Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Pérez.
Daniela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Daniela Pérez. I am the proud owner of Explora bookazine for kids. I was born and raised in Chile, moved to the United States to study after high school. I have lived in several states for studies and work getting to understand and appreciate the diverse cultures in this land. Minneapolis had been home for the last 12 years. I have been involved in the field of Spanish dual and immersion-bilingual education for the last 15 years sharing my language and culture with kids in the classroom.
Currently, I have a full time job as a 4th grade Spanish dual immersion teacher. I also work as a travel writer during my Summer breaks covering stories for blogs and magazines. The combination of traveling and working in bilingual education gave me the creativity to start Explora bookazine for kids in Spanish.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road has been very bumpy since the editorial world is new to me and there are many parts that need to fall in place to be able to produce a quarterly bookazine for kids. Finding the right people to work with was a challenge, glad to be able to have the best global team! Also, I had to be very brave producing a magazine for kids in Spanish and not in English without advertisement, making me completely responsible for the capital for the project, but I had to go with my gut. As a teacher, I knew advertisement was a no, no, for kids. However, it is extremely joyful to be doing what you know you where called to do.
With Explora bookazine, we aim to provide quality Spanish materials for kids to explore the world through reading and interactive activities, developing empathy for other cultures while practicing the target language. I know being bilingual has opened doors for me, so if I can pass these skills to kids as well as to keep encouraging parents in this very difficult journey, why not? As a teacher and travel writer, I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I created Explora bookazine, a blend of magazine and book for kids in Spanish. The quarterly bookazine focus in a specific topic that we explore while traveling the world. So far we have produced 4 issues. Kids and parents are happy to have quality resources to help native Spanish speakers to keep practicing the language as well as kids learning Spanish through dual or immersion programs in the country. We are the only magazine in Spanish for older kids 7-12 in the country. Teachers also like our bookazine since it is very hard to find materials in Spanish for kids written by native speakers.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Surround yourself with people that challenge you in a positive way, make you learn, and see other points of view. Have a coach if necessary. I do have to admit that having a coach have helped me to stay focus, starting a new business while maintaining a full time job is not easy and the journey can get very discouraging. Make sure you have your “why” very clear so you can keep pressing forward. Like everything in life, obstacles will come, just keep looking to the big picture and keep moving.
Contact Info:
- Email: daniela@exploramag.com
- Website: https://exploramag.com/
- Instagram: @exploramag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exploramag
- Other: https://explora-magazine.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage
Image Credits
Daniela Pérez
