“YMAC teaches young people to advocate for themselves, advocate for others, and build the skills to create change in their communities.”

– Briseis Portillo

How Briseis Is Turning Advocacy into a Lifetime of Service

Article written by Tyler Wiest

Briseis grew up with Coleman Advocates. She first joined Children Making A Change (CMAC) at just six years old, continued through her elementary school years, and later became involved with Youth Making A Change (YMAC) throughout high school. Along the way, she built lifelong friendships, learned to advocate for herself and her peers, and discovered what would ultimately become her life’s calling: helping others.

Today, Briseis is studying nursing in college while continuing to give back as a Program Coordinator with Coleman Advocates’ Youth Making A Change (YMAC) program.

Long before she decided to pursue nursing, she knew she wanted to dedicate her life to serving others. Whether through community advocacy or healthcare, her motivation has always remained the same: creating healthier, stronger communities for the people around her.

Finding Her Path

Briseis admits that her journey wasn’t always straightforward.

During her final years of high school, college didn’t feel like a certainty.

“I didn’t think I was going to go to college,” she said. “I wasn’t doing very well during my last years of high school.”

But she refused to let those challenges define her.

Knowing that serving others was her ultimate goal, she pushed herself forward. She eventually enrolled in a free nursing assistant program during her senior year—a decision that confirmed she had found the right path.

Working with patients gave her something she hadn’t expected.

“I enjoyed talking to people I never thought I’d be able to talk to,” she said. “Patients teach you so much. Even if I’m only a small part of their day, I can still make their day better.”

That experience solidified her commitment to becoming a nurse.

Learning to Advocate for Herself

One of the greatest lessons Briseis took away from YMAC wasn’t learned in a classroom—it was learned while navigating one of the most difficult periods of her education.

Her path through high school wasn’t traditional. As she approached her senior year, she found herself needing to leave her school and identify a new path toward graduation. It was a complicated process that required researching schools, understanding graduation requirements, and finding a program that could meet her academic needs.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, Briseis leaned on the skills she had developed through YMAC.

“I had to advocate for myself,” she recalled. “I researched schools that would give me the credits I needed, provide the resources I needed, and help me graduate.”

She says the experience mirrored much of what she had practiced through youth organizing. YMAC had taught her that effective advocacy begins with research—understanding the issue, exploring possible solutions, and speaking up for what you need.

“Advocacy—there’s a huge part that’s not necessarily talked about, but that’s research,” she said. “When we planned campaigns, we always looked at what worked in the past and what didn’t. That’s kind of what I had to do.”

At the same time, Briseis witnessed how collective advocacy could address larger systemic challenges. As teacher shortages increasingly affected students at her high school, YMAC members worked alongside young people to organize around the issue and push for change. While Briseis was already transitioning out of school, seeing that work reinforced an important lesson: advocacy isn’t just about solving your own challenges—it’s about ensuring others don’t have to face the same barriers alone.

Breaking Barriers

Briseis is on track to accomplish something no one else in her family has.

She will become the first person in her family to graduate from college—and the first nurse.

That milestone carries deep personal meaning, but it also represents something larger.

“There aren’t many Latino nurses,” she said. “Health is a big issue within our community. There are hidden health issues that don’t always get talked about, and I want to be someone who can advocate, educate, and help prevent them.”

For Briseis, healthcare isn’t simply about treating illness—it’s about empowering communities with knowledge before problems become crises.

The Power of YMAC

The Power of YMAC

Although Briseis’ path now leads toward healthcare, YMAC remains an important part of her life.

She describes the program as a place where young people learn their rights, develop leadership skills, organize campaigns, facilitate workshops, and discover how to advocate for themselves and their communities.

Those lessons didn’t end when she graduated high school. Today, she has come full circle, returning as a Program Coordinator to help the next generation of young leaders find their own voices—just as she once did.

A Lifetime of Service

Years ago, Briseis walked through Coleman Advocates’ doors as a six-year-old in CMAC. Today, she’s helping guide the next generation while preparing for a career in nursing. Her journey is proof that when young people are given the tools to lead, there’s no limit to where they can go. Although Briseis is no longer a child, she continues returning to YMAC because the community helped shape who she has become.

The leadership skills, confidence, and sense of purpose she gained continue to influence her education and future career.

Whether she’s advocating for students today or patients tomorrow, her mission remains unchanged.

She wants to make sure every person feels seen, heard, and cared for.

For Briseis, advocacy isn’t something separate from nursing.

It’s the foundation of it.

Inspired by Briseis’ story?

Whether you’re looking to build leadership skills, make a difference in your community, or find a place where your voice matters, Coleman Advocates has a program for you.

Scan the QR code below or visit colemanadvocates.org/about#programs to learn more about our youth and family programs and find where your own journey can begin.

Your voice matters. Your leadership starts here.

If you would like to view her video interview, you can do so here:
https://youtu.be/ibpa85U2-Ns

#CMAC #YMAC #ColemanAdvocates #Sanfrancisco