Lucy V. Cantú

Growing up in a housing project in Laredo, Texas with five brothers and sisters, Lucy hardly recalls feeling the effects of physical poverty. She credits this to her parents and their ability to lovingly provide for the family the best they could. They also instilled the value of an education in their children, so after graduating high school, Lucy sought university studies. While there, she experienced a challenge that would influence her life’s work. Unhappy and uncertain that she was suited for the major field of study she had chosen, she lost confidence in herself. She decided to leave school in her fourth year. As she took steps to drop out, several of her professors encouraged her to finish. In spite of the struggles, one year later, she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from North Texas State University.

Her degree opened doors to over twenty years of diverse work experiences in Dallas. Taking from a strong, respectful work ethic modeled by her parents, she demonstrated creative leadership in each position she held. These included work as a Bilingual Health Educator for the city, where she also served on numerous state and local health organization boards, and as a Community Liaison for the Dallas School District. She also married and started a family. These two major events brought challenges she didn’t expect. In time they would cause her to reevaluate her life priorities. Ten years later, when her second child was born, she and her husband made financial sacrifices, she put her career on

hold and became a stay-at-home mom. Staying true to her value of education, she initiated routine visits to the public library with her daughters. On her visits she found herself gravitating to self-help, personal development and inspirational books. As her interests increased, she furthered her learning of these topics by attending classes, workshops and retreats. Consequently, Lucy grew knowledgeable about dealing with feelings of doubt, uncertainty, and low self-confidence, to which she easily related to because of her college experience. She learned that such feelings lead to limiting beliefs that keep us stuck, hindering our level of achievement in life.

An opportunity to teach English to Latino immigrant parents on a part-time basis came up three years after her decision to stay home. Lucy seized it. While working with the students, she observed their desire to overcome more than just language barriers; they wanted to learn how to help their children succeed. One of the best ways to help parents, she realized, was to teach them to conquer limiting beliefs and develop self-confidence to overcome mental, emotional and cultural barriers resulting from physical poverty. They also would benefit from knowledge and tools to grow their natural capacity to lead their children to success. Drawing from her interest in the field of personal development, she felt called to create and teach leadership and empowerment lessons for parents. She then established Strategies For Success, a bilingual training company.

Inspired with this new vision, Lucy set out to fulfill her mission as a Training Consultant. Her audiences included parents, educators, and leaders at numerous school districts and Education Service Centers throughout Texas, National, State and Local PTAs, the Girl Scouts of Tejas Council, and agencies, such as AVANCE. In March 2004, Lucy began associate work with Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, owner of Educational Achievement Services, Inc. She served as a Certified Facilitator and Trainer of the Family Leadership Institute, authored by Ms. Kickbusch, and worked in this capacity throughout the country for seven years.

Lucy courageously pursued her vision of empowering others for over ten years. In the process, she discovered and mastered an innate passion for inspiring and teaching others to transform their fear-based, limited thinking into satisfying, heart centered living. She also continued to diligently study personal development, and most importantly for her, spiritual development. Her work has evolved. To expand her range of service, Lucy recently certified as a Career Intuitive Coach under Sue Frederick. This certification aligns with her belief that we are born with gifts & talents which we are meant to use and through their expression, find fulfillment. Today, she enjoys work as a Career & Life Coach, Teacher & Speaker. Her work is designed to inspire, heal, and empower people to tap into and grow their greater potential. She seeks to cultivate clarity, courage, and confidence in her English & Spanish speaking clients and audiences, helping them improve and take their lives to a new level.

Past Speaking Engagements & Trainings:

Washoe County School District, Reno, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona Elementary ISD, Banquete ISD ACE, McAllen Boys & Girls Club ACE, Canadian ISD, Omaha Public Schools, Santa Fe, New Mexico Public Schools, Ector County ISD, EL Paso ISD, Stratford ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Dallas ISD, Carrollton-Farmer’s Branch ISD, Arlington ISD, Mineral Wells ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Perryton ISD, Keller ISD, Dimmitt ISD, Brownsville ISD, Weslaco ISD, La Feria ISD, Irving ISD, and ESC Region 10, 16. 19 Presentations have included:

2014, HB5 Parent IMPACT Summit, (TX Higher ED Coordinating Board), Austin, TX 2014, Parent Academy Graduation, Clint ISD, El Paso, TX 2014, Student Leadership Retreat, University of Texas-HWNT Student Chapter, Austin, TX

Presenter Bio

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2013, City of Ft. Worth Hispanic Leadership Organization, Ft. Worth, TX 2013, Harris County Department of Education, Diversity Staff Development, Houston, TX 2013, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas State Conference, Corpus Christi, TX 2013, HeadStart Teacher’s Winter Conference Presenter, ESC 19, El Paso, TX 2012, Keynote Speaker, Winter Parent Open House, Omaha Public Schools, NE 2012, NCLB Parental Involvement Statewide Conference, San Antonio, TX 2012, Texas ACE State Conference, San Antonio, TX 2012, National Title I Conference, Seattle, Washington 2011, Texas ACE State Conference, Austin, TX 2011, Parent Involvement Summit, Summer Conference, ESC Region 10, Richardson, TX 2011, “Empowering Yourself For Success” Student Leadership Training, University of Houston, Academic Achievers

Program, Houston, TX 2010, No Child Left Behind Parental Involvement Conference, Corpus Christi, TX 2010, Planning For Success Parent Workshop Presenter, Ector County ISD, Odessa, TX 2010, Annual Parent Conference Presenter, Uvalde CISD, Uvalde, TX 2010, Brilliant Vision Workshop Presenter, Christian Women’s Job Corps, Grand Prairie, TX 2009, No Child Left Behind Parental Involvement Conference, Houston, TX 2009, AVANCE Planning For Success Parent Workshop Presenter, Dallas, TX 2008 11th Annual Regional Parental Engagement Conference, ESC Region 19, El Paso, TX 2008 Paraprofessional Staff Development, Edinburgh ISD 2008 Speaker & Workshop Trainer, Parent Advisory Council, Weslaco ISD 2008, 2007 The Academy for Teachers of Young Children, Region Service Center 17, Lubbock, TX 2007 Trainer for the Parent/Student Xtreme Summer Conference, Migrant Education Program, Weslaco ISD 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003 & 2002 Texas PTA Conventions and Summer Leadership Seminars, Austin, TX 2006 Counselor’s Training Institute, Educational Opportunity Fund, Lakewood, New Jersey 2005 Academic Kickoff Keynote Speaker, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 2005 Heartland Latino Leadership Conference Expo, Omaha, NE 2005 Iowa Latino Leadership Conference, Des Moines, IA 2004 Parent Learning Network Conference, Texas Association of School Boards, Austin, TX 2004 18th Annual Spring Parent Conference, Brownsville, TX 2004 ESC Region 10 “From Risk to Resiliency” Parent Conference, Dallas, Texas Texas Education Agency’s 7th Annual Parent Involvement Conference, El Paso, TX PTO Today Show Southwest, Dallas, TX Texas Association of Bilingual Education State Conference, Dallas & Ft. Worth, TX 11th and 10h Annual Parent Education Conferences at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Past Achievements Include:

PTA School Volunteer Award Outstanding Leadership Award, American Cancer Society “Excellence in Service” Award, City of Dallas.

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RESUMÉ

Lucy V. Cantú972/841-4042

www.lucyvcantu.com

Professional Experience

Lucy V. Cantú, Consulting (Present): Career & Life Coach, Teacher, Speaker.

Strategies For Success (June 2001 - May 2014): Owner, Bilingual Consultant, Trainer, Speaker. Coordinate and administer all business aspects of training company. Develop and teach leadership, empowerment, and motivational seminars in English and Spanish.

Grand Prairie Independent School District (February 1998 – May 2003): Educational Consultant. Establish, implement, and teach parent and community programs for school, including ESL, Basic Computer Skills and “Strategies For Success” courses.

Mary Kay Cosmetics (June 1994 – September 1996): Team Manager. Lead and train team of 15 beauty consultants. Attend trainings on sales and motivational techniques.

Dallas Independent School District (July 1990 – May 1994): Community Liaison. Coordinate parent & community involvement component for school. Work with committees, conduct home visits, write monthly newsletter. Interpreter/translator.

City of Dallas Health & Human Services Department (May 1986 – April 1990): Bilingual Health Educator. Plan, coordinate, conduct, and evaluate citywide bilingual health education programs. Conduct educational workshops. Interpreter/translator.

BancTexas Services Inc., Dallas, Texas (September 1982– September 1985): Purchasing Supervisor. Supervise forms management activities, deal with vendors and suppliers, and procure equipment and furniture for holding company and member banks.

Laredo Parks & Recreation Department, Laredo, Texas (May 1981 – August 1982): Recreation Center Supervisor. Administer and supervise Community Recreation Program. Plan, coordinate, and instruct classes, workshops and special events.

Dallas County Nutrition Program (July 1979 – March 1981): Center Manager. Plan, implement, and supervise daily activities at senior citizen’s center.

Other Professional & Community Service Experience

American Cancer Society – Served on Board of Directors. Served as Hispanic Subcommittee Chairperson for the Breast Cancer Screening Project for Dallas. Instrumental in development of educational tool and plan of action to teach 500 Hispanic women about breast cancer and to provide 250 with low-cost screening mammograms. Member of the State of Texas Hispanic Program Development Task Force, 1986-1990.

American Diabetes Association – Served on Minority Initiatives Planning Committee. Assisted with development of counseling protocols, 1988-1989.

Greater Dallas Maternal Health & Family Planning – Served as Advisory Board Member, 1989-1990.

Staying Healthy After Fifty – Served on Steering Committee and as Spanish Course Instructor, 1987-1989.

Los Barrios Unidos Clinic – Served on Diabetes Prevention and Education Coalition and AIDS Educational Materials Review Committee, 1988-1987.

Texas Department of Health – Served on Advisory Committee on Tobacco Use Reduction Among Minorities, 1989.

Special Projects

Texas Woman’s University – Supervised student intern. Technical assistant on development of bilingual coloring book targeted to children on diabetes risk reduction and prevention. 1990

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RESUMÉ: Lucy V. Cantú (page 2)

“Healthy Family” Booklet Series – Assisted pediatrician and health education manager with development of health booklets written at low readability levels. 1989-1990

Texas Public Health Association State Conference – Conducted workshop on “Empowering Minority Communities,” Austin, Texas. 1989

Diabetes Screening & Follow-up Project – Developed protocols, conducted interviewer training, collected data, and submitted Summary Report to the American Diabetes Association. 1989

“Pierda Peso/Gane Salud” Weight Loss Program – Consultant to Texas Woman’s University Ph.D. candidate on adaptation, translation, materials development, marketing, and implementation of this program for Hispanic women. 1989

“Hispanics and Diabetes” Videotape – Coordinated production of videotape on diabetes risk reduction targeted to Hispanics. Co-produced script and accompanying pamphlet. 1988

“Fiesta de la Salud” – Co-coordinated and promoted the first city-wide bilingual health fair in Dallas, TX. Over 1,000 persons attended; 25 agencies participated. 1988

Education

1979: Bachelor of Science: Recreation Administration, Minor: Spanish, North Texas State University, Denton, Texas.

Certifications

2004: Certified Practitioner and Facilitator, Family Leadership Institute, E.A.S, Inc.

Awards

1999: PTA School Volunteer Award1996: Recognized as top unit & area consultant, Mary Kay Cosmetics 1992: Recognized for Outstanding Leadership, American Cancer Society1989: “Excellence in Service” Award, City of Dallas