Bio

Stephanie Alma Hernandez is a Mexican American disabled woman from Chicago. Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Disability and Human Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Stephanie is a vocalist, songwriter, composer, and cultural worker who leads a musical group named “Raro” together with Marcos Ríos, Tommy Carrol, and Leon Godfrey. Stephanie co-founded “Cuerpos Justificados” – Justified Bodies – together with Genevieve Ramos and Tommy Carroll to highlight the creative work and lived experiences of artists with disabilities. Through her cultural work and musical compositions, Stephanie aims to answer the question ‘wwhat does disability sound like?’ and “‘how does disability culture show up in our lives?.

Symptoms & Treatment Short Doc by Stephanie Alma Filmed by Rebecca Torres

This video serves as documentation of how I have created a life for myself living with blindness. I hope that other individuals with disabilities will stumble into this video and feel a sense of connection and community. Unlike other videos labeled “Symptoms and Treatment”, this video is not meant to perpetrate isolation of individuals facing a life with rare/unique disabilities. Email me if you’d like to connect.

Silky Syllables and Cello Improvisation Sep. 19, 2022 Stephanie Alma and Erika Miller

3 Songs, 22 minutes

1. Tú Si Sabes Vivir 2. Los Secretos De La Vida 3. Sueños Y Esperanzas

No texture can directly depict life as a disabled Mexican American woman, yet silk exists there. Classically trained cellist Erica Miller and self-taught vocalist, Alma, improvise and attempt to capture a soul’s testimony to a more hopeful time. This album is meant to be heard without judgement or language barriers, Stephanie Alma utilizes informal vocal expression as a form of universal language for emotions that cannot be explained through words.

Raro Band

About Raro:

A lot of Raro’s music comes directly from Stephanie Alma’s experience as a Mexican, American, disabled woman. Joined by Tommy Carroll on drums, Marcos Rios on guitar, and Leon Godfrey on bass. Raro is a blend of

Spanish rock and trip-hop and unsettling vocals like roses in a teardrop filled vase. Raro’s first EP “De Tu Miedo Aprendí” is a testament to radical love, true storries, and life lessons.