We were lucky to catch up with Emerita Lezett Flores recently and have shared our conversation below.
Emerita Lezett, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Being the eldest sister of 5, presented me with stressors at a very young age. I had to reframe challenges as opportunities. I had to understand that I don’t get to choose what happens, but I got to choose my response.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My focus is continuing to grow as an individual, as a mother of two teens, co-founder of Impact LA (nonprofit), amongst other areas in my life.
My best friend/sister, Courtney, co-founded IMPACT LA with me to break barriers and address social injustices. We continue to strive to feed kids nutritious food across 27 sites in California. We would love for others to join us and help spread the work of organizations like ours. We work with other agencies who provide a service to kids in areas where at least 50% of kids receive free or reduced school lunch. Basically, where it’s most needed. Impact LA offers other resources and programs such as: free backpacks and school supplies during back to school, turkey dinner kits in November, fitness field days and camps, summer camps, intergenerational projects, etc. I find it beautiful to cultivate new connections with other people who are involved in helping others and the community around them better.
As far as growing as an individual & mother, it’s honestly been a difficult journey. When I became a mother 15 years ago, everyone saw me as only a mother and nothing else, including myself. But as I shifted my thinking and became more resilient. I had to learn from my mistakes and move forward through adversity. I now partake in activities that nourish & restore my being, I practice creativity, laugh every chance I get, I am intentional, thoughtful & curious; but also proactively seek support. We cannot pour from an empty cup. The greatest gift I can give to others, is putting myself first. In order to inspire others, I must inspire myself first. Pour to myself first. My goal is to be unapologetically me, Emerita Lezett.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Being resilient: Consciously learning from my mistakes, accepting support when it’s offered and reaching out when I need it, improving how I talk to myself build my resilience. Resiliency has kept me moving.
Being myself: Pursuing “non-conventional” dreams and aspirations and not caring what others think is shifting me to become my TRUE self.
Connecting with others: Although at times it’s been difficult to introduce myself or talk to others, I’ve learned to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Being intentional with who and how I connect with loved ones and acquaintances has made my life more fulfilling.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Our team at Impact LA is small and mighty but we need people who can help us grow. Any grant writers, social media content creators, donor relation individuals, fundraising gurus, program partners, community leaders, volunteers, etc who can contribute to our cause are welcome to reach out to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: impactla.org
- Instagram: @lizzy22la @weimpactla
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liz.flores.39/
