Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Barba
Hi Aaron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Throughout the years of my life, I have experienced everything from homelessness, poverty, a lifelong condition diagnosis, harassment, and discrimination. However, I have also experienced what it’s like to perform for a crowd of 300 people, creating my own business, auditioning for various talent shows, and making a name for myself as a personable and empathetic individual in the nonprofit sector of California and Texas. My story has been filled with a variety of emotions, obstacles, and achievements all of which I hold dearly to my heart. At the age of 13 years, I had already earned an internship with nonprofit organization dedicated to the arts, attended workshops and training sessions hosted by the CEOs of Disney, ABC, Google, and other large corporations, and advocated for LGBTQ+ rights which landed me the front page of the local newspaper in Ventura, CA. From there, I attended the number one university for the performing arts in United States, pursued a career in the nonprofit and entertainment industries, earned various certifications in various fields while also working with my tribe to provide opportunities to our youth and providing performance opportunities to local musicians in California and Texas. I currently serve 100+ entrepreneurs, organizations, creatives, and individuals through holistic case management services provided my business that recently transplanted itself from Ventura, CA to Austin, TX and earned it’s 501(c)(3) certification as a nonprofit organization within the state of Texas. Life has been whirlwind to say the least, but it has been full of life, growth, innovation, creativity, and so many other blessings that make it rich and beautiful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life hasn’t been smooth to say the least. I came from a broken home filled with skeletons in the closet that have made me doubt myself numerous times while depleting my energy. I remember having to boil water on the stove to bathe, having no electricity or running water, and seeing the pantry empty while my father and mother scrambled to care for my siblings and I while also working full-time positions in the medical, construction, retail, and food industries. By the time I was 16 years old, I had already experienced taking over my youngest brother’s care as a caregiver since he is Autistic, went to school and worked for 80 hours a week, and had been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety/panic disorder while mediating my parents divorce. When I reached college, it felt like a breath of fresh air now that my responsibilities were changing, but while attending college I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and eventually left my university to be my mother’s and brother’s full-time caregiver due to various medical and mental issues that arose after the divorce that had an effect on my whole family. I eventually left my home and my responsibilities for a year during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained homeless until 2021 when I founded my business, Love is Human, in California. However, the situation at home with my family remained the same while I worked tirelessly for the business, for my family, for my education, and for my future which resulted in me leaving once again on the train this time with $2,000 in my pocket and the promise of a new tomorrow in Austin, TX. If I hadn’t taken that gamble, I don’t know where I would, but I’m beyond grateful that I did leave to take root in this city and serve the people of this community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Not only am I the director and chairman of my nonprofit organization, Love is Human, but I am also a creative with a band called United Love and I still serve the community full-time for another nonprofit organization. I value growth, innovation, and creativity above all else, and I am still applying myself through tackling new training, certification, and degree opportunities to expand my skill set. I’m known mostly for my nonprofit, my music, and my events that organization and coordinate.
What makes you happy?
Growth, innovation, and creation. These words mean more to me than just being traits that my organization values. They are the reason why I consider my life so beautiful. Through growth, I continue to aspire to make a difference within the community just so I can see the smiles on people’s faces and hear their laughter as we come together for events, workshops, and services that we provide as an organization. It’s a blessing and I cherish every moment with my family of friends, clients, and colleagues. I also enjoy creating music that speaks to the heart of issues I’ve seen in the community and within my own personal experiences. I write lyrics that express these feelings, and the feeling of performing for a crowd no matter its size always ignites a spark within me. A spark that is powerful, kind, and exhilarating. Since I was a child, music has been my salvation, and because of people like my grandfather, it is just as much a part of me as my own breath. Aside from this, I enjoy nature and life in general, and I spend my days smelling the flowers, feeling the wind in my hair, and listening to the sounds of nature on the breeze as a travel around the city to perform my duties. I was very much raised on the belief that all life is sacred due to my indigenous heritage and upbringing. I spent most of my life around the reservation learning that everything from the dirt to the sky to cosmos is important and should be respected, and if it wasn’t for my tribe, I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.loveishuman.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_.loveishuman._?igsh=MTIveHRyMm0xajFkMw%3D%3D&ut-m_source=qr
Image Credits
Nicole Perez
Michael Kovacevich
Mx Bridges
Cassandra Frietas
