Meet Vanessa Bahena | Marketing Stategist & DIY Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Bahena and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. When people ask “where in LA?” my response is always “in the heart of it”, right between Dodgers Stadium and the Staples Center. Both of my parents immigrated to the United States as young adults and they raised me with the belief that no dream was out of reach. At a very young age, I learned how important carrying that belief would be.

My mother lost her battle to cancer when I was 14. She had been fighting for over 10 years. The only life I knew growing up was one waking up and hoping we had another day. Most major holidays were spent in hospitals across Los Angeles – that’s how I learned all the best shortcuts throughout the city. When my mom passed away, my dad became a single parent to 3 growing teenagers.

My father’s work ethic was incomparable but we lived well below the poverty line. Every day that I rode the #2 Metro on my way to school, I would devise a career plan that would help me move my family forward. I was accepted to CSU Channel Islands and that’s when my life changed. I met educators who believed in my story and believed in my ability to succeed.

I graduated with a degree in Communication and with the determination to become an excellent marketing strategist.

Today, I am a marketing consultant in the tech industry and the owner of First Gen House LLC. My ability to excel in both of these dreams is the result of having been a scrappy and determined kid in LA.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I married my DIY skills and marketing expertise to launch First Gen House with two goals 1) share eductional home improvement content for renters and owners 2) to help DIYers succeed as content creators.

Through educational content, I teach my community how to renovate or repair different parts of their home. I share small paint repairs and complex structural builds.

If you looked in most magazines or browsed your tv guide for home improvement shows, you’d notice there are very few (less than few) DIYers and makers of color represented. Being a woman of color in this space is not easy. There are hurdles, there are many moments when you are overlooked but I am committed to being the model that I needed as a kid. Women of color deserve to see themselves in all spaces. I want to inspire others to visit their local hardware store, pick up a power tool, and try something new.

Using my professional marketing expertise, I help other DIYers find their place in social media. The Latinx community offers talent and culture to the home making industry and I want to make sure other Latinx creators have resources for sharing their talents and being proffitable.

I want the world to know that even if they come from rough backgrounds, trauma, low finances they still deserve to live in a place they love. They don’t have to wait for that big house or that big paycheck in order to build a grounded, safe and unique space.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A drive down Sunset right before the sun actually sets, is a must. The best thing about LA is the people and just how diverse the city is and driving down Sunset you get to see such interesting people in the middle of their busy day. This is also a great place to kick off the morning, any coffee shop on the strip will give you an experience whether it’s a hole in the wall, selfie backdrop, or funny titled drinks. My personal favorite is Tierra Mia, they really capture the tres leches essence in a muffin, it’s great!

For breakfast, I like to stop by Sunlife Organics for a yummy acai fruit bowl. I usually skip lunch and save my appetite for dinner.

In the meantime, we have to browse The Flower District in downtown LA. Walking through so many flower and plant vendors makes your inner plant parent come out and you leave inspired to build your own sunroom – which I actually did.

Our next stop is Olvera Street. Many of the vendors sell goods imported from Mexico and Central America. It’s been many years since I got to visit my parent’s native countries so getting a taste of their home through Olvera street is a sweet treat,

There is bound to be an art exhibit in the Korea Town area so we’re going to make sure we visit. My favorite to date was a street art exhibit where my love for graffiti was born.

For dinner, we’re grabbing pupusas and other delicious Salvadoran sides at Jaragua.

We’re finishing off the night in Korea Town with drinks and Karaoke.

At some point in the week, we have to make time for a walk at the beach.

There is so much to do and so much to see!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe so much of who I am to Kari Moss. Kari was a university counselor who dedicated herself to supporting first-generation college students through the Educational Opportunity Program. Kari believed in me during times when I didn’t believe in myself. Without her encouragement and support, the trauma and housing insecurity I experienced would have consumed me. I will always consider her family, knowing her changed the course of my life and I will always be grateful to have been her student.

Website: firstgenhouse.com

Instagram: @firstgenhouse

Other: TikTok @firstgenhouse