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

Hi Araceli, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I did not grow up with horses as a young girl, but I knew that horses had a purpose in my life. After college, I pursued my passion, took horseback riding lessons, and purchased my first horse, Petra. Petra was a Quarter Mile and Andalusian mixed mare. Here Petra taught me patience, confidence, discipline, respect for horses, and trust. During this time, I was a marriage and family therapist intern in South Central Los Angeles, providing mental health services to Spanish-speaking Latinx and African American families in their homes, school, and communities. My passion for horses overlapped with the work I was already doing as a marriage and family therapist. I identified a gap in access and engagement in treatment; there was a need for alternative treatment approaches with Spanish-speaking Latinx and African American families. Adolescents need connection and a way to have new experiences. I quickly learned that horses would be the partner to help build relationships—my passion for horses overlapped with the work I was already doing as a marriage and family therapist. I combined my passion with my career and was introduced to equine-assisted services as I became part of the equine community. In 2019 I became certified as an equine-assisted psychotherapist and began providing equine-assisted services for mental health.

Soon after, I learned the financial limitation of the population I wished to serve could not take on the financial burden of equine-assisted services. In the midst of the pandemic, I began the Doctor of Social Work program at California Baptist University. It is here where I started the process of launching Join in Action and Ride (JAR), a social enterprise. JAR is a mission-driven business that aims to socially impact adolescent mental health. JAR provides equine-assisted services, such as horseback riding lessons, summer and seasonal horse camp programs, and products, such as shirts, hats, tote bags, halters, ropes, and other equine products. JAR then takes a percentage of the profits and provides direct mental health, horsemanship, and learning skills to under-resourced, financially limited youth at a free or reduced cost to reduce mental health disparities for Latinx and African American youth. This business model aims to reduce the financial burden on the families and youth, create a social impact on mental health, and create awareness of the benefits of equine-assisted services throughout the Inland Empire and surrounding communities.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I graduate with my undergraduate degree in Human Services with a double concentration in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment from California State University of Fullerton. I received my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University. I provided inpatient drug treatment services for adolescents in the Greater Los Angeles area, therapeutic and case management services in a community-based setting, school-based settings, and in-home services for under-resourced youth and their families in the Greater Los Angeles area and the Inland Empire. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and am now a proud Latina business owner. Currently, I work at Riverside Unified School District as a counselor at the elementary grade level. I also run my private practice Hope of All Hearts Marriage Family Counseling Center (www.hopeofallheartscounseling.org), and founded and run my social enterprise, Join in Action and Ride (www.j-a-r-joininactionandride.com).
This journey has been far from easy. I have learned how to open up a private practice and run and manage a business with little to no guidance from anyone. This process has been challenging because it was difficult to find someone I could relate to, someone to who I could vent, who could collaborate with me. Non-Hispanic white providers primarily run this service model. My business models are unique because I am a Spanish-speaking equine-assisted services provider connecting culture and mental health services. The goal of Join in Action and Ride is to have providers who connect on a cultural level to the adolescents they serve. I am excited about the continued work of Join in Action and Ride as we work with the Youth Advisory Board and the community members to create a program that works for the community. I am also excited to have more people experience the power of healing horses. Overcoming the challenges was only possible because I had to do my healing. I took the time to care for myself, figure out my purpose, why that was my purpose, and follow it.
I want the world to know that as a Latina business owner, I am here to make a difference and create generational wealth and healing. I am a woman who belongs to the 2% of Americans with a doctorate degree and am proud to use it to make a difference in my community. I also want the world to know that horses are partners to people. As we work in a partnership, we learn we are more alike than different.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I would start with local Mexican seafood and sushi restaurant. Followed by a trail ride to San Diego Imperial Beach, or Santa Barbara, where we would take a horseback riding trail ride on the beach. I would take them to see the beautiful scenery of Southern California beaches. I would also invite them to Temecula to enjoy wine and delicious food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I want to thank God for allowing me the strength to overcome challenging times. Second, I want to thank my mother, father, and siblings. They have always encouraged and supported me to work hard, stay humble, and never forget where we came from. My parents have sacrificed so much to ensure I could get an education, and I am eternally grateful. I dedicate this shoutout to my younger brother, Javier Alejandro Ramirez (JAR), who passed away unexpectedly in May of 2021 at the age of 31. Javier was my confidant, my friend, and my biggest supporter. He forever lives in my heart and continues pushing me to be the best version of me. Finally, I want to thank Rancho La Caridad, Rancho Las Cruces, and Rancho Armendariz for the continued partnership and learning opportunities to make Join in Action and Ride successful in the time to come.

Website: https://www.j-a-r-joininactionandride.com/

Instagram: Eso.Charro

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/araceli-ramirezlmft/

Other: Hope of All Hearts Marriage Family Counseling Center https://www.hopeofallheartscounseling.org/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.