Juvenile Justice Program Facilitator

Angela Montijo, LMSW

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside

• Bachelor of Arts in History with a concentration in Latin America from the University of California, Riverside

• Master of Social Work with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from the University of Southern California

• Certificate in Anti-Racist Mental Health Practice — April 2023

Experience: Angela is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Educator. Angela is a first-generation Latina, born and raised in Inglewood, California in a single-parent home headed by her strong and innovative immigrant mother. Angela's background and professional experience fuel her desire to work toward social justice and healing. Most recently, Angela was a School Social Worker where she developed the Family Empowerment Series, which was a collection of presentations and videos for caregivers to learn about mental health and improve their relationships with their children. She also ran a family resource center, worked in community-based mental health, and trained as a therapist at a domestic violence shelter. Prior to journeying into social work, Angela held a number of roles in education such as College Access Counselor, English Language Program Lead, and English Instructor in South Korea. Angela is excited to bring together her wide variety of experience with working with marginalized children to specifically empower girls who are court-involved and/or detained to reduce recidivism and impact change in the school-to-prison pipeline for the better.

What I love about Girls Empowerment Network: Girls of color are most impacted by the juvenile justice system; there is a history of trauma, substance use, intersectionality, oppression, and systemic barriers involved in their experience. I was immediately drawn to this new role because of the way it aligns with my personal background, my professional experience, and my values regarding social justice, liberation, and empowerment. The programming that Girls Empowerment Network offers has a proven track record of igniting the power in girls and to get to extend that to girls involved in the juvenile justice system in ways that are culturally relevant to hold space for their experience really is an honor.

Contact me if you have inquiries about:

• Self-efficacy building programming for girls who are juvenile justice system involved