it's important," she says. Dascha is referring to the 43.2 percent of eligible voters that did not actually vote in this year's election.
Overall, Dascha claims she's going to stay positive despite the outcome and educate herself more moving forward. She encourages others to do the same and not allow the election to discourage or defeat them. "The more we resist, the more chaos we are going to stir. We can't be so concerned about something we no longer have control over because that's when we fail," she says. "If you voted, you shouldn't be discouraged. Instead, continue to educate yourself, take this moment to take care of yourself, to know yourself, and then use that to help others in your community."
Image via Getty Images
