A child who rarely felt fully seen grew into an adult called to help others find the courage to walk a healing path of their own.
From around the age of nine, she dreamed of becoming a doctor, of writing stories and poems, and of creating a school where children could freely express themselves. It took years, several detours, and a few compassionate encounters before she trusted that her dreams were worth pursuing — and recognized that her struggles were not unique, but deeply human.
Compassion — first experienced, then practiced, then taught — became both her path and her purpose. The question that has guided her ever since: if we are all physiologically built for empathy, hardwired for love and cooperation, why are we so polarized and so lonely?
Perceiving adolescents’ need for expressive outlets and genuine connection, she founded Fundeijoven (1991), a nonprofit in Cartagena, Colombia, that opened a space where young people could speak their truth, name their needs, and find likeminded and likehearted peers. That experience gave rise to Carpe Diem (1993), an innovative school inspired by the principle of educating in love rather than fear.
As an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, she has taught child development and compassionate parenting. Through the Southwest Florida and State counselors’ associations, she has delivered private courses, online webinars, and live workshops on the framework she calls HeartMinded Parenting. Her involvement in the creation of the ROCK Center at FGCU has deepened her commitment to spreading compassionate action as a living practice.
“Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for good the energies of love, and then, for a second time in history, man will have discovered fire.” — Teilhard de Chardin