{"id":37443,"date":"2025-09-30T09:59:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/?p=37443"},"modified":"2025-09-30T09:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:59:45","slug":"leadership-in-community-with-vivian-huelgo-and-brisa-de-angulo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/leadership-in-community-with-vivian-huelgo-and-brisa-de-angulo\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership in Community with Vivian Huelgo and Brisa De Angulo"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At Esperanza United, we know no single organization or person is going to end gender-based violence alone \u2013 it will take communities, working together. That\u2019s why Latina leadership and community-based solutions are two of our organizational values.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To advance this strengths-based approach, Esperanza United President and CEO <\/span><\/i>Vivian Huelgo, J.D.<\/span><\/i><\/a> is interviewing leaders across the fields of gender-based violence prevention and Latin@ empowerment and beyond. Read on to learn leadership lessons, celebrate the people doing the work, and share in our gratitude for our vibrant community.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In this edition, commemorating the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Vivian speaks with <\/span><\/i>Brisa De Angulo<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/a>, a globally recognized lawyer, psychologist, and human rights activist. Pues, vamos:<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Vivian Huelgo:<\/span><\/b> Hello Brisa, thank you for joining me. You know, one of our organizational values at Esperanza United is Latina leadership. What does Latina leadership mean to you?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa De Angulo: <\/span><\/b>Latina leadership to me means embodying resilience, vision, and cultural integrity. It\u2019s about reclaiming the narratives that have historically silenced us and transforming pain into power. As Latinas, we carry the wisdom of our ancestors, the strength of our communities, and the fire of justice in our hearts. Latina leadership means standing firmly in who we are, leading with compassion and conviction, and never forgetting that our liberation is collective. It\u2019s not just about breaking barriers \u2013 it\u2019s about building bridges for those who come after us.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Vivian Huelgo: <\/span><\/b>That is so true. Tell me, w<\/span>ho inspired your leadership journey and how did they shape you?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa De Angulo: <\/span><\/b>My leadership was profoundly shaped by the courageous children and adolescents who have survived sexual violence and dared to speak out. Watching their bravery \u2013 often in the face of immense injustice, disbelief, and isolation \u2013 taught me that true leadership isn’t about titles or recognition. It\u2019s about walking with people through their darkest hours and holding onto hope when they can\u2019t. Their strength demanded that I rise beyond fear and use every tool I had \u2013 my voice, education, and heart \u2013 to fight for justice and healing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

On a personal level, my mom and dad have been the greatest influences in my life. They are my best friends \u2013 their constant support, unconditional love, and shared values have taught me that kindness, courage, and presence are powerful forms of leadership. Their persistence in the midst of adversity and their ability to hold on to hope even when everything seemed to collapse around them has been one of the most formative models of strength in my life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Vivian Huelgo:<\/span><\/b> Thank you for sharing that with us. What is a lesson you learned recently that surprised you?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa De Angulo: <\/span><\/b>Recently, I was reminded that the force of survivors around the world is one of the most powerful energies I know. Despite immense pain, silence, and injustice, survivors continue to rise and in doing so, they light the way for others.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What surprised me most was realizing that hope itself is an act of defiance. In a world that constantly tries to erase, silence, or invalidate survivors, choosing to believe in healing, justice, and a better future is a revolutionary act. This defiance has taken collective shape through \u201cResilientes e inquebrantables,\u201d a regional movement of survivors who dare to rise, speak, and lead. Together, we are transforming personal healing into structural change and individual stories into a powerful, united force for justice. Survivors teach me, again and again, that healing is not linear, but it is always possible and often, profoundly beautiful. Hope is not naive \u2013 it is bold, it is brave, and it is the fire that keeps us moving forward.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Vivian Huelgo:<\/span><\/b> That is so powerful and so true. One of our organizational values is living free from violence. What does a violence-free future look like to you?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa De Angulo: <\/span><\/b>A violence-free future looks like a world where every child wakes up feeling safe, loved, and seen. It\u2019s a world where survivors are not doubted, shamed, or retraumatized, but honored for their strength. It\u2019s a world where systems are built not on power and control, but on justice and care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In this future, prevention is as valued as intervention. Education centers emotional literacy. Communities are trained in trauma-responsiveness. And no one is left behind \u2013 especially the most vulnerable. It\u2019s a future where healing is accessible, and accountability is restorative rather than punitive. It\u2019s not a distant dream \u2013 it\u2019s a direction, and we\u2019re walking toward it every day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Vivian Huelgo:<\/span><\/b> I am grateful to be on that path with you and your leadership. Gratitude is so important: Tell me about something you are grateful for.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa De Angulo: <\/span><\/b>I am deeply grateful for the people who continue to believe in the possibility of change, even when the world gives them every reason not to. The survivors who dare to hope again. The colleagues who show up day after day, pouring their hearts into work that is often invisible. The young girls who remind me what resilience looks like when they dance, laugh, or say, \u201cI feel safe here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I\u2019m also grateful for my own scars \u2013 they remind me not only of what I\u2019ve survived, but of what I\u2019ve built from the ruins. Gratitude, for me, is a practice, and it\u2019s how I stay grounded in love in the midst of so much pain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

More about Brisa De Angulo<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa De Angulo is a globally recognized lawyer, psychologist, and human rights activist dedicated to ending child sexual violence. As a survivor herself, she has transformed her personal experience into a movement that advances healing, justice, and systemic change for children worldwide. Through groundbreaking legal action, trauma-informed care, and bold legislative reform, she has impacted the lives of millions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

She is the founder and CEO of <\/span>A Breeze of Hope Foundation<\/span><\/a> and co-founder of both the Brave Movement Global and the Movimiento de Valientes Latin America, sister movements working to eradicate child sexual violence and advance legislation that protect children\u2019s rights across the world. Her Center for Child Survivors of Sexual Violence in Cochabamba, Bolivia serves more than 500 children every year and continues to expand its influence.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa serves on the Lancet Commission on Violence Against Women and Children, convened by one of the world\u2019s most prestigious medical journals, and is also a member of the Leadership Council of the Global Women\u2019s Institute at George Washington University. She actively participated in the To Zero global initiative, a coalition of leaders working to eliminate child sexual violence worldwide.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Brisa\u2019s landmark case, Angulo Losada v. Bolivia, before the <\/span>Inter-American Court of Human Rights<\/span><\/a>, redefined legal standards across Latin America for protecting children from sexual violence. The Court\u2019s 2023 ruling established new standards for sexual violence legislation, state response to survivors, and mandatory training for national personnel who work with children. The ruling is binding on 23 countries and affects over 180 million children. In its judgment, the Court stated: \u201cBrisa is a person more profoundly concerned with attaining protection and guarantees of non-repetition for the countless children presently drowning than with her own suffering.\u201d The judges also recognized her courage in rejecting all monetary reparations or settlements from the state, instead demanding concrete policy changes that protect all children.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As a survivor, Brisa uses her voice and expertise to elevate others, catalyze survivor-led movements, and shape trauma-informed policies and services. She has dedicated her life to ensuring survivors of childhood sexual violence receive access to justice and healing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Esperanza United, we know no single organization or person is going to end gender-based violence alone \u2013 it will take communities, working together. That\u2019s why Latina leadership and community-based solutions are two of our organizational values.\u00a0 To advance this strengths-based approach, Esperanza United President and CEO Vivian Huelgo, J.D. is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":37445,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[34,197],"class_list":["post-37443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-free","tag-training-and-technical-assistance"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37443"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37452,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37443\/revisions\/37452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esperanzaunited.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}