Despierta has a mission to empower Latina women and youth in Charlotte through programs focused on mental health and education.
In the past week, Charlotte’s immigrant community has faced unprecedented fear due to the U.S. Border Patrol’s operation, detaining over 200 individuals in a matter of days.
“We are aware that recent actions by I.C.E. have created uncertainty, fear and disruption for many individuals in our community,” said the Despierta team in a statement on their Instagram page Monday. “We recognize the emotional and practical impact these situations can have on students, caregivers and entire households.”
Earlier this month, Juliana Lozano, founder and executive director of Despierta, sat down with Queens University News Service to talk about the organization’s programs.
“Mental health is such a huge stigma, it’s something that we don’t typically talk about,” said Lozano. “If we’re sick, we go to the doctor. But if we’re dealing with depression or anxiety, we don’t really know how to put a name to it, and we just kind of deal with it ourselves.”
In the last few days, Despierta has partnered with other organizations and residents to support Charlotte’s immigrant community. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials said 20,935 students were absent from school Monday, about 15% of the district’s total enrollment. The organization serves over 100 students and their families in Charlotte.
A Vision Born From Personal Experience
Lozano, who grew up in a Colombian household in Gastonia has a background in social work. She launched Despierta in 2020, after struggling to access mental health services and recognizing a lack of bilingual resources for Latinos in the Charlotte community.
“I was working with women who were dealing with these types of symptoms, and I didn’t have anywhere to send them,” she said. “I realized there were very limited resources that provide bilingual services.”
After that experience, Lozano was inspired to find a way to bridge the gap.
Despierta, which translates to “wake up” in English, became the result of that vision and a way for her to help women access therapy and the emotional support they needed to become better versions of themselves.
Lozano’s organization offers three main programs: Bonita Rising, Bonita Mamá and Mujer Despierta.
Bonita Rising serves Latina students from sixth through 12th grade. The program partners with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and follows a social-emotional learning curriculum, working with small cohorts of no more than 15 to 20 students. Despierta currently collaborates with nine schools across the district and over 200 students are participating in the program.
In Bonita Rising, students learn about setting boundaries, developing self-confidence, understanding healthy and unhealthy relationships, and building leadership and communication skills; essentially creating a toolkit to help them navigate life.
“We provide representation and support in a safe space they can go to,” Lozano said. “We also talk a lot about identity and our culture, and having a place where they feel like they belong.”
Digital wellness and safety workshops are also part of the Bonita Rising program. Despierta is working to educate students on how to use digital platforms safely and responsibly.
Bonita Mamá serves teen mothers through a partnership with Crittenton of North Carolina, a maternity home for girls who are pregnant or have recently given birth. Despierta provides emotional support and resources to help participants navigate motherhood, manage stress, and prepare for adulthood.
Mujer Despierta supports parents, caregivers, and women in the community; particularly single mothers and those who have experienced trauma. Over a 12-week period, participants take part in group sessions focused on mental health, self-care and accessing local resources that can best meet their needs.
Despierta began with a mission to provide representation and support for Latina girls and women. As the organization continues to grow, it has evolved into a program that is culturally responsive to the needs of the wider community.
While Despierta’s programs primarily serve Latina participants, they also include students who do not identify as Latino. Many workshops are co-ed but maintain a focus on empowering girls and women.
In February, Despierta hosted workshops in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The sessions addressed topics such as mental health, healthy relationships and recognizing signs of dating violence.
Breaking Barriers Between Families and Mental Health
January was a particularly difficult month for Despierta. Even before the current arrival of Customs and Border Patrol agents, changes in immigration policies have spread fear throughout the community. Some students stopped attending school because their parents were afraid to leave home or go to public places.
“Some things are out of our control, but we are that support for our community at this time,” Lozano said.
In response, Despierta organized a series of free workshops focused on managing stress and anxiety during times of uncertainty, partnering with local agencies to make the sessions accessible to all.
The organization continues to provide mental health support and has adapted its programs to meet families’ needs. Some workshops were restructured or offered in hybrid formats to accommodate those who remained hesitant to attend in person.
Despierta has already seen meaningful change among the youth and families it serves. Lozano said some students come to the program needing extra mental health support because of what they are experiencing at home or in school.
“Because of many cultural differences, parents sometimes are like ‘no you don’t need to go to therapy. We don’t want you to tell other people your business,’” Lozano said. “It takes us educating the parent like ‘hey this can be very beneficial to your child’. And so we’re being the advocate and bridging that gap.”
Starting a nonprofit from scratch has not been easy. Lozano said one of Despierta’s biggest challenges is keeping up with the high demand for services.
“There’s such a great need for what we do, but we’re limited by our capacity and funding,” she said. “We have funding, but not enough staff to serve everyone. That’s hard for me because I want to help everyone.”
Despite these challenges, Lozano said Despierta is growing steadily, gaining visibility, and working to expand through additional community support and fundraising efforts.
Building a Lasting Home for Charlotte’s Latina Community
Looking ahead, Lozano envisions Despierta establishing a permanent community center to serve as a resource hub for Charlotte’s Latino families.
“I don’t want to speak too much on it because it’s still in the works, but I want us to be centralized in a location where people know us,” Lozano explained.
Despierta also hopes to expand its reach. Fourteen schools are currently on the waiting list for its programs. Lozano’s goal is to build a full staff capable of meeting that demand while continuing to create a pipeline of future Latina leaders.
Right now, Despierta hosts 10 Latina interns from universities across North Carolina, many of whom aspire to become bilingual counselors, social workers and educators.
“My goal is to continue to provide that opportunity because I think representation really matters and it’s important for us to see ourselves in different spaces,” Lozano explained. “It would help them prepare for their future career.”
For Lozano, Despierta’s work goes beyond education and therapy, it’s about trust and empathy.
“People are coming from different experiences and walks of life,” she said. “It’s important for us to build that trust so they feel safe enough to open up. Our community needs that compassion right now because there’s so much mistrust.”
To better understand the needs of local youth, Despierta recently launched a Teen Voice Committee made up of Latino high school students from across Charlotte. The group provides input on programming and helps guide Despierta’s next steps.
“What we think young people need may not always be what they actually need,” Lozano said. “That’s why we want to hear directly from them.”
