An Interview With Yitzi Weiner
For me, social impact is both about representation and creating real opportunities for people whose voices and talents have historically been overlooked.
As a part of this series, we had the pleasure to interview Crystal Roman.
Crystal Roman is a writer, director, and storyteller with more than 20 years of experience creating stories that amplify underrepresented voices. In 2008, she founded The Black Latina Movement to broaden representation in the arts and showcase the diverse experiences of women of color. Through her work, Roman creates layered, culturally resonant stories that allow audiences to see themselves reflected on stage and screen.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I have always had a love for the arts. I attended an arts high school, where that passion really began to grow. As I got older, I realized acting and storytelling were more than hobbies for me. They were something I wanted to pursue seriously. That eventually evolved into not only performing, but creating my own stories and opportunities for others.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
There have been quite a few over the past 18 years. One that has always stayed with me happened early on, when a publicist did not want to represent us because we had the word “Movement” in our company name. They questioned the name, but I knew what I wanted The Black Latina Movement to represent. Eighteen years later, we are still here, still creating and still growing. It makes our tagline even more meaningful: “The Movement Keeps on Moving.”
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I do not know if I would call it funny, but one of my biggest early lessons was learning that bigger does not always mean better. In the beginning, we would produce large-scale events and spare no expense because I wanted audiences to have an incredible experience. I quickly learned that impact is not determined by how much money you spend. I had to learn how to create meaningful, high-quality productions while being responsible with the budget. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
The Black Latina Movement creates stories centered on the Black Latina experience while also telling universal stories through a Black and Brown lens. But our impact goes beyond what audiences see on stage or screen. We intentionally invest in artists and our communities by hiring diverse cast and crew members and working with venues within those communities. For me, social impact is both about representation and creating real opportunities for people whose voices and talents have historically been overlooked.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Over the years, I have had mothers reach out and ask whether our productions were appropriate for their 12- or 14-year-old daughters. What stays with me is why they ask. Many tell me they are intentionally looking for experiences where their daughters can see girls and women who look like them and share parts of their identity.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
First, we need continued investment in the arts. When budgets are cut, the arts are often among the first areas to suffer, even though they play an important role in our culture and communities.
Second, we need more investment in diverse artists and storytellers so they have the resources to create and sustain their work.
Third, communities can support independent productions by showing up, purchasing tickets, sharing the work and creating opportunities for these stories to reach larger audiences. The arts give people hope, joy, connection and a way to better understand one another.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1. Have patience and faith in your craft. Everything will not happen when you want it to, but that does not mean it will not happen.
2. Give yourself grace. There is no blueprint for building something that is uniquely yours.
3. Get comfortable with pivoting. Things will change. Learn how to adjust without losing sight of your purpose.
4. Find the lesson in the loss. Every disappointment can teach you something that prepares you for what comes next.
5. Protect your balance. Your craft matters, but so does your well-being. You cannot pour everything into the work and leave nothing for yourself.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Leave it up to God.” There have been many moments when I have found myself overthinking an outcome or worrying about something beyond my control. I have learned to lean into my faith, trust the work I have already put in and release the rest. That mindset has helped me navigate both life and entrepreneurship with more peace.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
I would have breakfast with Oprah Winfrey. As a woman who built an extraordinary career across media, business and storytelling, I would love to hear about the lessons she learned along the way, particularly how she navigated challenges, maintained ownership of her vision and continued evolving throughout her career.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I would say I already started it: The Black Latina Movement. The vision has always been bigger than one production or one story. It is about creating space for Black Latina voices while showing the full complexity of who we are. I want the movement to continue opening doors for storytellers, artists and audiences who deserve to see themselves represented authentically. After 18 years, the goal remains the same: keep the movement moving.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can follow The Black Latina Movement through our website, where they can learn more about our productions, upcoming projects and find our social media channels.
https://www.instagram.com/blacklatinamovement/
https://www.facebook.com/watch/BlackLatinaMovement/
Thank you so much for the time you spent sharing these insights, and for the work you are doing for our communities. We wish you continued success!
Social Impact Heroes: How Crystal Roman Of The Black Latina Movement Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.