Dear Local Guides family, I’m stopping by to share the good news that I have won the Dominican Republic’s Epifanio Lantigua 2021 National Tourism Journalism Award in the Arts and Culture Category.
Why say it here?
Because I won with an article called “Mapping culture, a contribution to the tourism,” a piece based on my work as a cultural activist and Local Guide. In fact, part of the exposed argument is how our publications have a real and unknown impact until we dare to post them. I give as an example the fantastic video that Google Maps made of my work for Hispanic Heritage Month. I invite readers to accept the challenge of mapping their culture, to share what is good, beautiful, and unique about their country, knowing that, by doing so, they contribute to boost their tourism, the appreciation of the local heritage, and national pride.
I am very grateful to this community for allowing me to connect my passions with my profession while meeting so many amazing people and initiatives. Without a doubt, I can say that mapping places on Google Maps and being part of the Local Guides family has changed my life for good. In this case, it inspired me so much; I became an award-winning cultural writer.
@Marichams Thank you for sharing your good news with us and being such an inspiration for how we can use Google Maps in such a creative useful and vital way to preserve culture and share that culture with the world. WOW! LOVE what you are doing and have done. Keep it up.
It is incredible to see how many things changed in our life in two years, and how the pandemic didn’t stopped you. On the contrary, you expanded your field of activity in an incredible way. Well done!!
I think we should find a way to work together, because une of the target of Accessible Life is tourism.
Thank you @MariaNgo for those kind words! I’m honored by the fact that you see this as an inspiration for how to take a creative approach to Google Maps; an easy, free, and widely-spread tool with a fantastic potential for cultural and touristic promotion. Greetings from the Dominican Republic!
Thank you, @StephenAbraham ! Wouldn’t it be awesome if more people understood that Maps could be used to empower their communities in so many ways? I hope they do Greetings from the Dominican Republic!
My dearest @ErmesT , as usual, your words are hitting an interesting point!
Indeed our lives changed in many, many ways (in some cases for good, others for bad, and many just weird), and while I personally felt like “quitting” a lot of my passions… Mapping, helping the community, and trying to find creative forms of having an impact under the given circumstances, was not one of the things I was ready to give up.
About collaborating, we certainly need to join forces, and I look forward to that (which I hope happens sooner than later). I send you a huge interoceanic hug, one so strong that it can go directly from the Caribbean to Europe!
Greetings from the Dominican Republic!
