I work with clay because it holds memory. It absorbs touch, history, and intention, transforming earth into something eternal. Born in Harlem, and raised in Brooklyn and New Orleans, I come from a lineage shaped by immigration, resilience, and creation. Chosen for me by my ancestors, my name, Mila, meaning "tradition" in Swahili, grounds me in a legacy I expand with every piece I shape. My hands move with Their spirits- from Barbados to Borikén to Chía, Colombia—guiding me to merge the past with the present. Through ceramics, I honor land as both material and witness, a living record of survival and excellence. My hands move with the spirits of my ancestors—Indigenous African and Indigenous Latin American, pulling ancestral wisdom into Black-futurist mindsets. By centering Black radical self-acceptance and love, I challenge narratives that have sought to erase us. I create worlds where Black and Indigenous people see themselves as sacred, whole, and limitless. Sankofa teaches that to move forward, we must first reclaim what has been left behind. My practice is rooted in that philosophy, shaping a future where our traditions are not artifacts but evolving forces. Clay is both ancient and infinite—able to be reshaped, reimagined, and reborn. My work exists in that transformation- honoring tradition while creating what has never existed before. Beyond the studio, my practice is a commitment to community—creating spaces where Black and Indigenous people, especially youth, can see themselves in ceramics, reclaim their creative voices, and find empowerment through shared knowledge, healing, and collective care.