Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherizar Walker
Hi Cherizar, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, where I studied Applied Mathematics at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Before I graduated, I was able to secure an offer from Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to join their System Safety and Reliability Department. I can distinctly remember being in shock as I never expected that to happen. I never planned on becoming an engineer, but in the end it was, and still is, the perfect fit for me. I’ve worked for many clients around the world and have become an expert in the emerging field of electric and hybrid aircraft. Along the way, I’ve made a second home in Montreal, and became a mother. Lots of things to celebrate, lots of light, but the darkness was what really brought me to this point. In 2016, my brother was murdered in Inglewood. And it was this event that catalyzed my journey into writing and the healing arts. In 2019, I journeyed to Ecuador to study with the shamanic masters of the Andes, and to document my story. My experiences with them, and a couple teachers in Mexico City, are the stories that comprise my first book “The Conception of Utopia”. It is essentially my story of healing and transformation, that offers a pathway for the collective manifestation of a more utopic future. I hope to leverage my skills in technology, engineering, writing, shamanic practices, and indigenous traditions, to contribute to a sustainable future for us all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say that the road is not meant to be smooth, so no it has not been smooth. There have definitely been so many blessings that have come effortlessly, so there are smooth parts, but dealing with loss, whether it was the death of my brother, or the death of my marriage, or the death of previous versions of myself, have been both devastating, but also have made me who I am today. The story from darkness to light is essentially the core of what I write about and what my platform is being built on.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Let’s focus on what sets me apart from others. I would say that there are very few things that are ordinary about me. I am a Senior System Safety Engineer, who is currently focused on the field of sustainable aircraft design. I am also an author and shamanic researcher who travels the world to study indigenous culture, so that we may solve our modern-day problems, using ancient practices that have been forgotten. I am a black woman in a field that is completely male dominated. I am published in my field as well, so my roots run deep and I have zero plans of leaving for the very fact that my representation is so important. What I am most proud though, is to know that I am fulfilling what I feel is my purpose on earth, and that my son Hugo is the most beautiful sweet soul. He makes me want to do it all. In him, I see the future that we are collectively fighting for.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I grew up on Catalina Island! Which for those who don’t know, is this tiny island off the coast of Long Beach. My step-dad was born and raised there, and I went to school there for awhile. Out of all the places I’ve lived, Catalina feels most like home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theconceptionofutopia.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/cherizarwalker
Image Credits
Mary Elam
Emmanouil Papadakis
Candice Pantin
