Alisha Miranda
Tell us about you and your work
I'm a digital producer and freelance writer. I write stories about food, travel, and culture and I also oversee website launches; currently for a wine startup, previously for large advertising clients. I'm a rare creative breed in that I'm able to write content, but also project manages digital content. It's been a dual-work path for me in the last few years, and a path I continue to explore in order to broaden and deepen my talents. This reminds me: I'm due to update my website soon!
What inspires you?
Lately, talking to people and walking around Philadelphia have been my biggest inspirations. As I'm leaning more into storytelling, it's important to me to talk to, meet, and connect with as many people, places, and (re)sources as possible. I'm so privileged to have a flexible schedule that allows me to be out in the city, to be social, and to absorb so much of what the communities here in Philly have to offer.
What does community mean to you?
I've been thinking a lot about the term "community" -- especially after reporting for my Latinx and Hispanic food guide in The Inquirer. Philly is big on community, we talk about it frequently, people love to boast 'community,' but I also see it get overused. At a minimum, a community is a group of like-minded people. But what are communities for? How do they serve their people? Why are communities important? To me, the community is a daily, life-long engagement with like-minded people who want to make a difference, an impact. There's a sense of service, an objective towards self-sustenance, and the common ground of socialization. I look to Norris Square Neighborhood Gardens as a new-to-me community that embodies this meaning; I want to see more of these real-life examples covered in our local media, from more diverse people, backgrounds, and missions. More personally, since the pandemic, I'm learning how to cultivate my own community. Who will sustain me? How can I support others? What is my purpose, my voice in all of this?
Favorite film
It changes often. My range can vary: give me comedy or give me depressing indie romantic dramas. These days, I'm in search of comfort by watching old favorites -- from Will Ferrel's 'Anchorman' and 'Talladega Nights' to anything by Wes Anderson.
Favorite song
I can't stop listening to the LOUD podcast about reggaeton and as such, Bad Bunny and J Balvin remain on repeat. Dale!
Favorite place
When not in my South Philly row home with my new husband and large pup, I miss all the places I've traveled to, especially ones across the diaspora: Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay. I hope to go back once the world is safe again.