We were lucky to catch up with Patty Yslas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Patty , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Upstanders united , is a support group for parents of special needs children. I’m a mom of 2 beautiful children on the autism spectrum. I had the idea of starting the support group to help other parents connect and take a much need it break . We have different activities each month we meet . Last month we had a yoga and sound healing session. The idea behind it is to make sure we take care of ourselves, so we can be good parents and caregivers to our special babies . We share stories, make new friends and share information. We try to guide others thru this journey, because after the diagnosis we have to navigate everything . We don’t get a guide book or instructions . This month a special speaker is coming , to share some of the resources that are available for the families in San Diego.
Patty , 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?
Hello everyone,
My name is Glenda Patricia Yslas, but you can call me Patty. I was born in Guatemala and spent part of my life there before moving to San Diego, California, where I currently live with my husband and our two beautiful children, Natalia and Marco. Our journey took a challenging turn when Marco was diagnosed with autism, classified as level three on the spectrum. At that time, my husband was deployed, and I faced the complexities of this diagnosis on my own. To add to the challenge, we later discovered that Natalia was also diagnosed with autism, but on a much lower level.
These experiences ignited a passion in me to start a support group and eventually a nonprofit organization called Upstanders United. I want to create a space for families with special needs children to connect, share their experiences, and access valuable resources. I believe it’s crucial for families to feel supported and informed as they navigate these challenges.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our community, let’s connect. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no family feels alone in this journey. Thank you for your support!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
My family, friends, and I recently came together, pooling our savings and receiving various donations to start the nonprofit organization. The support I’ve received from different vendors and our local communities has been incredible. I truly feel blessed to have such encouragement from everyone around me. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without your belief in my vision. I’d love to share more about what we’re doing and how we can all work together to make an impact. Thank you for being part of this amazing experience!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
I believe it’s Word of mouth , has helped because if one of the moms comes and they see how much fun they can have and how much information they can receive . they go and they tell other moms and we also posted on our Instagram page. We tried to have a meeting every month and the flyer goes out three weeks prior to the event and I keep sending it out putting on different stories different businesses help me by putting it on their story also.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Upstanders_united
- Facebook: Glenda yslas ( upstanders united)
Image Credits
Chula Vista brewery, Vivas Decorations, crystal fusion design, Skin , Novo Brazil Brewery. Yoga con Karla