Between the vibrant pulse of Las Vegas, Nevada, and the nurturing whispers of her rural past in New Mexico, Felicia Ortiz now stands at the intersection of heritage and innovation. In this heartfelt conversation, Felicia unveils her trailblazing journey from overcoming ancestral trauma and childhood bullying to championing educational reform as a key member of the Z-Buzz team and the Nevada State Board of Education. Her story, laced with the trials and triumph of an entrepreneur, offers more than inspiration; it serves as a beacon for those seeking to mold an empathetic and culturally rich future for our leaders.

Felicia and I engage in a rich dialogue -- with delicious bursts of Spanglish -- about the challenges and victories that shaped Felicia's advocacy and leadership. Her candid reflections on public service reveal the weight and glory of representing her community while shaping a more diverse and inclusive educational landscape. Felicia's experience underscores a truth often forgotten: leaders are not born in a vacuum but are crafted by the mentorship, culture, and communities that envelop them. Her eight-year tenure exemplifies the transformative power of visible Latina leadership and the slow, rewarding march towards systemic change within our schools. She is not discouraged! Fully embodying her Empath Leader nature, Felicia remains hopeful, committed, and devoted to her cause to help children thrive. Her healing is truly theirs.

As we close this episode, Felicia shares her vision for a "Heaven on Earth" in education. She invites us to envision classrooms bustling with joy, where assisted intelligence meets the needs of the whole child and teachers alike, and every breath signals a unified step toward empathy and understanding. This is not just a dream but a tangible future that Felicia and educators like her are tirelessly working to build—one where learning transcends textbooks and touches lives. Join us and feel the palpable hope interwoven throughout this narrative, reminding us that the pursuit of educational excellence is indeed a shared journey.

What struck me the most about this podcast and Felicia's journey is the full circle of how she describes being raised by a village and now creating the same vision for every child in each classroom. Felicia is creating the path for future Empath Leaders.