MEET PATTY

Liliana "Patty" Flores, MSW, ASW is a therapist, researcher, advocate, educator, and motivational speaker. Her intersectionality and affiliation with marginalized identities such as being an immigrant, LGBTQ+, foster youth, homeless, and cycling in and out of juvenile jails, have shaped the way she sees social issues. Patty was born in El Salvador and migrated to the U.S. at age 10. She spent half of her life in foster care, struggling with substance abuse. Patty turned 18 years old in jail. She eventually graduated high school and enrolled in college while still incarcerated. She now has an A.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences, A.S. in Administration of Justice from Pierce College, B.A. in Sociology from UC Riverside, and a Master's in Clinical Social Work from Smith College. Her goal is to empower those of similar backgrounds like herself.

Patty has been interviewed several times by the public radio (KPCC) and TV news. Patty has been a panelist and a motivational speaker for Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Los Angeles County Probation, California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and Universities. She has spoken to administrators, professors, counselors, lawyers, judges, probation officers including the chief of probation and the presiding judge of juvenile court.