Ladies and Gents, let me introduce you to Cristina Banderas. Cristina hails from our New York City crew, and she’s a great asset to the events team and overall OHMH NYC mayhem! And you thought Jason Jacob was lovely . . .

Q: Who are you and what do you want to be when you grow up?

A: I am a New Yorker/Ecuadorian-born girl, writer and music manager wannabe, dreamer pirate, happy OHMHer in the making.  A little bit like Dora the Explorer, sort of embarking in new adventures and trying to answer your first question.

Q: What city chapter are you involved with?

A: Best-city-in-the-world chapter- New York

Q: Do you have a specific role within OHMH?

A: I work directly with Giovanna in the events committee, coming up with ideas and then making them happen, projecting the big    picture, taking care of details and solving last minute hiccups. We try to create entertaining events in order to bring awareness to what    we have going on at OHMH- mainly friendraising. But,  still looking forward to putting together a writing project for the site . . . still in  the works.  You will be the first to know.

Q: How long and how did you become involved with OHMH?

A: It hasn’t been long enough.  My first official meeting with the NYC crew was back in May 2010, roughly 8 months.   I met Thomas    one late late night at The Box – on a Tuesday. I was certainly not supposed to be there, since I had work in the morning, but life is funny  that way.  I was at a point in my life where I was ready to leave the city, practically packed my bags and was going after my ‘pirate’  dream. My plan was to move to the Galapagos to do some volunteer work for the preservation of the species, get a diving certificate,    and learn to sail. Who knew that a crazy burlesque club would change my life on a weeknight?

He told me about OHMH, and rest assured I didn’t understand half of what he was saying due to his accent (and sure, if you ask him he’ll blame it on the loud music), but I had to ask him to meet me again so I could hear some more.  After that second meeting I was invited to an event and I heard Anthony talk.  That night I wrote my name on a card for someone to contact me for any ‘small work’ that nobody felt like doing – I mentioned that I had about a month left in the city but I wanted to help somehow. And I received an email to come to a leadership meeting! I was very excited to meet everyone.  I listened to Sarah Bodie and Ian Cronin talk about their experience with the girls; they had just come back from Kenya.  There was no turning back after that.  I cancelled all my plans and unpacked all my boxes.

Q: What made you get on board?

A: Hearing Sarah and Ian’s stories in Mudzini hit me in the head; it all moved me from the very first second I knew about it.  Somehow,  I started caring for these girls before I realized it.  It made me believe that I could actually do something about it.  That period of time was like a tornado that came into my life and when all the craziness passed I realized the only thing that still stood strong was the thought that there was something so much bigger than what I had dreamt of doing for myself – the feeling that OHMH struck in me was way more powerful than anything I had ever encountered before.

Oh, and Thomas’ accent.

Q: Have you visited the home? If so, tell a little about your experience.

A: Unfortunately my time hasn’t come yet.  But I won’t let 2011 go without a visit.

Q: What is your favorite moment of your time with OHMH?

A: That’s an impossible question to answer.

Q: Why and how do you convey to your friends and family your involvement with OHMH?

A: The presence of OHMH in my life comes up in every conversation. And truth be told, this organization sells itself.  It is quite simple: I just tell my story and why I couldn’t turn away from it, our goals,  and what we are doing to reach them.  The focus on education is so basic, so reachable and practical;  it is easy to believe in what we are doing.  It’s going to work,  it’s already working and I get so excited about it, every time.