In this episode you will hear a platica with Dr. Erik Escareño and Dr. Alejandra Acuña as they explore different topics on the work around re-indigenizing practices and decolonizing work. We hear Dr. Escareño's thoughts on resilience and get to hear about their favorite dicho or song. So grab your cafesito and enjoy this episode!

About our guest: Erik James Escareño,DSW, LCSW identifies as a two-spirited, indigenous (Yavapai Apache and Chiricahua Apache), Los Angeleno fueled by social justice and perpetuating

In this episode we learn about Janet M. Reyes M.A., CCC-SLP and her story of Resilience. Janet M. Reyes is a dynamic professional with a diverse background, excelling in both the realms of Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology and Hairstyling. With a unique blend of talents, Janet has carved a niche for herself in two distinct fields. As a Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist(SLP), Janet's expertise extends beyond traditional speech therapy. She is a dedicated practitioner with specialized skills, enabling her to address speech and communication challenges with a comprehensive approach. Janet is the visionary owner of Plucky Talks Inc., a thriving platform that offers Speech Therapy services and more. She brings passion and innovation to her practice, with a focus on educating families and mentoring aspiring SLPs. Janet's contributions have been recognized through her guest appearances on multiple podcasts, where she shares her insights and experiences. Janet's journey is a testament to her commitment to education and personal growth. Janet went back to school, a single mother, former HS dropout and domestic violence survivor, while working full time as a hairstylist.  She proudly holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from California State University, Los Angeles. As a first-generation college graduate, Janet's accomplishments inspire others to reach for their goals. She was nominated by her organization to be a member of CAPTAIN (California Autism Professional Training and Information Network), reflecting her deep commitment to providing support and resources to individuals with autism and their families. Janet's unique blend of talents, dedication to her craft, and commitment to lifelong learning make her a multifaceted professional who is making a lasting impact in the worlds of Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology and Hairstyling. Her journey continues to inspire and uplift those around her, setting an example of what can be achieved through determination, expertise, and a passion for excellence.

To connect with Janet: IG: La SLP Chingona, Linktr.ee: SLPChingona

In this episode Dr. Acuña interviews Ernie G and captures his story of resilience. Ernie G is an empowerment comedian, speaker and mental health coach. He has been seen by millions on TV shows such as Comedy Central’s “Make Me Laugh,” B.E.T’s “Comic View,” Ed McMahon’s “Next Big Star,” & Sí TV’s “Funny is Funny!” He is oneof the original stars of the hit Comedy show “Qué Locos!”hosted by George Lopez, HBO Latino’s “Habla Again,”Sí TV’s “Latino Laugh Festival!” & “Inside Joke!” He appeared as “The AngryAngeleno” on the Ch.13 News and as a Feature Reporter for “FOX Good Day LA!

A graduate of Loyola Marymount University w/ his B.A. in Psychology & a Minor in Chicano Studies, Ernie has developed his own unique form of Comedy he calls“Latino Edutainment – Educating and Entertaining with a Latino Flavor!” andhas performed for the country’s top organizations & corporations, including Pepsi-Co,Disney, General Mills, Warner Bros, the U.S. Armed Forces, the NationalCouncil de la Raza, the Latin American Educational Foundation, HispanicScholarship Fund, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, NASA: LangleyResearch Center & St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Ernie G was honored by the City of Los Angeles with the 1st-ever Mario Moreno “Cantínflas” Award for “...representing the Latino community with the same humor and distinction as the legendary Mario Moreno “Cantínflas!” He also received the Nix Financial “Father of the Community Award” & the Hispanic Heritage Foundation just recognized Ernie for Hispanic Heritage Month as a Hispanic Leader who makes a difference in the Latino community. Ernie’s heart has always been with Inner-City & Foster Youth, having delivered Leadership & Mental Health Programs for many City & County Organizations,including California Children's Services, Foster Care Agencies and the L.A.County Probation Department. He has received rave reviews for his work with U.S.Government Agencies, such as the U.S. Treasury Department & the U.S. CensusBureau. He has delivered the Key Note Address at numerous High School & UniversityGraduations, including UCLA’s RAZA Grad, and recently gave his 1st TEDx Talk, asthe Education Program Director for The Best Inspirational Documentary Film of 2020“WeRiseUP!” The Movie & The Movement! (WeRiseUP.com)

To connect with Ernie : IG: @ErnieGhaha & www.ErnieG.com

In this episode you will hear Cafe con Emocion's interview with Dr. Paez as he discussed owning his challenges and struggles and getting support for this act of bravery. Tune in to this epidsode as he talks about how resiliency is built upon working through the unknowns and being okay with not taking an expert stance through the learning process. When we believe that we are lovable, competent, and can trust others we can navigate the "not knowing" and learn to trust ourselves and others while creating an openness to learn. Dr. Jose Miguel Paez (He/Him/His), is a multi-ethnic person (Mexican/Fillipino/Italian/enrolled member of the confederated Tribes of Siletz.) Assitant Professor, joined the CSU faculty in the fall of 2000 as a full-time lecture. He received his MSW from the University of Southern California in 2001, with an emphasis on families and children. He earned his Ed. D from CSUM in 2020. The title of his dissertation was Decolonial Portraiture: Challenging Coloniality and Re-imagining Social Work Education. Jose teaches clinical and macro practice courses. Prior to teaching, he served as a bilingual outpatient clinician for community-based mental health organizations. He continue to provide ongoing consultation, mentoring, trainings, and workshops within the community. He currently serves as a board member of Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural. Jose has a background in threatre, improv, spoken workd and was also a basketball coach at various levels for many years.

In this episode you learn about some of the research around the second element of resilience which is creating a sense of Calm.  We learn from Our guest a unique opportunity utilizing nature's healing and wellness as a whole.  Stay tuned to learn about our Guest Dr. Nidia Moran  and Pricilla Alvarado Taylor.  

Dr Nidia Moran has twenty years of experience as a mental health provider. As a psychotherapist, and life & wellness coach, she supports folks in achieving tangible results in their lives by helping them seek self-empowerment, personal growth, identity development and navigate life transitions. She specializes in culturally rooted and affirming practices using a collaborative, holistic, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed approach and she works with the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.  Dr. Moran utilizes an intersectional and decolonizing lens through an integrative approach of traditional therapy (CBT, Psychodynamic, EMDR, DBT) and holistic/ancestral healing modalities. In addition, she combines wellness practices and the immersion in nature to enhance overall health.  She has experience with the treatment of PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief and loss to create a safe space for folks to explore their identities, gain self-compassion, get unstuck, heal, and grow.  She can be reached at IG: @drnidiamoran or 562-542-1144

Pricilla Alvarado Taylor Priscilla Alvarado Taylor, a Costa Rican biologist and tour director with 20 years of experience leading tour groups from all over the world. My profession has a strong emphasis on ecology and sustainable development, I've been involved in several environmental education campaigns and scientific research. I love to travel and learn about different cultures, meet people from all over the world and listen to their life stories. My passion for wildlife conservation and its habitat took me to work with manatees, my favorite animal. Being in the tourism sector working as a freelance for many prestigious companies has taught me many things, both professionally and personally. I started New Pearl Travel inspired by all these years of experience and with the need to apply all that knowledge and wisdom. My goal is to design lifetime experiences, with unique activities where travelers can feel a connection and will love to come back for more...I started getting interested in my wellbeing more during the pandemic, reading and studying about wellness and mental health. It's important to create a community and spread light among all, helping others to learn the importance of keeping their body and mind positive and healthy, sharing life experiences and testimonials of improvement. Contact Pricilla  @ https://www.newpearltravel.com/,Contact: [email protected],(506) 84547531

In this episode we connect with Dr. Soler and her knowledge of mental well being amongst diverse population.  She highlights the first essential element of resilience: Establishing a sense of safety.  Through storytelling and sharing her experiences we learn about how the sense of safety is established amongst refugee and immigrant populations.   

Dr. Giselle Soler is a Salvadoran-American, bilingual, licensed psychologist based in Los Angeles, with more than eight years of experience in clinical practice serving a diverse population. Her passion has been to work with underserved individuals, immigrants, and adult children of immigrants. She specializes in treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, and acculturative stress. She seeks to bring awareness and knowledge on mental wellbeing to diverse populations in an effort to de-stigmatize mental health and address cultural barriers that may impact mental wellness. She currently works as a forensic evaluator and psychotherapist at Program for Torture Victims (PTV), where she serves survivors of torture who are seeking asylum in the U.S. Dr. Soler has a bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s University in Psychology and Religious. She also has a Master’s and Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles.

We kick off season 2 by sipping on our cafecito and connecting with a couple that exemplify resiliency.  So grab your cafecito and learn more about Luis Rodriguez and Trini Rodriguez, co-founders and former Executive Director of Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore (www.tiachucha.org), a cultural center/bookstore in  L.A's San Fernando Valley that transforms community through ancestral knowledge, the arts, literacy and creative engagement.  

Luis rodriguez is the author of 16 multi-genre books, including the bestselling memoir "Always Running, La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." He is also founding editor of Tia Chucha Press.  For more than 40 years, he's taught creative writing, read poetry, lectured, and facilitated healing circles in prisons, jails, and juvenile lockups in the  United States., Mexico, Central America, South America, and Europe. He's been active in Indigenous spiritual practices and teachings for around 30 years, including among the Lakota, Mexica, Dine (Navajo), Akimel O'odham. Raramuri (Tarahumara). Maya (Mexico and Guatemala). Pibil (El Salvador),.and Quechua (Peru). He's been published widely. including in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, San Jose Mercury. L.A. Weekly, The Nation, Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine. Grand Street. American Poetry Review. Brooklyn Rail. and the Huffington Post. among others. From 2014 to 2016, he served as Los Angeles' official Poet Laureate. 

Trini Rodriguez (AKA Tlazohteotl) is a former bilingual educator, court interpreter, and newspaper editor, she writes, speaks and strives for personal and collective healing and systemic social change. Trini facilitates women's healing sweat lodge and healing circles in Native American and Native Mexican traditions.  

To connect further with this amazing couple go to their podcast "Hummingbird Cricket Hour"!

In this episode you will learn about your season 2 co-hosts and what resilience means to them.  You will also learn about Cafe Con Emocion's season 2 hopes!

Join us for our last episode of the season as we talk with Felicia "Fe" Montes, a Xicana Indigenous artist, educator, practitioner of the healing arts, and co-creator of In Lak Ech, a Xicana Indigenous song group. Felicia shares with us how her years as a BIPOC punk rocker and spoken word artist in Los Angeles not only helped her express her talents, but let her share her voice as an activist and Xicana.

Speaker Contact:

Felicia 'Fe' Montes

https://feliciamontes.wordpress.com/

https://www.instagram.com/feevaone/

What is Reiki? According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, and now virtual with the goal of directing energy to help facilitate the person’s own healing response. It’s based on an Eastern belief in an energy that supports the body’s innate or natural healing abilities.

Please join Café con Emoción as we talk with Elisa Ortega owner of Stay.Chula.Wellness in Orange County, Ca. She shares with us her personal journey as a Latinx mujer finding Reiki as a form of spiritual healing and now a practitioner working with others.    

If you have ever wondered about Reiki, crystals, charkas, or any other form of energy work listen to this episode!  It's a great place to start your journey.

Speaker Contact:

Elisa Ortega

Stay.Chula.Wellness https://www.instagram.com/stay.chula.wellness/

Local Resources:

Freedohm Wellness https://www.instagram.com/freedohmwellness/

Energy Light Healing https://www.instagram.com/energylighthealing/

The International Center for Reiki training https://www.reiki.org/