I am thrilled to be supporting youth and their families through my role as Youth Mentor and Parent Partner at the Multicultural Center of Marin. My five years of experience as a former bilingual public-school teacher and my multicultural background give me unique insight into working with a diverse array of young people and their families, particularly Latinx individuals like myself. Having had the privilege of supporting teenage students throughout the turbulent times following the pandemic was an incredibly rewarding, enlightening, and life-altering experience for me. Eventually, that work pushed me to realize that I desired to provide more focused support to youth and their families, in a broader capacity in their lives, as I am now doing at the Multicultural Center.I was born in Anaheim, California, the first of two children in a low-income, traditional-Mexican household. As a first-generation college graduate, I went to the University of California Santa Cruz and later returned to achieve my Master of Arts degree and teaching credential. I am a strong advocate for marginalized youth and trauma survivors, and am passionate about racial and ethnic equity, ending violence against children, and trauma awareness, recovery, and prevention. I have presented my work at various projects, courses, and organizations including the Latinx Initiative, Initiative for Racial Equity and Justice, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, the Central California Writing Project, and the California Association of Teachers of English Convention.I ultimately aim to use my devotion to wellness, healing, mentorship, and my values of linguistic and social emotional development to create a positive personal impact on youth, their families, communities, and beyond.In my free time, I enjoy biking, reading, dancing, journaling, connecting with nature, and spending time with my cat Vi.