THE EXIT PLAN

I CREATED THE EXIT PLAN TO TURN SURVIVAL INTO STRATEGY—TO FUND MY ESCAPE FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAS MADE IT CLEAR I’M NOT SAFE. AS A QUEER, TRANS, AND MEXICAN PERSON, I’VE FELT THE WEIGHT OF A SYSTEM THAT WAS NEVER BUILT FOR US. MY OWN EXIT PLAN IS A MATCHA CART—A VEHICLE FOR RESISTANCE AND LIBERATION, BLENDING JAPANESE AND MEXICAN INGREDIENTS AS A REFLECTION OF THE CULTURES I LOVE AND THE FUTURE I’M CLAIMING FOR MYSELF. BUT THE EXIT PLAN ISN’T JUST MINE. IT’S A FRAMEWORK, AN INVITATION, AND A SPARK FOR OTHERS TO BUILD THEIR OWN EXITS—WHATEVER THEY MAY LOOK LIKE. EVERY CUP I SERVE IS A PROTEST, A DREAM, AND A STEP TOWARD COLLECTIVE FREEDOM.