Check Out Niria Alvarez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niria Alvarez.

Hi Niria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My son was diagnosed with profound autism at age 3 yrs. In 2019 I started a Facebook group Ivan and Friends United ASD families in the Central Valley to help me at the time find families like mine ; to help with the social isolation many families feel when you get a diagnosis. Then in 2020 my nonprofit Possibilities Center Empowering Families through Autism Resources was approved. Our mission is to help autism families come together monthly celebrating them in safe environments year round with fun family events. Our events are open to all ages; our services are free too. Once again our organization helps families with the social isolation they face and to help build their village of support ; our events are recreational; and educational to all and we also help foster a love for the performing arts incorporating visual and performing arts in many of our events we do.
In 2022 I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and if you can imagine my worst nightmare the possibility of leaving my son my whole family ; when your a parent of a child on the spectrum you are supposed to live forever ; the prayer is to be around as long as you can. I’m now cancer free it’s been 2 years now and I’m still going strong for my son Ivan my beautiful family husband Edgar and daughter Lilia. Most importantly I never stopped my organization it’s still going strong just like all the families I serve their bravery; their strength is what I leaned on to keep me going. I told God and made a promise that I would do all I can to help serve our beautiful autism community who desperately need services; and resources and I’m doing just that. Amen.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our goal as an organization is to have our four walls someday. We would like to have our own facility central to many of our families so that we can incorporate more workshops and classes as well as events. Currently we rent out space for our events but it would be a great help to have our own building. We would be able to accomplish a lot more for our families.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I graduated from UCLA in theatre arts and my empathies was musical theater when I entered. I have background as a Visual Performing Arts teacher I taught in Inglewood Ca and Fresno Ca. I have worked as a site project coordinator for a Native American organization in Fresno Owen’s Valley Career Development Center serving families planning and facilitating events in pregnancy prevention and family formation. Now I’m a CEO of my own organization Possibilities Center serving autism families in the Central Valley . I’m 45 just had a birthday 🎂. I’m happy I’m alive and I’m happy that I can keep my dream a reality to help my son the best way I know how.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Praying my organization grows and we have our own facility one day. My dream is that more cities have a Possibilities Center in their area and that we are able to expand our services . Autism families need so much more and I would like to be an ideal resource for many families in CA.

Pricing:

• For donations: venmo@possibilitiescenter
• paypal@possibilitiescenter

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www. possibilitiescenter.org
• Instagram: possibilitiescenterfresno
• Facebook: possibilitiescenterempoweringfamiliesthroughautismresources

Image Credits
My family