In “A Latina Warrior’s Journey,” Lisa will provide insights into her healing journey from her experiences in the military (combat in Iraq), higher education, and as an entrepreneur.

What makes this presentation even more powerful is that Lisa had to navigate these institutions/systems as an underrepresented woman, as a Latina who experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender and ethnic discrimination. It took 10 years after she retired from the military for her to finally confront her lived experiences and to admit she had PTSD and was ready to meet her demons of sexual assault head-on.

She wrote about her healing journey in her autobiography, Latina Warrior, in a unique format of poems, prose and art. She collaborated with another woman combat veteran who illustrated the 50 poems in Latina Warrior, a partnership that evolved into a business and lasting bond.

Attendees will learn:

• It is never too late to confront trauma and to start a healing journey.
• One’s vulnerability can actually become a superpower of empowerment and authenticity.
• How to own your narrative, write your story, flip the trauma to work for you, take a stand, and impact individuals, systems, and institutions. 
• The power of collaboration in healing.
• How to collaborate with others to be a voice for the voiceless.
• How to write and speak from both scars and wounds and thrive instead of just surviving.

Lisa Carrington Firmin is a Latina, writer, award-winning author, best-selling international co-author, poet, founder, entrepreneur, and Bronze Star-decorated combat U.S. Air Force veteran. Author of Latina Warrior (2023), an anthology of poems, prose, and art chronicling her journey in a deeply personal, sometimes humorous, intense, and explicit expression. She was honored with a legacy Pioneer award in her name by Shield of Sisters for her groundbreaking work to help educate and prevent Military Sexual Trauma (MST).