THE HEART LEADING AMARA COLECTIVA
Giving has always been part of my life because of my family. My mom is the most generous person I know. She taught me that giving and helping is a way of living, not just something you do once in a while. My dad exampled resilience and how keep a smile on your face when life becomes challenging. I’m very grateful to have come from such strong and kind hearted parents.At 15, I started volunteering, first in children’s hospitals, then feeding the unhoused community, and later helping at an orphanage in Uganda. When wildfires came to Los Angeles, I showed up with aid. For me, helping has never been a question. It has always been a way of life.As I grew older, I also began to discover my own neurodivergence. Finally getting that diagnosis was life changing. It gave me the confidence to see my differences not as flaws, but as strengths. Being on the spectrum has given me tools that shape the way I work and lead. I notice what others overlook, I feel deeply, and I care with a kind of focus and intensity that fuels everything I do. It is not despite being neurodivergent that I do this work. It is because of it.When my immigrant community began facing threats that continue today, I stepped into nonprofit leadership as a Co-Executive Director. I used my background in marketing and entrepreneurship to grow programs, strengthen operations, and expand impact. I always dreamed of starting a nonprofit, but it wasn’t until I led one that I truly understood what it takes. That experience gave me the preparation and confidence to start my own.That is how Amara Colectiva was born. A space that reflects my heart, my story, and my belief that resilience comes from both compassion and community. My hope is to show the difference it makes when we advocate for ourselves and for those who don’t yet have the capacity to do so.Our minds and our hearts are powerful enough to create real change.