We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cricket Barrientos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cricket, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
After 13+ years I have decided to take a step aside and allow (2) other leaders take the reigns and lead our Journey. This is a big step for me. I am an A/B Personality and want to make sure that our Families, Audience and Community are supported in the way they will succeed through some of the tough Journey’s we are aware of. These leaders are (2) people I have prayed for and God Responded. I am grateful and can not wait to grow our “umbrella” Program that will support the Critical Needs within our Communities throughout the World, especially during Crisis.
Cricket, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Cricket Barrientos, Founder Sounds of Autism. We are a 510c3 non profit organization established in Goodyear Arizona in 2011 and we have a global reach throughout the World. Our mission is to safely integrate Families and Children of Autism, including others AT-RISK, back into society through LOVE and SUPPORT. For 13 years I have dedicated my time to listening, learning and executing the plans, the goals, the mission to ensure that everything we introduced to society was SUSTAINABLE. We are grateful for the end results and can not wait to see how things will go as we put all of our pieces together.
My previous experience is 30+ years as a RESTAURANTUER and was responsible for multiple level management, increasing Sales, and bringing Bottom Line Profit through manageing multiple employees and leaders and ensuring consistancy within each of our (4) walls of business. I was honored with many awards for many years including Director of the year from 2000 to 2005 before I relocated to Arizona.
I have (3) children – (2) biological children, a daughter 24 years old and is preparing to get a Doctorates Degree in Physical Therapy, a son 22 years old and living the life of Autism. Lead Coach of Sounds of Autism Programs and a 19 year old daughter who is currently in the Police Academy in Corpus Christie Texas. My husband Kevin Crotty is a Phoenix Police Detective and has been on the Department for over 16 years. Kevin is (5th) generation Police Officer and has followed in the FootSteps of (5) Generations of Chicago Police Officers from Great Great Grandfather Crotty to currenlty our cousin Sean who has been on many years as well.
Sounds of Autism began as an Awareness, Resources and Support Organization but today serves people all over the world with a reach of over 1.5 million people. Our (4) phase Programs serve and support the journey of Autism and others At-Risk from Prenatal until the Final Farewell of Life and we support Autism and the At-Risk populations which includes VICTIMS of Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, PTSD, Mental and Behavioral Health and Senior Citizens in need of additional support.
Phase 1 of our program is College programs that educate the next generation of Parents and Leaders how to respond to the needs of Autism and if they recognize the signs what to do next.
Phase 2 of our program is Community Compassion and Empathy through Creative Marketing and Media intiatives including Music, Merchandise, Marketing and Media.
Phase 3 of our program is Workforce Readiness Programs both Traditional Job training and STEAM job Training. Some of our programs are virtual as well as boots on the ground, depending the need of the Adult CHILD and their abilities and location.
Phase 4 of our program is The SkiL Center which is an independent readiness center to support seperation and skills before taking on an indepdent life.
All of these programs are supported by Families and Community which we refer to as our Unified Responder Community Movement led by our newest Executvie Director Unified Initiatives – Jamie Aldama – Former Vice Mayor and City Council member the City of Glendale, Arizona.
Our At-Risk program iniative is called JUST ASK OUTREACH and this program is Alliance Supporting Kindness. Victims can rely on the response for resources and support solutions from our Alliance members within 24 to 48 hours. We believe this is key to the success of their committment to ask for help and feel safe when doing so. Especially during crsisi.
Please check out our website for more information and to experience our Digital YOUTUBE virtual educational library supporting prenatal until the final farewell of life.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Even more important than training and knowledge, everyone needs to bring more COMPASSION and EMPATHY to the populations we serve. We all have the ability to give more care to the concerns of our At-Risk/Autism populations but sometimes we need that reminder. We hope to continue to keep Autism and others living at-Risk TOP OF MIND on a daily basis. We do this through multiple Marketing, Media, Merchandise and Music Iniativies. Again our reach for audience has been built over 13+ years and we are so grateful for those who support the cause. We can not do this ALONE. We need to UNIFY and work as one.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The time during 2020 COVID was a life changing time for me. We had no choice but to take a break and that was the time I chose to get busy and use the time to become aware of the vision I wanted tto complete the Mission and the path we needed to take to do so. The power point I created was over 365 pages of steps and I have added more since. We are on a very successful path so far and we believe the work we have done for over 13 years is finally coming together as the puzzle we had hoped for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soundsofautism.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundsofautisminc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Soundsofautism501c3/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-cricket-barrientos
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soundsofautism3209
Image Credits
JUST ASK OUTREACH – Our AT-Risk Initiative supporting Victims of Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, Mental and Behavioral Health Issues, PTSD and Senior Citizens with special needs for support.
UNIFIED RESPONDER COMMUNITY – Our Unified Initative is educating and requesting every city to support the Cause of Autism and others At-Risk, especially during crisis and learn and embrase their role as leaders within the City they respresent. Our families feel unheard and alone. We need to show our support and encourage integration back into society.
THE SkiL Center – Our Private Home to support training Life, Job, Safety, Socialization and Transportation Skills as our Adults living with disabilities integrate into their Adult Lives. This proactive approach offers families the separation period as well as their Adult child and in a safe environment.
TEAM WOLF ‘RAPTOR – a Phot of our Annual Unified Responder Community Celebration. We celebrate the success of every year and show our Wolf ‘Raptors how proud we are of them and their success.
Alex and Landon- LEAD COACHES of our Wolf ‘Raptor team. Landon is my son and Alex is Landon’s best friend for over 18 years.
STOP PRoJECT – Simple Task Operations Project, our traditional Workforce Readiness program supporting safe and successful job skills
ARTS PRoJECT – Art, Reading, Tech, Steam within the Autism population. This portion of our program is all conducted Virtually and is led by our Adults living with Autism and other At-Risk issues. Our goal is to have our entire program led by the Autism and other At-Risk populations within the next 5 years.
TEAM WOLF ‘RAPTOR – A Wolf Raptor is a Hybrid Animal SAUR that was created by my son Landon and drawn and brought into “life” through everyone on our team. This is currently our MASCOT. A Wolf ‘Raptor is 1/2 Wolf and 1/2 Veloceraptor and was created to offer our team a name and to show our team about branding and marketing.
Spectrum Talks and Tips MAGZ – This Magazine cover is our way of binging awarenes to the successes of our Community and the families and laders involved in the sustainability of what we are working towards. This particular Magazine Cover is Jamie Aldama – our newest Executive Director Unified Responder Community Initatives. Jamie will lead our programs and continue to build the relationships within our community with City Managers, Mayors and City Council, First Responder Chiefs and leaders and Educational Leaders throughout the Arizona.