From Isolation to Community: Why The Soci Hour Matters
By Yari, Co-Owner of Casaroma Cafe After I graduated college, I worked an entry-level job in a corporate environment where the only other Dominican woman was in a completely different department and a few years older than me. Some days I felt like I was navigating an alternative universe where I did
By Yari, Co-Owner of Casaroma Cafe
After I graduated college, I worked an entry-level job in a corporate environment where the only other Dominican woman was in a completely different department and a few years older than me. Some days I felt like I was navigating an alternative universe where I didn't know the people or spoke the language.
That feeling of isolation, of being the only one, stays with you. It makes you question whether you belong, whether you're doing it right, whether anyone else sees the world the way you do. And on hard days, it can make you wonder if you'll ever find your people.
Fast forward to now, I own Casaroma Cafe where I get to create a safe and welcoming space not only for my staff and customers, but for anyone seeking community. Now, instead of those feelings of isolation and confusion, I feel pure bliss and pride. I'm so happy to have created a space where other women can come together to find the warmth and community they deserve.
Enter The Soci Hour
When Esther from Dominicans in Corporate (now The Soci Hour) reached out about hosting an event at Casaroma, I knew immediately this was something special. Esther is what I call a social butterfly in the best way! She creates space for people to connect authentically, to let their guard down, and to realize they're not alone in their experiences.
The event brought together women who were navigating their own versions of what I experienced early in my career. Corporate professionals. Entrepreneurs. Women who were code-switching, fighting to be heard, and doing it with grace even when it felt impossible. But in our space, surrounded by good coffee and each other, they didn't have to do that.
They could just be.
What I Witnessed
I loved meeting all of you and hearing your experiences. It also just feels so good to meet so many badass, gorgeous, smart as hell women. We are HERE. And by "here," I mean we're showing up fully, not shrinking ourselves, not apologizing for taking up space, not questioning whether we deserve a seat at the table.
Watching women share their stories, exchange contacts, and build genuine connections reminded me why I do this work in the first place. Casaroma isn't just a coffee shop. It's a space where community is intentional. Where you can walk in and see people who look like you, who understand your struggles, and who are rooting for your success.
Why This Matters
Representation matters. Seeing other Dominican women, other Latinas, other women of color thriving in their careers and businesses, it shifts what you think is possible for yourself. When I was sitting in that corporate job feeling isolated, I didn't have that. I didn't have a Casaroma to walk into. I didn't have an Esther creating intentional spaces for connection.
So now, I'm building that space. And partnering with people like Esther, who are doing the same work in their own way, makes it even more powerful.
Grateful for Every Phase
I'm grateful for every single phase of my journey... including those hard, lonely days in corporate. They taught me what I didn't want. They showed me what was missing. And they gave me the clarity to build something different.
Thank you to Esther for bringing The Soci Hour to Casaroma. Thank you to every woman who showed up, shared her story, and reminded us all that we're not alone in this. And thank you to this community for continuing to show up, for supporting each other, and for choosing spaces like ours to do it.
We are here. And we're just getting started. ❤️🇩🇴
— Yari
@casaromacafe | @estherrpaz