From weed to music, Sonia’s journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to economic justice, community resilience, and collective care. Although there are challenges, cooperatives are Sonia Erika’s ideal economic future.
As a Harvard University student, Sonia co-founded three groundbreaking cannabis organizations: The Cannabis Cultural Association, The Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council, and EatMe.Land. These initiatives showcased collaborative expressions focused on equity and systemic change.
Sonia's work has led to the development of cooperative policy and strengthened artists and cooperatives through digital storytelling. Beyond @eatme.land, Sonia serves as a cooperative peer advisor at the @usfwc.
In addition to cooperatives, Sonia creates music with the nomadic band @DeathIsABusiness.
Sonia Erika's vision is a world where empathy, vision, and collaboration guide every endeavor.
Follow their work: @fruits.of.revolt, @eatme.land, and @deathisabusiness.
I firmly believe in the power of rebirth, the concept that we experience multiple deaths and must allow our spirit to die and come back stronger through rebirth.
The first time I experienced rebirth I was around 16 or 17 years old. I applied for a position at a fast food chain, but when I reached the section where it asked for my Social Security number, I was bemused:
“We have numbers? That’s weird. We’re humans.”
I had no idea that everyone had a unique number. So I go home and I ask my dad, “Papi, what’s my Social Security number?” And he stays silent before telling me that I didn't have one. I was stunned and confused, and when I went back to the restaurant to explain my situation, the manager told me there was nothing he could do.
I kept a straight face in front of the manager, but as soon as I left the restaurant, tears streamed down my face. This experience catapulted me into a new reality where I realized that I was part of a group of people who were undocumented in the US. I became aware of the harsh realities that came with not having papers, including living in constant fear of not being paid fairly, being reported to immigration, and potentially being deported.
I experienced a state of mania because I simply couldn't comprehend the idea of people having numbers and what they meant. It was painful, but ultimately once I accepted the death of this reality I was able to give birth to a new reality. I applied to Harvard because I learned they accepted undocumented students, and I was accepted.
This experience was just the first of many deaths and rebirths that I have encountered in my life. Through each experience, I have learned the importance of adaptation and survival. We must be willing to let go of what no longer serves us and be open to change if we want to come back stronger from each death we experience. Maybe I’ll make different blog posts about each of my different deaths and rebirths, but for now embrace your rebirth.
What deaths and rebirths have you experienced in your lifetime?
