We caught up with the brilliant and insightful J V a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
JV, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
As an Afro-Latina I’ve been the only one that looks like me in the room from a young age for a long time. When I was younger it was a challenging experience to fully accept that I belonged but it helped me gain confidence in myself. Everywhere I go now I embrace my identity as an Afro-Latina and recognize the value that my diverse perspective brings to the room. I choose to celebrate my cultural background and use it as a strength in my interactions. Offering a chance to pave the way for greater diversity and inclusivity. Advocating for change, and showcasing my skills, thriving and making a difference in any environment. Making sure I stay authentic and true to who I am, never conforming to stereotypes or expectations that don’t align with my identity. I now enter rooms confidently knowing God put me there for a reason and he makes no mistakes.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hello, my name is Jessenia Velazquez, also known as JV, I’m 39 years young, a proud afro Latina born and raised in Boston. I’m an entrepreneur and I consider myself a multifaceted individual and an artist in every aspect of the word with many gifts to share with the world. I serve as both the founder of JV Creations and the Artistic Director of Ambiance Empire. I have loved everything that has to do with art from a young age. Dance has been my first love since I came out of the womb. I trained and got great at my craft and years down the line after graduating college I went on to pursue it as a career. I danced professionally for 18+ years traveling the world, dancing for some of the biggest artists,, teaching workshops, intensives, and now I mentor and coach young aspiring dancers breaking into the industry. With my passions for fashion, artistry and movement JV Creations became a one stop shop to help my clients brand themselves as an entity offering mentorship services, wardrobe styling, curating captivating looks making my clients feel like a million bucks, to movement coaching helping them gain back their confidence & tap into their power. I went on to develop The Creative Artist Development Program to acknowledge, educate and empower other young creators to know their value, share their story and turn their lives around through artistic expression producing and creating impactful works of art in fashion, choreography, creative directing and dancing. The program guides them through learning new skillsets and they are given an opportunity for a hands on experience, expanding their knowledge, creativity & imagination to new. levels. I’ve been able to offer this program for 4 Seasons now and I’m currently raising money to be able to provide scholarships to underrepresented communities & individuals to bring in the top tier mentors, resources, & equipment to build a brighter future for the arts to ensure that the next generation of creative artists have the tools they need to succeed . Eventually I want to offer the CAD Program to schools, & studios to be implemented as a curriculum for students navigating their artistic journey. Although the Arts are one of the first things to go in schools during budget cuts. Art has healed and saved so many lives including my own. Which is one of the reasons why I fight so hard to keep the arts alive. Overall, art will always be an essential aspect of human life, and its influence will endure for generations to come. If interested in donating towards the mission for the CAD Program here is the link: https://www.gofundme.
My mom always told me “you’re gonna have to be your own Boss for everything you want to do.” She was right. Here I am now owning my own business for the past 2years empowering & inspiring other like minded individuals, creating a safe space to feel welcomed, appreciated and to know that being a creative is a gift and what we have to offer the world is pure magic. Although society norms may make us feel like our title as a creative is invaluable compared to doctors, nurses, lawyers etc. All I have to say to that narrative is times are changing and we will be respected. Just like we can’t live without doctors, nurses, lawyers etc. the world can’t live without the magic creative artists share with the world. I will continue to share my knowledge & transform this world through powerful stories and works of art. Allowing others to experience a life from a perspective of living freely & authentically.
In addition to JV Creations & the CAD Program I recently launched my entertainment company Ambiance Empire that will be providing immersive experiences, unforgettable performances, and the perfect vibes for events, residencies, productions, installations, shows, tours etc. I’ll be expanding my team and will be looking for designers, stylists, choreographers, and dancers for collaborations and paid opportunities for future gigs. Auditions for Ambiance the dance company will be held at the beginning of September and we’ll be looking for specialty acts, musicians and performers. Please make sure to follow Ambiance Empire’s IG page for details to come. One last thing I want to share with you guys is the news of my podcast Just Vibe which is coming soon where you can tune in as we keep it real and unfiltered. Embracing the essence of “just vibing,” discussing a wide range of topics, from family, health to wealth, love, dating, boundaries, and everything in between.
Although there were many times throughout the process that I wanted to give up I couldn’t for the sake of the vision little me had which was bigger than me and had been clear from a young age. I knew I wanted to make an impact on the world using my gifts but I had to stop playing small to be able to show myself the endless possibilities I was carrying. So I did just that and let me tell you I’m just getting started. Grateful to God is understatement for my artistic journey in the creative industry, from dancing, styling, choreographing, artistic directing, and mentoring, Little JV would be extremely proud.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The 3 qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were discipline, consistency, and being teachable. One of the hardest things was maintaining the discipline to follow through on my commitments, even on days when there was a lack of motivation. I’m not gonna lie I would pray to find the strength to push past the feeling and once it was done the feeling of fulfillment was like no other. Discipline has always played a crucial role in my endeavors, helping me stay focused on the task at hand and maintain my integrity throughout the journey. Consistency transformed my short-term efforts into long-term lifestyle improvements, laying the foundation of lasting change. Although there were many times that I faced challenges and setbacks, my belief and vision I had for myself was far greater than anything and helped me bounce back.
Lastly a quality I will forever have is being a student always open to learning avoiding the assumption of knowing everything so that there’s room for improvement and growth. Surrounding myself with peers and mentors more knowledgeable than me allowed me for continuous growth. My artistic journey led me to explore various forms of expression fearlessly, unafraid of trying new things and stepping out of my comfort zone because I didn’t want to live a life of regret. I rather live a life where I can say I tried and I did it. I’m forever grateful to my mentors for their support, knowledge and guidance they gave me and continue giving me. Never spoon feeding me but making sure that I was committed to doing the work. It was a lot of work but necessary. Doing research before auditions, preparing treatments, and studying the greats and those who paved the way before me. All these things helped me get clear on my visions and goals for longevity in this industry.
The advice I’d give anyone early on in their journey is in order to improve on any skills or qualities, you must be ready to put in the work because there’s no shortcuts. Never be afraid of failing instead see it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve because this time you won’t be starting from scratch you’ll be starting from experience. Be patient with yourself because growing new habits and sticking to them can be hard. Understand that you’re shedding an old self that was comfortable in the old habits but developing these qualities takes time and effort. Try new things that set your soul on fire and be gentle with yourself along the way. Celebrate your progress and stay committed to continuous improvement because that’s the daily goal. Remember that personal growth is a journey, not a destination so stay open to learning, adapting as needed, and challenging yourself to become the best version of you. There will be a lot of No’s but it only takes one Yes!! Don’t take anything personal. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself and the last piece of advice is to always lead with kindness wherever you go because you never know who might be present or the impact of your actions on others.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Personal growth has been my biggest area of growth in the past year. I dove deeper into my healing journey that I started on for the past 3 years. Which has been one of the hardest journeys I’ve embarked on but definitely necessary in order for me to fully walk in my power. I hadn’t realized that I allowed my power to be taken from me for so long. It all takes time and I had to be ready to open old wounds and face what had been buried so deep. There’s been A lot of ugly cries that have helped cleanse my soul, therapy, shadow work, breathing techniques and so much more that have helped me come a long way. Knowing myself and understanding myself for who I am and not what happened to me has been a game changer.
I was tired of being tough, not asking for help and looking like I had it all under control all the time was exhausting. I was done living from a place of victimhood. I knew I wanted more for myself and I knew I had to do it for me so I seeked help. Therapy helped me improve my mindset which led me to have a different outlook/perspective on life. Letting go of control and perfectionism which doesn’t exist and allowing myself to trust others. I’ve always been one to do it all on my own but it becomes a lot after a while. I was super Independent, never asked for help but the older I got and the more I worked with others I saw that collaboration was the way to go. Collaboration allowed for everyone to shine in their individual way and that was the beauty of it all. For everyone to win! That’s where the magic happens when like minded individuals work together for the bigger picture with no ego driven agenda.
I’m extremely proud and grateful for taking on the responsibility to want better for myself and to start my healing journey to clear the blockages from the trauma I was carrying for so many years that was not for me to carry anymore nor was it serving me any purpose. Although healing is hard I know I’m worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jv-creation.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/jv.creations/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/jessenia. velazquez.50/ - Linkedin: edin.com/in/
jessenia-velazquez-98a7298a/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/@justvibe8909 - Other: https://www.instagram.
com/ambiance.empire/ https:// www.instagram.com/ justvibepodcast/ https://www. gofundme.com/manage/the-cad- program-fundraiser
