Today we’d like to introduce you to Liliana Riva Palacio.
Hi Liliana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in a mexican rich family, but my parents weren’t very present so I had suffered 2 severe accidents that almost left me without walking and I had lived sexual assault by family members. Since I was a little girl I had strong connection through magic, nature and bonding to people. These skills made me overcome the difficult obstacles that I had lived as a young child, instead of breaking or falling apart.. There was an inner strength that guided me through this tough times. I had been a very successful professional helping others to connect to their dreams and developed social projects that had benefit more than 1 million people in Mexico. Had developed an art based methodology that has been very successful. I am a multitalented person, actress, singer, lighting designer and entrepreneur. 20 years ago I founded project Concentrarte a nonprofit that has a very strong trajectory through social, environmental and resilience impact. The core of my work is a human connection core base as the pillar for social and ecological changes. I love to travel, to dance, to listen music, to swim, my two cats and enjoy nature with friends and loved ones. Hard work and determination combined with playfulness and humor had gave me the compass to success. Proyecto Concentrarte is an example of team building, art based program and connection to resolve climate, social and educational problems, our impact is growing out of Mexico. Our model is an art based program that supports all the projects. This methodology has the power to connect and bond for a common goal.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I had everything against me, since I was a young girl I experienced terrible accidents, a strong violent sexual assault by family members and parent abandonment, instead of being a broken girl, all that crazyness made me a very strong woman. I had fight against al odds to build a beautiful and inspiring life story. Heart power and connection where the Pilars who gave me the will to be resilient and overcoming all that suffering. My life experience had shown me the power to overcome obstacles, through focusing on all the good things and be grateful. My road has been very hard, with all kinds of obstacles but I had always the resiliency to go through friendship and a life mission: helping others. In my worst moments going to help in children’s hospitals had been a relief and take my out a self center perspective that broaden my horizons, and help people that was suffering a lot. I put my talents into the service of others and that gave me a special strength to keep going into compassion for other human beings. Obviously taking care of my needs and always look for a balance in between give and receive. Self care has been a lesson for me not to become an excessive giver that burns out, so giving me the time and space or inspiration and recharging to keep motivated and sparkling. I had a strong spiritual call so my inner search for meditation, fasting, and retreats also are an important part of my working and personal life, so I am always trying to nurture my team with the space for reflection and inspiration.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am multi talented woman. I am specialized on creativity and to build and connect multi disciplinary teams. Since 30 years ago I had been working to develop an art based methodology for social change. My endeavour is Proyecto Concentrate a Nonprofit with 20 years of experience, working in Mexico. Proyecto Concentrarte has 3 main programs: Peace and resilience, food sovereignty and environmental education. We are an award winning project, last year we were selected in the equatorial Prize data based (PNUD) This database hopes to connect practitioners who develop and implement nature-based initiatives to sustainable development at the local level by showcasing solutions that work. I am so proud of Proyecto Concentrarte, our impact transforms lives through our art based methodology and human connection approach. We had been working through 23 states in Mexico impacting more than 1 million people through all our trajectory. My own artistic search, team building and determination had give concentrarte a unique quality of magic, color and transformation. hard work and generosity had taken us to receive a new beautiful house, that we are going to transform into an social-ecological-art laboratory in Mexico City. A strong spirit of positivity had been one of my Pilars, not denying the difficulties, but cultivating a sense of faith that is based on experience and gratitude for all what I have achieved. As a resilient woman humor and playfulness had moved me as a core part of my existence. So I try to connect and contact people through their own playfulness to make thing easier and fun.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Generosity
Grateful
honest
tender and caring
humble
determined
resilient
commited
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.concentrarte.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilianarivapalacio?igsh=MWIwZ2dkYWlodjR1Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=proyecto+concentrarte
- Other: https://www.equatorinitiative.org/2024/11/12/proyecto-concentrarte-a-c-2/
Image Credits
David Jaramillo
Rodrigo Imaz
Gabriel rozycki