Conversations with the Inspiring Danielle Luna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Luna.

Danielle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. 
Growing up, I was a dreamer with an adventurous imagination. I remember wanting to be a teacher, journalist, attorney, and astronaut- almost anything I had learned about that would let me explore the world. My fast-tracked journey into adulthood changed that mindset when I became a mom at just eighteen and realized a little human life was depending on me. It was no longer about what I wanted to be, but who I thought I had to be. At the time, that meant putting my passions aside to prioritize a traditional grown up life. 

I obtained a job in finance, enrolled in college, pursued a pathway into real estate, and purchased a home all before the year had ended. I was on a mission to prove to my family, the world, and myself that I could be everything I needed to be, despite any doubt the decisions of my youth may have cast on me. I continued at a rapid rate for several years, accepting every work and investment opportunity I thought would best position me as a provider for my daughter and her future. I turned nay says into praise for the accomplishments I had realized at a young age and began living a very naive definition of a successful life. 

It was not long before the novelty of my success, based strictly on materialistic standards, wore thin. Several excruciating lessons (a near fatal accident, failed relationship, and crashing economy to name a few) were sent my way to help me realize that I was existing in a false reality and that much of what I thought I knew about who I was or how I was meant to live was severely misguided. 

A long winding road to self-realization (still a work in progress) helped me to discover there was so much more to life than climbing an endless ladder of imaginary expectations, which only pulled me away from being the type of person my daughter really needed me to be. I had the money and all the things, but I was far from happy and found that my value rested purely on external factors that ultimately did not matter. Many years of loss and mindful recovery later, I became very much okay with the realization that I was not meant to live a traditional life, and it was embracing that which granted me the freedom to pursue the purpose driven journey that I am grateful to be living today. 

Has it been a smooth road? 
Whew, not-at-all. I would describe it as more of a long winding road, filled with the kind of soul-crushing debris that could bring me to my knees, scattered with shimmers of sunlight in the distance between. I lost much of what I worked relentlessly to attain when the recession hit- worst of all, invaluable time with my daughter that I had convinced myself was for her benefit, which I would never get back. A quote that resonated with me then stated, “It is only after we’ve lost everything that we are free to do anything.” Those words helped me find comfort in the fact that without the burden of things weighing me down, I could look at my life with more clarity and decide what I truly wanted her to see me be. Now, long after the learning, healing, and discovery, I am thankful to say that I can look back fondly on the lessons with a great appreciation for the journey that has led me back to me.

My advice for young women, and to my daughter who is embarking on her own, is to lean in to the life that you can feel in your heart is waiting for you- even when the uncertainty of doing so makes you nervous, do it anyway. There is a common saying in Arabic culture -shway shway- that means little by little, which reminds us that everything is a process. Give yourself the patience and permission to fail in your life’s pursuit, and forgive yourself when you do. When we take our dreams seriously, reflect regularly on what drives us beyond the boundaries of any external expectations, and work with hopeful determination to overcome the challenges presented along our path, we allow ourselves the time and space we need to grow into all the gifts that we are here to give.    

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into your business story. Tell us more about the business. 
At my core, I am a connector. I have always been deeply curious about the world and am at my best when positioned to make connections between people and ideas to cultivate change. An abundance of worldly interests led me into a variety of seemingly unrelated directions that at times left me questioning my focus and abilities. It was not until recently that I found my place in community empowerment at the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian agency, where I realized the value my wide range of experiences could bring. 

What started as volunteerism, inspired by a friend who shared his journey as a refugee with me, evolved into a deep commitment to give back to the refugee community. What I had not anticipated at the time, was how much the experience would give back to me. There is nothing quite like being surrounded by the greatest strengths of the human spirit to inspire your perspective and move you to want to want to be more. 

In what has become my life’s work, I have been gifted the opportunity to connect refugee communities with the resources they need to rebuild their lives in AZ. This exposure has opened my eyes to see that the ability to dream is not distributed equally. In learning this, I have made it my personal mission to build hope through entrepreneurship, which provides insight into a world of possibilities that exist beyond past and present circumstances. 

In addition to empowering individual families, I have realized the potential small businesses have to empower entire communities. Knowing this has moved me to collaborate with community cultivators and place makers to pursue passion projects that I am proud to see pushing Phoenix forward. One that is very close to my heart is World Bazaar PHX, a semi-annual celebration (April and December) that builds bridges across cultures to highlight the many talents and contributions that refugees and immigrants bring through small business. Other initiatives include a global fashion show, concerts, art exhibitions and pop-up markets that bring refugee artists and makers from around the world together in unity with the greater community to highlight the vibrant diversity they bring to our city.

I would say that one thing that sets me apart in my work, is that I do not consider it work. It is my purpose driven by passion, and I am incredibly grateful for the failures that led me to that discovery. 

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you? 
My first thought regarding mentors is that they are all around us. I have a bit of a running joke on my Facebook page that lists my profession as a shoe shiner. It started as a silly answer to the inevitable “What do you do?” question that can be very tricky for a multi-passionate person who is still figuring it out, but it was inspired by an actual shoe shiner I saw in the airport who was whistling gleefully while he did work that was so seemingly mundane. I thought to myself that if someone could find that level of joy shining shoes, I could find it anywhere. That one brief encounter with a complete stranger led to inspiration that will last me a lifetime. 

Mentors can show up in our life in a variety of ways. Those who do not even know we exist can hold the power to motivate us to move mountains if we commit to listen. One thing I know for sure, is that we cannot get to where we are meant to go without them, and I can say with certainty that I have been able to evolve to where I am today only because of the many mentors that have guided me along the way. That includes my mother, who taught me my work ethic and always made me believe I could be whoever I wanted to be. My grandmother, who taught me the value of serving others and stopping to savor the sun as it sets. My compassionate loving soul mate, who has supported me every step of the way. My colleague Dave, who I endearingly refer to as Mr. Rogers, because of his kind disposition and the subtle way he works behind the scenes to bring his neighbors a brighter day. The Last Lecture, an online speech by Professor Pausch, who through an inspiring talk about his death, taught me how to live. My daughter, who motivated me to be the person I am here to be.

Mentors are everywhere; we just have to open ourselves up to seeing them. 

Pricing:
Priceless- Learn about upcoming events and ways to get involved with IRC below:

Contact Info:

• Website: Rescue.org/Phoenix
• Facebook: facebook.com/ircphoenix
• Instagram: @daneelu

Image credit:
@thainess57

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.