Today marks the beginning of the first phase of research and writing for my forthcoming book, Between Two Shores: Cuban Identity, Culture, and Belonging in Miami.

This early stage of the project is dedicated to archival exploration—locating historical materials, photographs, documents, and community records that will help shape the foundation of the manuscript. Alongside this work, I will begin conducting oral history interviews with individuals whose lived experiences form part of the broader story of Cuban identity in Miami.

The research and writing process is expected to unfold over roughly the next 16 months, a period that will involve travel, archival work, and many conversations that return to memories spanning generations. Like any book project, the manuscript will continue to evolve as the research develops, with opportunities to add, refine, and revisit material as the work moves toward its final form.

As an early-career psychologist and researcher, this project matters deeply to me—not simply as an academic milestone, but as an opportunity to help document and share narratives from a community whose voices have often been underrepresented for more than half a century.

Research is work, certainly. But it is also a privilege to spend time listening to people’s stories, tracing the threads of memory and culture, and attempting to bring them together into something meaningful.

I’m grateful to be beginning the journey.