48. How Despierta Is Empowering Latina Teens in Charlotte to ‘Rise Up’ | Nonprofit Spotlight

Mental health stigma, social media pressure, and cultural expectations can quietly shape a young person's future – especially in communities where emotional struggles are rarely discussed. In this episode, Theresa sits down with Juliana Lozano, founder and executive director of Despierta, a Charlotte-based nonprofit empowering Latina youth and women through emotional support, digital wellness education, and leadership development. Juliana shares how her personal experiences with untreated mental health challenges and teen dating violence inspired her to create safe spaces inside Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, now serving more than 3,300 youth and women. Together, they discuss healthy relationships, representation, screen-time awareness, and what it truly means to help young girls "rise up."Connect with Despierta:WebsiteIGFacebookLinkedInJuliana Lozano is the Founder and Executive Director of Despierta (which means "Rise Up" in Spanish), a Charlotte-based nonprofit transforming the lives of Latina youth and women through mental health education, leadership development, and culturally responsive support programs.Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur. 3 Ways Despierta Helps Latina Teens Rise with Confidence and Strength:By creating culturally safe spaces to talk about mental health. Despierta normalizes therapy, emotional expression, and seeking help, by giving young women trusted adults and peers who validate their experiences before crisis escalates.By providing visible Latina role models and mentorship. Seeing strong Latina leaders in action expands what feels possible, helping girls break through limiting stereotypes and envision futures in college, careers, and leadership.By teaching healthy boundaries, communication, and digital wellness early. From recognizing unhealthy relationships to understanding screen-time habits, Despierta equips teens with practical tools to navigate friendships, social media, and identity with confidence.The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. Connect with Modern Legal:WebsitePhone: 704-286-6302InstagramLinkedInYouTubeFacebook LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.