Susana Ortiz | YWCA Women of Excellence Honoree
What inspires you to get up and do the work?
Doing the work with other committed individuals to improve conditions in our community IS what inspires me. For people like myself who have always lived here, it is exciting to see the engagement and collaboration between multiple factions and the progress that comes with that. I'm proud to call Topeka my home and want to leave it better than I found it for my children and everyone else's.
What have you learned about yourself through the challenges you have overcome?
Adversity has taught me to prioritize my values and principles so that I can act with confidence and live without regret. I have also learned that my definition of what constitutes a challenge is relative to my experience and might look different to someone else. If I avoid a worthwhile challenge or accept a poor condition that isn't ideal, then I am delaying an opportunity to level up. Overcoming any challenge requires functioning outside my comfort zone to gain a new skill or understanding. Building my threshold to approach complex challenges related to areas I care about, is growth. Making progress in these areas holds a deeper connection and meaning so it's fair to say, "the harder the challenge, the sweeter the victory!"
How do you take care of yourself?
Health and happiness are important factors influencing our ability to support ourselves and others. I practice self-care through self-reflection and prioritizing time to recharge. I have the most amazing people in my life. I am the mother of three boys and a caretaker for my aging parents, so spending time with them and investing in healthy relationships is one of my values.
What is the best advice you've ever been given? Or what advice do you have for others?
You can listen to someone with the intent of knowing them better without offering or accepting unsolicited advice.
What is your vision for our community? Has it changed through the pandemic and racial justice reckoning of recent years?
My vision for our community is that we continue to engage stakeholders of diverse backgrounds to foster both collective vision and action. I am proud of the progress we have made to expand resources, services, programs and visibility that support economic, academic, and social growth and development across Topeka. In recent years, as a licensed professional counselor, I have witnessed increasing attention and need in the area of access to mental health services. It is increasingly important to advocate for personal emotional wellness for all ages.
The mission of YWCA is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. What does YWCA's mission mean to you?
Typically a mission is action-based and identifies how an organization serves its customers. It is important that those actions are measurable and timely. I read the YWCA's mission more as a vision, but that doesn't mean that it is less valuable or important to me. It was a honor to serve on the YWCA's Board of Director's for a period of time, and greatly value the services and programs that it offers to our larger community in support of each of those endeavors.
