Sylvia Pinto is a social justice advocate with Pipil and Lenca heritage roots from El Salvador. Born and raised on unceded Tongva lands, also known as Los Angeles, CA. She holds a Master’s degree in social work and has 16 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has dedicated her career to mental health and community empowerment. Sylvia was trained as a mental health clinician at Instituto Familiar de la Raza in San Francisco, CA., with a focus on integrating traditional Indigenous healing practices with western interventions. She has extensive experience in community-based mental health settings. Her work has included supporting individuals recovering from substance abuse, advocating for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, assisting children with mental health challenges in educational environments, and working for the ACLU to help pass same sex marriage legislation in California. Previously, she worked at ShaMynds Healing Center in Sacramento, CA. as a psychedelic assisted therapy guide. Additionally, she holds certifications in nutrition for mental health, yoga, and infant massage education. Inspired by her family’s resilience during the Salvadoran civil war, Sylvia is dedicated to peace activism and Indigenous sovereignty. She aims to support other urban Natives to reconnect to and reclaim their Indigenous heritage and ancestral knowledge. Sylvia’s commitment to social change is also fueled by the teachings and wisdom imparted by her former mentor, Dr. Concha Saucedo Martinez and the work of the Chicano Psychologist, Maestro Jerry Tello.