Daily Inspiration: Meet Delilah Dasilva

Today we’d like to introduce you to Delilah Dasilva.

Hi Delilah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up as a first-generation Cape Verdean American from Boston has its challenges. Well growing up with immigrant parents can have its challenges in general. As They bring their culture norms with them to achieve the idea of the “American Dream” as this better life they have heard of. You the “American one” must now learn to navigate the spaces you occupy. You are never American enough for the Americans or Cape Verdean enough for the culture.

As I spent most of my younger years trying to figure where I fit in best but it also made me very rebellious. In my constant search of who I was and not wanting to conform to my culture, I questioned the ideologies of what I was taught: Women do not whistle, only men can go out after 9pm and if you are not cooking and cleaning what man is going to want you? As I mentioned before, these are some of the cultural norms that I battled constantly coupled with my mother reminding me that, “You’re an AMERICAN, you have the opportunities we did not .” I didn’t really get it then but now I understand completely. As I didn’t agree with the cultural norms but there was this level of tenacity, boldness and work ethic, I learned that was unmatched that no one could take from me. I started working in the independent film space out of college and worked at the Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm) back in Boston.

Back then, I wanted to be a film Publicist and then moved to LA for a job at a PR firm. I quickly realized it was not it. I failed at the job miserably!! Ill equipped for Hollywood not knowing anyone in the same environment and working through personal traumas. I packed my bags and went back to Boston knowing I was making a mistake. I should’ve stayed and figured it out. I spent a year after wallowing in my choice and couldn’t believe I gave up that fast. Having a mother who owned a hair salon and I grew up doing hair, so I told myself I couldn’t go back and went to hair school. I spent another year miserable and training at a high-end hair salon thinking it would make me feel better. But it didn’t. I hated every second of it. One day I had asked the universe to give me a sign cause the life I was living was not it. The next day I received a Facebook message from an old colleague from RoxFilm saying she now was working at the Sundance Film Festival and her department was hiring. I never answered a message so fast and told her I was interested.

A week later I had an interview, got the job and left a month after. I packed two suitcases and never looked back. After Sundance was over, I told myself I was headed to LA not back to Boston. I didn’t know how I was going to survive or work but I was going to at least try. I knew no one but Francis Saunders, a family friend, who allowed me to stay with them for ten days. I found out Francis’ husband, Daniel Sollinger happened to be a film Producer who gave me my first job. They were kind to me, gave me a place to stay for a while and employment. I am forever grateful for them as they did not have to help me. Eight years later I no longer have to search I have found my space. That space is creating my own path and creating my own stories. Today I have Produced my short called DREAMER currently circulating the film festival circuit and Co-created and Produced my Podcast called Talk Wellness To Me. I want to tell the stories of the first generation experiences that we do not see much of. This is just the beginning for me because like my mother always says, “You’re an AMERICAN you have the opportunities we did not.” So I carry that into every meeting and space I walk in that I can do anything and be anything I want.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Navigating the spaces of Hollywood is not easy. Hollywood will humble you in a way you have never experienced. No one cares about all the degrees you have or what you have done outside of it. You get told no so much that you begin to question your abilities. Most importantly what sacrifices are you willing to make to stay here? You may have a PH. D but can you humble yourself to become an assistant to an A list celeb or an Agent that you have to grab coffee or pick up their dry cleaning for them or watch their kids. All for a wage that is not livable with expectation that you should be grateful to have this job. This made me question not only my abilities but my value as a person. Until I realized that my value as a person had nothing to do with these jobs and experiences. So I began to separate the two and have been good ever since.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Producer of Film/Tv/ Podcasts who wants to tell the stories through the lens of first-generation children of immigrants. Usually, when we see these stories, they’re typically told through the Latinx immigrant experience. For me, my family are immigrants from Africa and have similar but different experiences. People also have this idea of what people from African the diaspora look like and how they behave based on the stereotypes we are shown. What sets me apart is that my lens of the world is different and I am interested in discussing wellness and trauma through my perspective. As we have societal norms that we have to navigate then add the cultural norms on top of that. As I believe the cultural norm is hard to change or break. This then creates dialogue that is unexpected and allows for interesting content.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can subscribe/share my Podcast, which is on all major Podcast platforms, Talk Wellness To Me. They can find me at IG:Staaydope and we can connect.

Contact Info:

• Email: staaydope@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staayydope/?hl=en
• Other: https://anchor.fm/talk-wellness

Image Credits
Day Aranda and Stephanie Osuna