"Who I Am" is rooted in "Who I Was" - where I was raised, how I was raised, and the challenges I faced during my upbringing.

And before I get into who I am, I'm going to introduce some family history to then segway into how family and history contribute to who I am today.

2015 Image of Echo Park. Previous image was take in 1999.

Born and raised in Echo Park, a predominant chicano neighborhood in the early 20th century. Although this image seems to capture the tranquility of what is now Echo Park, it was quite a gang-violent neighborhood 10-15 years ago.

Raised in a single mother household with 3 older brothers.

My mother, brothers, and I are essentially the (by)product an environment in which we were raised and the challenges that we all individually faced - poverty, assimilation, bullying, gang violence - which is why I feel that bringing attention to them is significant to understanding "Who I Am" today.

Bullying. Gang violence.

Joined MyStrength, Youth Over Violence, Peace over violence to advocate for the violence prevention and youth empowerment through services of education, intervention, prevention, and advocacy.

I got involved to keep busy, stay off the street and avoid being sucked into following a lifestyle that would have me end up out of school, doing drugs, or potentially in jail - like some of my friends.

Schizophrenic brother.

Influenced my pursuit in studying psychology and interest in advocacy for mental health and well being.

I often reflect on my fortunate circumstance and privilege in escaping a reality that my brothers weren't able to; them becoming a (by)product of an environment which challenge us socially, culturally, and financially.

I feel that my involvements and passions are then derived from the things I didn't have or things I would have liked to have when I was younger.