Dolores Scarlett Cortez

Dolores Scarlett Cortez is an educator and multidisciplinary artist raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She moved to New Mexico in 2015 to study Studio Art at the Institute of American Indian Arts. While in undergrad, Scarlett utilized art to combat the cultural suppression of her Latina identity, which she had experienced while in Oklahoma. Since then, Scarlett has been working with her peers in New Mexico to heal generational wounds and cultivate a culture of healing.

Scarlett has four and a half years of case management experience working with marginalized youth experiencing homelessness. When working with others, Scarlett likes to utilize person-centered approaches such as trauma-informed care,  the Nurtured Heart Approach, and harm reduction tools to help others be their best and most authentic selves. Se is a current member of the student coalition of diversity, equity and inclusion at Southwestern College.

As a future therapist, Scarlett hopes to work with Spanish-speaking and diverse populations using alternative forms of therapy such as art therapy and poetry therapy to address issues around depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, addiction, and nonsuicidal self-injury.