El Futuro’s “Freedom to Be” consists of a Social Media Movement, Art Preview, Raffle, Silent Auction and Virtual Live Auction. With this event, we can work together to support El Futuro’s mission and help Latino families access mental health and substance use treatment services. Money raised will support El Futuro’s mission, and, through the auction and events, also support Latino artists and local businesses. Thank you for your support!
If you want to participate, go HERE and register (create your login and password). Also, you can check our promo event video HERE. Organizer: eevans@elfuturo-nc.org You don’t want to miss out!
Event Details
Social Media Movement
#freedomtobe on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and share with us how do you feel free.
Art Preview
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm, IN PERSON at the Durham clinic.
You’re invited to view our main program’s paintings in person! Please come and see the beautiful art by Latino artists. Let us know you are coming by sending your name and who else will join you at eevans@elfuturo-nc.org
During your visit in our clinic to see the art:
- Please wear your mask
- Keep a safe 6 feet distance
- We ask that you please don’t touch the art
Raffle tickets are limited, hurry and buy yours before they sell out! You will find:
- 7 Night Stay at Four Diamond Luxury Mexico Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Acapulco, Los Cabos or Puerto Penasco for (2)
- One night stay at the Durham Hotel with food and beverage!
A mid-century modern boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, The Durham is a vibrant destination, inspired by the spirit of its namesake city.
Remember to create an account at the place the event is going to behold: event.gives/futuro and then you be able to buy your ticket for the raffle.
Virtual Silent Auction Opens!
To bid on experiences and items, visit event.gives/futuro on May 14 at 5 pm
*This auction closes shortly after the live program held May 21 at 4 pm
Virtual Live Auction and Program
May 21 at 4:00 pm, ONLINE
Visit event.gives/futuro to join us!
See the video below to know how to register
Click here to see FQA of this event
Event invitation
Alvely Alcántara, LCSW
Rossy C. Garcia, MEd 
Katy Sims, MD 
Everardo Aviles, LCSW, LCAS (Eve)
As a medical anthropologist and social work researcher, Dr. Gulbas’ research embodies interdisciplinarity through the integration of applied theories of health and human development with qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. Her work seeks to understand how people—children, families, and providers—navigate complex sociocultural landscapes in the pursuit of mental health. Most of her work, to date, focuses attention on developing more robust interpretations of suicide risk. With funding from the National Institutes of Mental Health, this body of research has contributed to advancements in theoretical and empirical knowledge of the broader contexts within which youth suicide risk is situated. 
R. Gabriela Barajas-Gonzalez is a developmental psychologist and an assistant professor of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Barajas-Gonzalez is the principal investigator of a study that examines the impact of immigration-related threat and stress on school communities. She earned a PhD in developmental psychology from Columbia University and hold a BA in human biology from Stanford University. Dr. Barajas-Gonzalez is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a first gen college student.
Dr. Parra-Cardona is an Associate Professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work (SHSSW) at the University of Texas at Austin. At the SHSSW, he serves as Coordinator for Mexico and Latin American initiatives. He also serves as Area Director for Research at the UT Austin Latino Research Institute. Dr. Parra-Cardona’s program of research is focused on the cultural adaptation of evidence-based parenting interventions for low-income Latinx populations in the US and Latin America.
Bianka Reese, PhD, MSPH is a research scientist and program evaluator specializing in adolescent and young adult sexual and reproductive health. Her previous research in the experiences of Latinx LGBTQ+ youth stems from her work as the Research and Evaluation Manager at SHIFT NC (Sexual Initiatives For Teens), where she led largescale evaluations of multilevel, community-based sexual health promotion initiatives and research projects aimed at elevating the voices of diverse youth in North Carolina. Dr. Reese is currently the Senior Research Strategist at Creative Research Solutions, LLC, an award-winning national evaluation, research, and assessment firm.
Tania Connaughton-Espino, MPH is an independent researcher focused on adolescent and young adult sexual and reproductive health. Her interest in the experiences of Latinx LGBTQ+ youth stems from her previous work with SHIFT NC (Sexual Initiatives For Teens), where she led the training and evaluation department, conducted capacity-building workshops for youth serving professionals including on the topic of how to be more affirming of LGBTQ youth, and from her extensive experience working with the Latinx population in NC.
Maru Gonzalez, EdD is an Assistant Professor and Youth Development Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. Her areas of inquiry include youth development with a focus on activism, social justice, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people across familial, school, and community contexts. 
Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas, PhD
Hector Y. Adames, PsyD