Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivania Gutierrez.
Hi Ivania, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It was April 16, 2017, when my mother revealed that I had two days to pack all my belongings and find somewhere to live. I was sixteen years old. Growing up with undocumented parents was never easy, but it wasn’t always like this. I was the only one in my family born in the United States, so I lived in Mexico for the first few years with my parents and my two much older sisters, who obtained only a visitors’ visa. We all lived in a two-story, well-kept house next to a park. My dad was very successful in his used car parts business, and we were privileged enough to go on throughout these years without worrying about money. Regardless of our stable lifestyle, when I turned six, my mother realized the U.S. was full of many academic opportunities for me that I wasn’t taking advantage of. My mother had the wild suggestion to take me across the border where we would live with her brother. My dad wasn’t very fond of this idea, but my mother stood her ground, and without his blessing, she took my older sister and me across the border and lived in Hidalgo, Texas, for a decade. Despite all the difficulties we encounter in the future, it is still a decision I thank her for to this day.
When my mom told me to pack my things, I was shocked. I thought about everything we went through together, the sacrifices we made, and the hardships we had to endure. At first, I didn’t know how to react, but then she explained that she wanted to move back to Mexico briefly. During this time, undocumented families were being targeted. Living in the Rio Grande Valley, one of the safest cities in the United States, my mom still constantly feared being deported. She didn’t want to be in a detention center and decided she instead had a choice in doing things her way, leaving on her terms.
My family’s story is why I started devoting my time to community activism, to speak up for those who have gone through a similar path. Along with immigrant rights, my passion has always been reproductive justice. In a time when our reproductive liberties are at stake, immigrant POC families like mine are affected drastically. In 2021 when SB8 was introduced in the state of Texas that I began to organize with RGV organizations and fight back against laws affecting our community. It was then that I also decided to combine my career in digital marketing and my passion for reproductive justice to continue spreading awareness on social media and promote support for reproductive justice for all. Since that day, I have had to learn to live independently, in full survival mode. I worked for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as a Digital Marketing Assistant for some time, then was a Campus Health Educator at Access Esperanza Clinics. I adored my job in promoting reproductive healthcare for low-income communities and educating young adults on sexual health both in person and on social media. It was last year that I embarked on a new journey. It moved to San Antonio, the city I love, to seek new opportunities and continue to promote reproductive justice and advocacy for a nationwide organization, along with fighting through the fall of Roe V. Wade. However, due to current laws concerning abortion access in Texas, I had to balance protecting myself and my passion for this cause.
While I’m currently looking for full-time opportunities in my career, I dedicate my daily life to improving my professional skills and learning how to be a better advocate, not just for others but for myself as well. I now invest my time taking up modeling with Models of Texas (a loving and welcoming group,) practicing my graphic design, and having daily conversations both online and in person about reproductive justice. Taking care of my mental health is extremely important, especially while living with Major Depressive Disorder.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I constantly think about what my mom taught me, resilience. Even when the world was against me, throwing me too many things to handle, I stood my ground and kept fighting. Even if I believe my world can fall apart at any moment possible, I am okay with that. I am not as scared as I once was, for I have learned to adapt to and fight the big road ahead of me. I gathered my strength for that same sixteen-year-old girl and fought not to lose.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
With four years of experience in social media marketing and a devoted passion for community activism, I focus my career on helping non-profit organizations promote their social justice mission through social media, emphasizing immigrant and reproductive justice. As a social media manager and community educator, I offer consulting and full-time dedication to businesses and non-profit organizations to help them develop successful social media strategies, launch new projects, and deal with communication crises. I also value my public speaking skills to speak up for issues that matter most to me. Whether I’m in a room full of young adults educating them on reproductive health or at a city council meeting fighting against unjust ordinances, there’s no other way I instead use my voice.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am devoted to God, yet I also practice my spirituality through meditation, affirmations, and the law of attraction. This is funny, but my oldest sister was obsessed with The Secret. I’d watch the movie with her when I was nine as she clipped at magazines and created her vision boards while reciting her affirmations. Later, a freshman-year high school teacher lent me the book while I was stumped in my spiritual journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: ivaniagutierrez.com
- Instagram: ivania.gtz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ivania.gutierrez.10
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ivaniagtz
