A Return to Soul Service

I’ve worked since I was 13. First as a babysitter and then as an intern at an early iteration of an SF Dept of Public Health non profit focused on youth advocacy and public health awareness and education. At an early age while still in middle school I was sitting in meetings outside of city hall SF discussing legislation to prohibit smoking in public entry ways (in partnership with SF Tobacco Free Project).

In high school I was president of Moving on Racial Equality (at a mostly all white elite private school that hosted very few minorities of which I felt more connected with than my private school counterparts – but knew I was there to bridge worlds and consciousness therein), an organizer for Latino Club (in my elite high school I’ve never felt more Mexican or identified as a person of color in my life – my father is the son of a Mexican immigrant and the first person in his family to graduate high school and the first to go on to get post masters degree education) and eventually I was VP of Diversity focused on garnering awareness and engagement around equal opportunity, educational privilege and outreach to diverse communities.

I was only able to attend the school which now I think costs upwards of $40K per year (more than most colleges) by receiving a nearly full scholarship due to abnormally high test scores  and performance reports. It was a cultural initiation indeed and showed me first hand what money can really buy. I probably engrained a lot of distortions around materialism and value and money at this time. I am thankful for the lessons and all the healing that has come forth since then. I miss feeling agitated to catalyze movements and engage controversial discussion around the inquiries that invite us to explore what it means to be human and to see the world thru such diverse lenses.

In college I double majored in political science and Latin American studies with an almost minor in social entrepreneurship at UC Santa Cruz. I learned about grant writing, studied revolutions and social movements, political theory with a focus on global political economy, world systems theory and post colonial thought.

My two theses were on the MS13 and transnational migrator my patterns of “the worlds most dangerous gang” and all social-political-economic dynamics therein; and “reggae: a post colonial critique of capitalism” investigating how a musical modality was developed as a social revolution and response of diaspora to infiltrate mass capitalist consciousness with messages catalyzing social change, spiritual reconnection and identity reclamation.

In New York City while working at top ad agencies and PR firms I served on the boards for Defy Ventures, United Women in Business and the Lower East Side Girls Club plus served on host committee for the Seeds Of Peace annual Peace Market. All the meanwhile I was heavily involved in service and sponsorship in 12 step communities and helped organize and lead in some cases the creation of events and conferences attended by 100s-1000s of young people in recovery.

At my last agency I led campaigns as senior producer and account managers for brand like Hyatt, ShockTop, Estée Lauder, Logitech and Barnes and Noble to name a few. My proudest accomplishment was spearheading and overseeing the development and launch of the agency’s grant program (The Praytell Passion Project) that awards $100K+ in creative and strategic services to non profits (grantees) in need. The program is still an active part of the company’s culture even 4 years later – so grateful for the chance to contribute in this way.

In my own business over the years I’ve told myself that sharing (books, articles, podcast, social posts, videos, courses), helping others heal and working on myself are all that’s required as opposed to the outward demonstrations of service I used to gravitate towards.

But the truth is..service is in my soul and somewhere along the line I allowed myself to move down a path of monetizing my soul service so overtly that I became disassociated from the purity of intention that had guided most of my life beforehand.

Odyssey’s creation and launch last year was an attempt at meeting somewhere new in the middle but wasn’t ultimately aligned (or I simply wasn’t ready or aligned) at that time with the frequency I now desire to bring through.

I’m closing the door on that timeline now and stepping forth into co-creation and genuine service in ways that feel loving, nourishing, enlivening and FUN.

So..here’s where I would love your help::

I would love to take a seat on a nonprofit board as an advisor offering expertise in biz strategy, messaging/marketing, creative direction, grant writing, constituent engagement, partnership development and fundraising.

Key areas of interest / cause: educational access + equality, family trauma + healing, addiction + recovery, women + children, micro lending + small business development, cross cultural exchange + education.

Please feel free to email me or introduce me to any organizations you sense I’d be a fit for.

I am offering 8 pro-bono hours per month starting in Sept. to companies, leaders and visionaries desiring holistic and strategic support relating to their vision that is designed to benefit humanity at this time.

Here is the form to request a spot: https://forms.gle/NBWWnk35j2ncWj1a6

I would also love to open space to mentor 3 young people (free of course, the exchange is met in witnessing + supporting the unfolding into their destiny) below the ages of 18 (with parent permission) who are awake and eager to align with their soul path and purpose. I envision these being long term partnerships that foster immense growth, healing and expansion.

Here is the form to apply for mentorship: https://forms.gle/EiqMUN9n4ofgvCCb7

In celebration of our collaboration, co-creations and collective dream weaving into new paradigms and potentials of Heaven on 🌏.

Thank you ❤️