I'm a professional immigrant and life builder—what I mean by that is I've migrated three times in my lifetime. Born and raised in Peru (shoutout to mis Peruanos), brought to the USA at 14, then London for my Master's, and finally here, to NYC. Each time, I've had to burn it down and rebuild. University. A marriage at 24 (what was I thinking? I wasn't). A whole career in the art and museum world that I walked away from. A divorce. A transatlantic move that changed everything.
Moving, for me, feels entrepreneurial. You're problem-solving on the go, strategizing a new life, coming up with creative solutions to make something out of nothing. What I've gotten really good at is making each place my own, moving seamlessly while staying true to myself, and leaving room for the magic to unfold.
But moving to NYC, my dream city, the big manifestation I waited years for was a funny start because I moved here 3 months before the pandemic hit and everything changed.
The Myth of "Millions of People = Easy Friends"
When I moved here, I thought I’d make friends easily–my line of thinking was that there are millions of people here, a lot of them people of color so it would be easy to find. Wrong! I had to do things mindfully. So working on my strategy, I joined various groups, workout classes, volunteer groups, but they all missed something…the secret sauce! A safe, culturally-relevant space where I didn't have to code-switch. Where I could say "no pues wow" and everyone would just get it. Where luxury, ambition, and our cultura could all exist in the same room without explanation.
Throughout my career as an events manager, I was creating these beautiful, high-end, fancy experiences for people who didn't look like me. And I kept thinking: Why aren't we doing this for us?
Because here's what I know to be true: We deserve spaces of ease. We deserve to experience luxury without feeling like we have to earn our seat at the table. We deserve a network that serves us fully, that understands our layered stories, our hyphenated identities, our big dreams.
So I created it. I started Cultura Takeover—my social club for Latinas who want deeper connections with people who understand them without having to explain themselves. A space where we lean into joy, support our community via volunteering, attend workshops, workout together, shop for Latine brands, and simply belong.
What Happened When I Built the Space I Needed
Here's the thing nobody tells you about building community: it changes you as much as it changes others.
At our first Cultura Shop, our annual mercado featuring Latina vendors, a woman came up to me beaming with joy because she'd just bought from three different vendors, swapped Instagram handles with people she met waiting for food and told me, "I didn't know how much I needed this until right now, these spaces are so needed." That hit different.
Or the time after one of our financial literacy workshops when two women who'd just met decided to become accountability partners for their business goals.
This is what happens when you create the right conditions: magic unfolds, connections deepen, and suddenly you're not navigating solo anymore.
My Strategy for Building Real Friendships in NYC
This is a mix of my own experiences and my observations throughout the years living around the globe and testing things out. The aim of this list is to inspire you to tap into the fun, joy, discomfort that often comes with trying new things, and hope that you can also create a dream reality beyond your wildest dreams. Have fun meeting new people and meeting a new version of yourself!!
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Join a museum junior membership program. I used to oversee these programs, so trust me when I say: this is where it's at. Each museum has its own programming such as member-only tours, happy hours, galas, soirées, curator talks. You'll elevate your knowledge, your social capital, and meet interesting people of all genders. Plus, you'll always have something cultured to do.
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Join my social club, Cultura Takeover. Shameless plug here, but hey! It is 2026, we are stepping fully into our power and not afraid of being seen.
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I curate things mindfully for Latinas, think wellness classes, empowering workshops on financial literacy, quarterly Takeovers talking about entrepreneurship, and our annual Cultura Shop? That's our tentpole mercado bringing real economic impact to the Latina community with over 25 vendors.
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Follow us online, get on our newsletter to get event notifications, and buy our merch here, because repping your cultura should look good.
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Join our WhatsApp chat. I created this specifically so you can make plans with other cool women outside of our official events. Need a workout buddy? Drop it in the chat. Looking for a connection for a job opportunity? Chat. Want brunch recommendations or someone to hit a new exhibit with? You know what to do.
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This is how real friendships start, not at the big events, but in the small moments in between.
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You might be wondering, when is our next event? Wednesday, January 28! We will be working on our action & manifestation boards. Not your usual vision board making night, we will be going deep into strategy mode and ensure you can hit your goals and embody your true self.
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Sign up for outdoor workout/hiking groups - My fave is the hiking club from Outlandish. They’re a Black-owned store in BK hosting monthly hikes around the tri-state area
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Join a Latina professional networking group like ALPFA and Corporate Pero Latinos. These not only connect you with other people, but it is niche in terms they know the struggle we go through working up the corporate ladder and they can team you up with a mentor.
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Run clubs–These are hot! Peak & Pace has been my go-to, and Latinas Run Club. Even if you're not a runner (I’m not), the energy is infectious and the post-run coffee hangs are where the real bonding happens.
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Look up dinner clubs - NYC is a prime city for this! Eat your way through and chat up new people…winning combo!
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Attend book talks - Get on the list of The Strand, Barnes & Noble, Reading Rhythms
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Utilize free resources like the NYPL programming! Super chic
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Art classes – highly recommend Art Retail Therapy in Jackson Heights and Happy Medium in LES
Building friendships as an adult takes intention. It takes showing up even when you're tired. It takes being brave enough to send the first message, to suggest plans, to be the person who says "we should do this again."
It's not always easy. Some coffee dates will fizzle. Some group chats will go silent. Some connections won't stick. And that's okay.
What I've learned is this: the right people are looking for you just as much as you're looking for them. Your job is to make yourself findable.
So grab your cafecito, put on something that makes you feel good, and get out there. Try one thing from this list this week. Just one. And then see what unfolds.
Because here's what I know now that I wish I knew during those lonely pandemic months: You're not starting from scratch. You're starting from experience. And every version of yourself that you've been…the girl from Peru, the college student figuring it out, the divorced woman rebuilding, the graduate student in London, the solo pandemic navigator…she's all still here, making you exactly who you need to be to build the life and friendships you deserve.
Nos vemos pronto,
Anita
Founder and CEO, Cultura Takeover
