We had the good fortune of connecting with Hazel Ortega and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hazel, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Echo Park. Gangviolence and driveby shootings was a daily occurrence, I lost friends and familymembers to the gangs. My parents were already divorced when I was born, and my father became a drugaddict – something that controlled his life until he passed. Before that he was in and out of prison. My mother was also in the judicial system. I never finished highschool, and it wasn’t until I was 30 years old that I finally received my diploma. Growing up where I did, I never knw anything different – that was all I knew. It wasn’t until people in my life (teachers and bosses) saw something in me that I did not see and pushed me to get better education and create a better life. I became an educational psychologist, and at the age of 36 I started my first business out of the garage. Today I own – and have started several businesses, travel the world as an inspirational speaker and have a nonprofit to help children create a better life for themselves through education.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Because of my upbringing, I am an example that it is possible to break out of the environment we are in and make a better life. It took years of finding myself, and finally believing through the support of key mentors that I have more to offer and I can do better. As a Latina woman – first generation Mexican American, I had to work through a lot of stigma – and I also saw the gaps in the systems that people miss out because of language barriers, or simple understanding of what is available to them. That inspired me to start my first business. My passion lies with making education accesible, and specially for children – teaching them empowerment and mindfulness so they too can create the life they deserve.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a member of City Club LA, and I love that it is downtown – I can work from there, have meetings from there and meet friends for a drink or a dinner, in addition they have a lot of good event that celebrates women and entrepreneurs. Tommy’s Chiliburgers – Beverly/Rampart – hands down best burgers in town

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is to the Founders of my non-profit. I had a vision to start this nonprofit to give children empowering skills to create a better future for themselves, and through that end violence against women, and end incarceration. But I can’t do this alone – which is why the Founders that is part to help High Tide Global start and their passion and commitment. In addition – one of the Founders, Carolina Lopez created a special educational program that she donated to High TIde Global – and we have launched this program in Uganda, Mexico, Guatamala, Colombia and in pilotschools in LAUSD. In 2023 we will launch in more countries and counties. A shoutout for the support from the Founders, and also the passion of the Board of Directors

Website: hightideglobal.org

Instagram: hightideglobal_2032

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