Josie’s Thoughts On: Catch Me Saying!
As we entered 2022, a goal of mine was to celebrate the accomplishments I make throughout the year. When I thought more about this goal, I realized that there are so many organizations and so many people who have been essential to getting me to this place. So many minoritized/underrepresented communities that continue to fight for equity and inclusion in the spaces we inhabit. With this in mind, I decided to spotlight organizations that work to bring joy and care to their communities while pushing our thinking on equity and justice!
The first organization we’re spotlighting is …DRUM ROLL PLEASE!… Catch Me Saying!
Catch Me Saying is a HILARIOUS and inspiring Instagram blog created by Adriana (Adri) Ortiz! I met Adri a little over 4 years ago when we were both working for Americorps at a residential school in Estes Park, Colorado! Adri and Catch Me Saying have taught me so much over the years, but one thing I am so grateful for is for her wisdom about what it means to be an amazing world changer!
I asked Adri a few questions to take us through her journey. Check out what she wrote:
Question: Tell us a bit about yourself! This can include your intersectional identities, things you’re passionate about, and things you enjoy doing outside of work!
Hi all! My name is Adriana but most people call me Adri. I’m your everyday Bronx girl with heart and sometimes a slick mouth. My passion for adventure, growth, and education pushes me to put my best foot forward in life. I recently relocated to Los Angeles and am still getting acclimated to the area. My degrees and licenses say I’m a social worker. Although, I have always identified as an educator however which way you want to define that term. I love to learn, read, work out, go to shows, walk around the city, eat, and travel.
Question: What inspired you to start Catch Me Saying?
This is a funny story actually. I was in grad school, on IG, posting and reposting a bunch of funny, outrageous quotes that I identified with. When all of a sudden I was like waittttt a minute, I’m funny. I should write my own quotes, I say some outlandish things sometimes. So that night I made the IG handle and started adding folks and posting my sayings. It allowed me to have a creative outlet while I was in grad school. Eventually, I graduated but I had grown a following.
I’ve gone through my ebbs and flows with @catchmesaying. Usually when I’ve gone through the ebbs and flows of my own life. But overall, my inspiration comes from me wanting to share my story with others.
Question: Who is your ideal reader and/or audience? What do you hope they take away from the work you do?
I never really sat down to think about this. I have such an eclectic group of friends and network that I don’t think I could ever identify my ideal reader. I guess I would say that my ideal audience is truly anyone who understands that people are multifaceted. Sometimes I post academically geared content, sometimes I post about my own sexual desires and then there is everything in between. Each post holds the same amount of weight for me. I am honest about who I am, what I think, and really just say what is on my mind.
Everyone has a story to tell. You never know who is listening or who you’re impacting. I hope that my audience can be secure in the idea that life is messy, that we are complex folks with contradicting ideas, emotions, and actions. This doesn’t mean that you aren’t you. It just means that you’re still uncovering so many layers.
Question: What are your hopes and dreams for Catch Me Saying?
I hope to actually be consistent and to continue growing my audience. Eventually, I’d like to re-launch my merch and have the profits sponsor scholarships for young girls from the Bronx pursuing higher education or entrepreneurship.
Question: What does it look like for you to use your platform to elevate marginalized communities?
Marginalized folks always get put into a box, and when we deviate from what people think we are supposed to look like, act like, think like, etc, they don’t know how to deal. My page is a reminder that the same person can say “son, you’re bugging” as well as “I think there was a miscommunication somewhere” and neither way of saying the same thing changes who we are or where we come from. My platform of quotes and videos is just as random as me.
Check out @CatchMeSaying on Instagram to learn more about the work Adri is doing to uplift her communities! Thank you Adri for taking the time to share a bit about yourself!
