ASHLEY VIRAMONTES (she/her/ella), began her work in case management at the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) where she witnessed firsthand the impact of trauma on our BIPOC population at a disproportionate rate and cycle it was creating. She then continued her work in case management at the Housing Authority of LA (HACLA) where she witnessed more of the same and decided that she would best use her gifts and talents to serve the non-profit arena. After graduating from USC with her MSW, she began her work as a Community Organizing Supervisor at the South Bay Center for Counseling (SBCC) where she applied her professional, educational and personal gifts and talents to work alongside Angelinos just like her. As change agents in their community, SBCC provided the financial resources and Ashley the brave spaces to advocate for their needs. Here, Through this experience, she found that true impact happens as a community/collectively and is the most rewarding work. Now, Ashley works as a Children’s Social Worker for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) where she works intentionally to provide brave space for families while using her trauma.