2022
September 15 marked the start of Latinx Heritage Month in the United States. In honor of this occasion, we are spotlighting Maricha Martinez Sosa (@Marichams), a Local Guide who is passionate about finding new ways to connect others with Dominican culture.
Culture is mappable
One of the things that Maricha found while doing her PhD in cultural communication is that culture is mappable. And when it comes to the culture of her home country, the Dominican Republic, there’s a lot to appreciate and share. It is a vibrant mix of native Taíno, African, and Spanish influences. Maricha uses Google Maps as a powerful tool to document this cultural diversity through photos, reviews, videos, and 360 imagery. “It’s only when you know that something exists that you can appreciate it, treasure it, and protect it,” she says.
How Google Maps helps Maricha share and celebrate Dominican culture
Maricha travels to remote corners of her country, mapping authentic elements of culture and her own heritage on Google Maps. To show the hospitality of the people, she takes photos of business owners smiling. To map the gastronomical culture, she takes photos of a meal being prepared. Just recently, she shared a series of reviews detailing her experience with “Ruta del Casabe,” a unique tour that explores the past, present, and future of a staple Caribbean food, the casabe bread.
Maricha also creates Google Maps lists of sustainable businesses managed by the community, women-led businesses, cultural spaces, and more.
Learn more about Maricha’s story and see how she uses Google Maps to celebrate her culture and empower communities in the video below.
If you haven’t yet, check out Maricha’s posts on Connect and her contributions on Google Maps to learn more about the Dominican Republic.
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