We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kathy Ortiz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kathy , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
What Resilience Means to Me
Resilience, for me, is what rises when everything is falling apart.
It’s finding the strength to reinvent yourself when life forces you to start over.
It’s having the courage to follow your purpose even when the path is lonely,
to believe in yourself when doubt tries to drown your faith.
Resilience is being your own light when no one is clapping,
when no one is cheering you on but you keep showing up anyway.
It’s knowing that your spirit has power
power to heal, to inspire, and to change lives just by being true to who you are.
That, to me, is resilience
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
About My Work and Purpose
I work with a nonprofit organization where I serve as an instructor and therapist, mentoring young teen girls and supporting parents through community-based programs. My passion lies in empowering both teens and parents to make small, consistent changes that lead to lasting growth and stronger families. What excites me most about my work is watching transformation happen seeing a young girl regain her confidence, a parent learn new ways to connect, or a family start believing in hope again.
Our nonprofit, Sharing is Caring, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this December, and I couldn’t be more grateful for how far we’ve come. To honor this milestone, we’re hosting a series of mental health workshops for teens and moms, focusing on healing, self-worth, and emotional wellness. We’ll also be closing out the year with our annual holiday community event, where we’ll provide brand new sneakers to our unhoused neighbors and toys for special needs students in Miami-Dade County.
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that small acts of kindness and consistent compassion can change lives and that’s what Sharing is Caring is all about.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My empathy allows me to truly understand others to listen, care sincerely, and look for real solutions rather than quick fixes. It’s what helps me connect deeply with the people I serve and reminds me that compassion can heal more than words ever could.
My resilience keeps me grounded through challenges. No matter what I’ve faced, I’ve learned to never give up to trust that every setback has a purpose and that faith and perseverance always lead to growth.
And my authenticity is my light. I am proud of who I am and what I stand for. I show up as my true self in every space I enter, and I believe that’s what allows me to give light to others and inspire them on their own journeys unconditionally, and always from the heart.
For anyone just starting out, my advice is to lead with love, stay grounded in your purpose, and never be afraid to be yourself. The world needs your light exactly as it is.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My Biggest Area of Growth
Over the past year, my biggest area of growth has been deepening my faith and truly finding comfort in my spirituality. I’ve learned to have open, honest conversations with God and to trust that I am being guided even through my mistakes. This spiritual connection has helped me evolve, strengthen my identity, and walk with a renewed sense of confidence and peace.
I’ve become more in tune with my intuition and the energy of others, which allows me to show up with greater empathy and purpose. My faith grounds me, reminding me that every experience is a lesson and that I’m never alone on my journey.
Because of this spiritual growth, I’m able to pour into others from a place of wholeness helping, teaching, and encouraging them while continuing to nurture and pour into myself. It’s been a beautiful transformation that has shaped both my personal life and my work in the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sharingiscaringinc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharingiscaringfdn?igsh=MTZmdWlueDJwc21meQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1MMBxEk2AY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ugcPost-7375026242091257857-fz4b?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAApDRAoBypSGCe2cZzUChSaexVHDlrfshnc&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
