First Generation Programming Services

Welcome back, First Gen family! As a reminder, this month’s theme is Celebrating Neurodiversity as a First Gen! Before we get into it, we do want to add a disclaimer that this week’s episode may include some conversations about mental health challenges or suicidal thoughts. We encourage you to use caution before listening to the episode and to reach out if you need any support.

 Victoria Carrington Chavez

Now, grab your cafecito because today, we’re diving into an inspiring conversation with Victoria Carrington Chavez. Victoria is a celebrated storyteller, TEDx speaker, and expert branding strategist blending creativity, communication, and community into powerful narratives. As founder of Lilac and Aspen Creative Company, she empowers purpose-led brands to share their stories authentically with a vision to create vibrant spaces with every voice, where every voice can be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Victoria and I connect over shared experiences: the triumphs, the struggles, and the in-between moments that define the first gen experience. Victoria shares what it was like growing up as a first gen Latina and how this shaped her perspective on resilience and ambition. Like many of us, she was raised with the weight of two cultures on her shoulders. She struggled with balancing the traditions of her family and the expectations of the American dream. Being a neurodiverse individual was not always easy, but Victoria managed to turn it into her superpower.

 Celebrating Neurodiversity as a First Gen

Victoria also talks about the expectations that often come with being a first gen. There is the pressure to succeed, to make our families proud, and to navigate spaces where we don’t always see people who look like us. Victoria opens up about the moments she doubted herself, wondering if she truly belonged in the rooms that she fought so hard to enter. Instead of letting that doubt define her, she used it as fuel. She reminds us all that we belong, no matter what. Victoria was evaluated as an adult, and now she advocates for others to get the supports that they need.

Throughout our discussion, she shares with us her passion for mentorship. She’s committed to lifting others along with her, ensuring that the doors she opens stay open for the next first gen coming up behind her. This is a reminder that our success isn’t just about us, it’s about our communities, our families, and the generations that follow.

Victoria’s story reminds us that we can give ourselves grace. There is no one way to move forward or to succeed. We define ourselves and our own journeys. Remember that every step you take is worth celebrating. Learn more about Victoria’s work here: https://lilacaspen.com/.

The First Gen Madrina/The Social Work Madrina