My name is Priscilla María Gutiérrez and I am a Keynote Speaker, Certified Trauma-Informed Life Coach, and trauma survivor who empowers others to become cycle breakers. I am also a certified speaker for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University (cum laude) and a Juris Doctor degree from UC Irvine School of Law.

My life purpose is to help others heal from trauma, overcome limiting beliefs, and create their ideal lives. As a sober, bisexual Latina woman with diagnosed mental illness, I show up authentically to exemplify that recovery and healing are very possible.

Experience:
• Work as a Thrive Coach for the Reframe App supporting people reducing or quitting drinking.
• Coach students in the DC Futures Program, a scholarship program offered through the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
• Host monthly support group for LGBTQ+ Latinx people for OutCare Health.
• Co-host Tuesday meetings for the Sober Black Girls Club that serve queer BIPOC femmes in recovery.
• Co-faciliated a domestic violence support group as a trained advocate at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility.
• Curated mental health and domestic violence awareness content for a family law firm as a creative and community outreach manager.
• Raised mental health awareness on behalf of NAMI at local schools and community centers as a certified speaker.
• Supported trauma survivors as a law student through the Veterans and Domestic Violence Clinics.
• Wrote op-ed essays for popular online platforms, such as Yahoo!, Blavity, and Nalgona Positivity Pride about mental health and the effects of trauma.
• Provided leadership and secured almost $400,000 in funds through grantwriting for a national mental health organization that serves Black communities.
• Extensive volunteer experience primarily supporting underserved Black and Brown youth and families through academic support and mentorship.

Recovery is not a linear process or a destination. It often has ups, downs, and unexpected turns. This journey could test your most resilient coping skills but also gift you liberation from your darkest hours. Priscilla María is in recovery from alcohol and eating disorders. She describes her path to eleven alcohol-free years and 10 years of eating disorder recovery.

Recovery requires us to recognize what areas of our life need healing, action to mend our wounds, and the commitment to repeat this process as many times as needed. Priscilla María leads by example and shows that recovery is possible.

Learning Objectives:
1. There is no one way to recover. There are several paths, perspectives, and philosophies one could follow.
2. Recovery is an ongoing opportunity to reflect on choices, relationships, and values.
3. Trauma-informed models and resources to lean on for community, information, and support.
4. Representation in recovery spaces matters.

Ideal Audiences: Fraternity/Sorority Life, New Member Orientation, Mental Health & Wellness, Community Colleges, First-Generation Students

College students are in a liminal space between adolescence and independence. Priscilla María inspires students to emerge as assertive leaders by leveraging their unique experiences and influential voices. She describes the tools, skills,and strategies that helped her replace shyness and anonymity with confidence and leadership.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the unmatched set of experiences and perspectives they possess.
2. Gift themselves permission to show up authentically, lighten the emotional load they carry, and release self-discouraging beliefs.
3. Demonstrate that transformation happens through daily habits, goal-setting, and purposeful vision.
4. Identify what leadership mistakes to avoid.

Ideal Audiences:
First Generation Students, Student Organizations, Career Services Programs, TRiO, Community Colleges

Collaboration is a currency that opens doors of opportunity and optimizes growth. Priscilla María inspires students and faculty to create a culture of belonging in this captivating presentation. Audience members will learn dynamic strategies to navigate the complexities of identity and sociopolitical climates to build a tolerant community on campus and beyond.

Learning Objectives:
1. Summarize how to best engage and support community members, especially BIPOC and women.
2. Describe intersectionality and how we experience social privilege and oppression.
3. Build empathy, vulnerability, and conflict-resolution muscles.
4. Design a relationship inventory and identify ways to strengthen their support system.

Ideal Audiences: Fraternity/Sorority Life, New Member Orientation, Mental Health & Wellness, Community Colleges, First-Generation Students

Nothing kills more dreams than self-doubt. Priscilla María uses her relatable college experiences to illustrate the necessity of cultivating a growth mindset.Our mindset fuels the feelings we experience and the actions we take. Students and faculty will leave with clear, actionable coping strategies to navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and achieve short- and long-term goals.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify self-limiting beliefs that impede personal growth and how to replace them with mindfulness and gratitude.
2. Explore strategies to cultivate a positive self-image and internal dialogue.
3. Learn coping skills to prevent anxiety, burnout, and imposter syndrome.
4. Develop practices to find meaning in each day and live intentionally.

Ideal Audiences: Fraternity/Sorority Life, New Member Orientation, Mental Health & Wellness, Community Colleges, First-Generation Students, Faculty Workshops

This inspiring talk delves into the personal journey of a first-generation Latina advocate discovering and embracing her voice, identity, and power in America. Priscilla María shares vulnerable chapters of her life including the xenophobia she experienced as a child and the mental health diagnoses she received as an adult.

Through candid storytelling and personal reflection, she shines a light on the challenges faced by many Latinas in America, such as struggles with identity, cultural assimilation, and representation. She adds voice to the experiences of her mother, grandmothers, and aunts from Ecuador and Nicaragua who did not have the same opportunity to be heard.

Her inspirational journey as the daughter of a refugee to a Juris Doctor recipient and beyond illustrates the resilience and fearlessness that lives within Latinas.

Learning Objectives:

• Insight into the unique challenges and triumphs of finding one’s voice and identity as a Latina in America.
• Practical advice on navigating cultural and personal identity conflicts.
• Inspiration to embrace and advocate for one’s voice and empowerment.
• A deeper understanding of how individual journeys contribute to broader social change, leadership, and community empowerment.

Ideal Audiences:

• Latinx students, faculty, and staff
• First-gen students
• Latinx student groups and other cultural clubs
• DEI-based organizations
• Women’s organizations
• Mental health organizations