On Celebrating AAPI Artists And Creators Of Color In Austin: Nina Ho And Marissa Rivera
This summer, we’re checking in with our members and friends on the meaning of abundance.
To kick things off, we’re catching up with two long-time, Austin-based collaborators of Future Front—Nina Ho and Marissa Rivera. Through our friends at _OF COLOR, they’re collaborating for the first time on an experiential art showcase, RITUALS, celebrating AAPI creators in our city .
In this interview, Nina and Marissa reflect on their work as creative leaders and share their thoughts on generative, grounding community traditions. For more information on how to support RITUALS, click here.
Meet Nina Ho.
Nina Ho is an entrepreneur, creative director, and educator based in Austin, Texas.
She is the founder of collective blue, an Austin-based lifestyle brand that celebrates diverse creators through digital storytelling and event production, as well as missfits fest, an event series celebrating self-identifying Asian American women in entrepreneurship and the arts.
Nina is also a creative director and photographer with a focus on fashion editorial work. When it comes to giving back, she enjoys leading entrepreneurship, human-centered design, and branding workshops in Austin and abroad.
No. 1 — In your own words, who are you and what do you do?
My name is Nina Ho (she/her), and I'm an entrepreneur, creative director, and educator. I'm passionate about creating spaces for women and people of color to thrive—especially in the domains of entrepreneurship and the arts.
No. 2 — What does abundance look like to you?
Abundance to me looks like connecting to one's inner reservoir of light and love and carrying it forth in daily life.
No. 3 — How do you measure success in your work?
Success to me when it comes to work is honoring the ebbs and flows of creation and output as well as rest and reflection. My priority is the well-being of myself and my team so that we're able to do the work we love and create the impact we desire in a sustained and equanimous manner. It's taken a lot of hard lessons and re-evaluating my relationship with "productivity" to arrive here personally and as a leader.
No. 4 — What keeps you grounded? Any tips or rituals?
A breakthrough for me has been leaning into all the ways of knowing - not just mentally but also physically, emotionally, and spiritually/energetically. When I trust myself to already hold all of the answers that I seek, I'm able to naturally gravitate towards the rest, play, people, food, and experiences that I need to recharge and feel grounded. For me, some of those activities look like gardening, meditation, cooking, reading, and making art from a place of inspiration and ease.
No. 5 —What have you let go this year that has made a positive change in your life?
I've let go of my need to categorize experiences into neat boxes of either/or and this or that. More than one truth can exist at once (even if they seem contradictory), and embracing this ambiguity has been incredibly freeing. For example, I am doing my best, and I can do better. Both statements can be true at once.
No. 6 — Your newest community project, RITUALS, debuts this weekend. What are you excited about when it comes to this particular showcase?
Collective joy! The themes within our community these past few years have been grief, protection, and resilience, and I'm excited to lean into the brighter side of life—truly to cleanse, to release, and to celebrate… I'm grateful for this collaboration with the _OF COLOR team and to be able to hold space for the AAPI community in Austin.
Meet marissa rivera.
Marissa Rivera (she/her) is a licensed psychotherapist, yoga teacher and educator in Austin, Texas.
She is the owner of Ola Wellness, a private psychotherapy practice proudly serving Austin's LGBTQ+ communities of Color. As an Indigenous Tejana, Marissa is passionate about serving her community. She is active in amplifying local artists and musicians of color through her work as a board member for the SIMS Foundation and Director of Partnerships for _OF COLOR.
In her downtime, Marissa enjoys volunteering with Divine Canines, taking long walks with her pup Bruce Wayne, performing as a backup dancer, and finding the best al pastor tacos in town.
No. 1 — In your own words, who are you and what do you do?
My name is Marissa Rivera (she/her/ella), and I am a Queer Indigenous Tejana who as a licensed psychotherapist creates space for intergenerational healing within LGBTQ+ communities of color. I’m also passionate about building creative healing communities through my work on the Board of Directors for the SIMS Foundation and as Director of Partnerships for _OFCOLOR.
No. 2 — What does abundance look like to you?
For me, abundance means being able to share with others one's expansive capacity for curiosity, compassion, community, and authenticity.
No. 3 — How do you measure success in your work?
Success for me looks like creating experiences that encourage people to question their assumptions and to expand the lens they use to view the world. I think art has a unique ability to bring those experiences to life, enhance one’s connection to community, and give voice to stories needing to be told.
No. 4 — What keeps you grounded? Any tips or rituals?
I’m someone who is vulnerable to being too analytical and overthinking things, so I make a point to engage my senses and body whenever I notice myself trapped by my own arbitrary expectations. For me, this means swimming, dancing, laying in the grass with my pup, or even practicing environmental meditations outside. I always encourage my clients to connect with the people, places, and practices that make it safe to connect with their bodies and spirits when living in our current feudal oligarchy feels overwhelming. Doing so is the only way we can continue building a more connected future together.
No. 5 — What have you let go this year that has made a positive change in your life?
I’ve learned to de-prioritize relationships and spaces that aren’t aligned with my current path, without judgment and still leaving room for connection on perhaps a different level. It’s ok (and natural!) for connections to ebb and flow, so learning to let go of rigid expectations has been helpful for me to live a very busy life with more ease.
No. 6 — This weekend, _OF COLOR is presenting RITUALS for the first time, in collaboration with may Austin-based AAPI artists. What are you MOST excited FOR?
I am ecstatic to celebrate our AAPI community in Austin and be exposed to some amazing talent! Nina Ho has spent months developing this vision with support of our _OF COLOR team in order to really highlight the diversity within the AAPI community. I’m excited to soak in the different stories and experiences that’ll be represented.
No. 7 — What are the best ways to get involved with _OF COLOR?
Follow us and share our content on Instagram (@_ofcoloratx)! Our organization is 100% volunteer-led from top to bottom, so we are always happy to welcome energized folks into our community. We believe creativity comes in many forms and all are needed in our mission to build a coalition of creatives of color. Whether your creativity lies in design, curation, project management, copywriting, etc, we probably have a project you could contribute to. We’re also always looking for fiscal sponsors to help support our mission and experiences.
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact volunteer@ofcolor.org. (If you’re interested in sponsoring our experiences, contact marissa@ofcolor.org.)
Want to stay involved through Future Front?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
This interview was compiled and written by Future Front Communications Fellow, Eunice Bao.