Art, music, film, and any form of expression are things that I connect with on a deep level. It was unfortunate for me that I was born in a place where, despite great talent and artistic inspirations, art is not a respected profession. I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and ever since childhood I was touched with a burning ambition to express myself artistically. I used to resent my country and when I left in 2015 to pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker, I told myself I would never look back. The funny thing is that as soon as I got to the United States, everything reminded me of home and though I did not want to go back, I missed my home country. It saddens me that I cannot grow as a filmmaker or as woman in my country, that I have to go abroad in order to fulfill my dreams. I never felt completely in place in the United States until I came to New Orleans. Here I found a second home and a tight community of Central Americans who came here with the same goals and dreams as I did. They inspire me to not give up and not to forget my where I came from. This is why I chose my 504 tattoo. It is the area code for both Honduras and New Orleans and it reminds me that no matter where I go, the places where I was formed and where I have a home are always with me. 
 

– Catalina Correa Contreras

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant