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Welcome.
At the Diversity and Resiliency Institute of El Paso, our Mission is to promote the values of diversity and inclusion through education and training, fostering resiliency in professional practice, company culture, and within the community. We offer access to material which will prepare mental health and social services professionals to competently and confidently engage with marginalized groups, expand their knowledge base, and increase social awareness. Corporate trainings help companies and organizations improve their workplace culture and practices, equipping them to engage a diverse workforce in a manner that goes beyond simply checking the boxes. The Institute focuses on community education, providing content designed to inform, empower, and support community members.
About Us.
What We Bring to You.
The Diversity and Resiliency Institute of El Paso was developed out of the successful launch of LGBTQI+ Sensitivity trainings for professionals in the El Paso, Texas area. The Borderland Rainbow Center became the operator of the Purple Pages, a directory of medical and mental health providers who operate LGBTQI+ friendly or affirming services, and through a grant, expanded upon their already substantial professional and community trainings. Through partnership with other professionals in the community, the base of training topics expanded, and now through this new project, The Diversity and Resiliency Institute of El Paso is able to bring you many of those trainings in the convenience of your own home or office.
Over 30 years of teaching and public speaking experience
Over 30 years of Management and leadership experience
Over 30 years of therapeutic and social service experience
Quality education and training backed by
How We Process Payment
All online payments are processed securely with PayPal. If you encounter any issues with payment, or are unable to access content or services that you have paid for, please contact us. If you need to request a refund for any reason, please contact driep.contact@gmail.com Subject: Refund. Please indicate in the email why you are requesting the refund. Refund requests must be sent within 72 hours of purchase. Any refund approved will be initiated within 48 hours of acknowledgement of your request. If you have already completed the training and request a refund, or if you request a refund after 72 hours from you purchase, we are not obligated to fulfill that request.
Our Team
LMSW
Director
Fellow
Ashley Heidebrecht
Ashley Heidebrecht, The Radical Social Worker, has worked in the field of social services for over a decade, with 7 years of experience in creating and facilitating professional and community education. From 2007 to 2015 she worked as a direct care provider, program coordinator, and community education facilitator at the Mental Health Association of South-Central Kansas (MHASCK).
Since leaving that agency in 2015, Ashley has provided case management and trauma support for families recovering from homelessness, and has become active in community organizing, and legistlative and community advocacy, particularly surrounding migrant child detention, LGBTQ rights, and racial justice, and has completed her Master of Social Work degree.
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In 2018 when the policy of migrant family separation and child detention was instituted, Ashley worked in collaboration with many individuals and organizations to fight for an end to that policy and to shut down the migrant child prison in Tornillo, Texas.
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Recently in her work with Borderland Rainbow Center, Ashley served LGBTQ youth and adults in group and individual settings, engaged in casework with the Deaf community, focused on immigrant rights, issues of racial justice, and engaged in advocacy work.
Through her work as The Radical Social Worker and as the Director for the Institute, Ashley focuses heavily on advocacy and education, providing educational opportunities to improve community awareness and allyship, and engaging in regional and national initiatives to fight discrimination. Ashley is also working to mobilize social workers across the Nation to become more engaged in social justice initiatives.
Online Assistant
Veronica Camacho
Veronica is a full time student at UTEP, and is also a full time caretaker for her mother. Veronica joins our team with years of customer service and virtual support experience. Veronica is also a writer, and has the dream of becoming a published author. Veronica notes: "As an introvert, writing is the best way I communicate to the masses. I oftentimes need space and distance from crowds of people and the loud noises. So when I sit down to write, I feel as if then I can communicate to the world. As a queer femme, I thrive in a community of inclusiveness, diversity, and respect."
Lead Trainer, Deaf Cultural Competency Grant Program
Fellow
Jennifer Dahlgren
Jennifer Dahlgren is an Assistant Professor at El Paso Community College in the Sign Language and Interpreter Preparation Program. Jennifer has worked in the field of communication access, education, and advocacy for more than 15 years with a passion for the empowerment that comes through communication. She has trained countless service providers and students in the medical, legal, educational, social services and business fields. She has presented both nationally and internationally to audiences large and small. Advocating for the communication access rights for persons who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind and DeafDisabled so that they can function independently and equitably in society. Additionally, Jennifer advocates for the intersectional needs of the LGBTQ communities. Education is the key to access and equality. By educating service providers, students and leaders about the rights and needs of minority communities, we make the world a more equitable place .
PhD
Fellow
Dr. Kyle Erwin
Dr. Kyle M. Erwin is a staff psychologist, LGBT special emphasis program manager (SEPM), and LGBT Veteran’s Care Coordinator (VCC) in El Paso, Texas. In addition to providing individual and couple’s psychotherapy, Dr. Erwin serves as a primary supervisor for a hospital psychology internship program, provides training in the prevention and management of disruptive behavior, and serves on a disruptive behavior committee.
Outside of his clinical roles, Dr. Erwin serves as the secretary for the El Paso Psychological Association, and is vice president of the board of directors at Borderland Rainbow Center. Most recently, Dr. Erwin helped organize the El Paso VA’s first and second time participation in Sun City Pride and served as a consultant on the Museum of the American Military Family’s award winning exhibit Inside-Out/SHOUT. Dr. Erwin has passion and dedication for working with LGBTQ veterans and veterans experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and demonstrated this dedication via professional activities, community engagement, and education.
PhD, LMSW
Fellow
Dr. Kathryn Schmidt
Kathryn Schmidt, PhD, LMSW served as Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Texas at El Paso, and is currently a practicing therapist, serving individuals with severe mental illness and providing crisis support. Her research interests include LGBTQI people's access to social services, Sexual attitudes, behaviors, and experiences of college students, and LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system.
LCSW
Fellow
Karissa Reeves
Karissa graduated from Spalding University in Louisville, KY in 2014 with a Master of Social Work degree. With education being the forefront of her life, this accomplishment was the beginning of a career of her dreams: to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Currently, Karissa works closely with dual-diagnosis clients who have both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. As a queer Black woman, she believes representation is imperative for her fellow BIPOC to have options in the mental health world. Her goal is to provide quality, client-centered therapeutic service while bringing her genuine self to every session. Karissa believes to help others on their journey to mental wellness and sustainability is a gift given to share. She looks forward to every potential connection and intentional nurturing of the relationships that develop.
LCSW-S
Fellow
Irene Arlette Werthmann
Lecturer/Program Coordinator Manager
MSSW, University of Texas-Arlington • BA, Majors: Psychology/Sociology, Austin College, Sherman, TX • LCSW State of Texas • Work Experience: Child Protective Services in rural settings, Social Work in courtroom settings, Behavioral Health in rural areas; integrated medical and behavioral health model
Arlette Werthman, LCSW-S is a native born El Pasoan who returned to share her expertise in child welfare, rural social work, and clinical areas such as working with complex diagnoses in adolescents and adults, treatment of trauma, and work with families. Her wisdom and experience have enriched the skills of our team and Borderland Rainbow Center's social work interns, and benefited our community members. She is a strong supporter of the rights of LGBTQ children in the foster care system and will be serving as Borderland Rainbow Center's representative on a state-wide board advising the Department of Family and Protective Services on LGBTQ issues.
Diana Martinez
M.A.
Education and Content Manager
Diana was born and raised in El Paso, Texas by immigrant parents from Juarez. She come from a large extended family that is binational. Her parents named me after the statue of the huntress in Mexico City on Reforma Street.
Diana graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in History and a minor in Secondary Education, with a focus in Native American and Latin American history. After graduating, Diana taught in public, private, and charter schools, working with grade levels 6th through 12th, and teaching a diverse array of subjects ranging from world geography, American history, Texas history, Economics, and more. In 2009 Diana graduated with a Master’s in History, with emphasis on Latin American history, Borderland history, and Orientalism.
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Since 2010 Diana has taught at the college level at both at El Paso Community College and at the University of Texas at El Paso. At UTEP, Diana has taught Humanities 3303 Challenges in Modern Culture from 1600 to present, and Humanities 3303 Intellectuals on the Edge from 1900 – the present. Diana has taught American History 1301 and American History 1302 at both institutions. Diana grew up with a strong passion for art, history, and literature that goes into her teaching. Her students remark that her enthusiasm inspires them to learn.
Diana also works with others to organize community actions to stand up for the rights of immigrants and immigrant children in detention. Part of the community organizing involved public speaking and presenting about immigration and Latinx history in America. Diana has facilitated presentations focusing on the Flores Settlement Agreement, Jaime Escalante and Rosita the Riveter: the Latina Contribution to World War II, and she has engaged in public speaking and work with the media surrounding immigrant rights and immigrant child detention.
Denise Nuñez
B.S.
Coordinator, Deaf Cultural Competency Grant Program
Denise Nunez is an El Paso Native who has just begun immersing herself into the Deaf community. Her sister, who is Deaf, is the reason that Denise became interested in American Sign Language. Denise graduated from El Paso Community College in May 2019 with her Associate of Applied Science in Sign Language/Interpreter Program.
In June 2019, she enrolled in William Woods University and double majored in Interpreting ASL-English and Deaf Human Services. Denise is excited to become a part of the Diversity and Resiliency Institute of El Paso and the Borderland Rainbow Center, and hopes that the Deaf Sensitivity and Cultural Competency program flourishes over time, bringing in not only awareness, but equality as well.
Mariya Klintsevich
Trainer, Deaf Cultural Competency Grant Pro
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Dr. Brenda Risch
PhD, LMSW
Executive Director, Borderland Rainbow Center
Fellow
Dr. Risch has extensive experience in the area of gender and sexuality issues and a rich academic background, completing a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature focusing on Gender Studies and representations of the body and a Masters in Social Work.
Dr. Risch served as the Director of Women’s and Gender Studies at UTEP from 2006-2015. During this time they completed academic work directly related to the LGBTQ community such as creating the Frontera Pride Film Festive in 2009 and 2010, which showcased films by and about the LGBTQ community. They completed two major quantitative studies of sexual attitudes, behaviors, and experiences on the UTEP campus (SABES 2 sample size 701, and SABES 3 sample size 1332). And also the project entitled “Engendering Community: An LGBTQ Oral History of the El Paso/Juárez Borderland.” This project consisted of collecting 120 oral histories. Dr. Risch curated a major museum exhibit at the Centennial Museum in June of 2015. Dr. Risch has also studied the needs of the El Paso LGBT Community in her 2016 survey LGBTQ Community Needs Assessment of the El Paso/Las Cruces Region. Dr. Risch founded the LGBTQ community center--the Borderland Rainbow Center-- in September of 2016, which serves LGBTQ people of all ages with trauma-informed therapy, support groups, a food pantry, educational workshops, and substance-free social activities.
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In addition, Dr. Risch has helped plan and deliver 3 community “Coming Out Workshops” and dozens of workshops on LGBTQ issues including LGBTQ Cultural Competence and best practices (including ones offered for CEUs for social workers and licensed professional counselors), over 30 papers and workshops concerning gender and sexuality issues, and over 10 workshops on pedagogy and innovative teaching. Dr. Risch is trained in EMDR through EMDRIA.
Vic Doster
LMSW
Fellow
Vic was born in Northern Michigan but spent most of their childhood in Woodridge, Illinois, a Northwest Suburb of Chicago. They began pursuing their undergraduate degree in Social Work in 2017, graduating in early 2019. Shortly after completing their undergraduate studies, they began their master's degree in Social Work at the Carver School of Social Work in Kentucky and graduated in December of 2019, in the advanced standing clinical program.
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Being openly queer and nonbinary, their passion of advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community began early on in their life but blossomed professionally during their undergraduate social work internship at the Borderland Rainbow Center in early 2019.
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Prior to their internship, they served in the United States Army for four years, honorably retiring as Sergeant Doster in 2019. Also in 2019, they began serving as the Rainbow Myth Busters Project Coordinator at the Borderland Rainbow Center, where they were apart of organizing and training over 500+ providers and clinicians in El Paso, regarding LGBTQ+ competency in medical and mental health practice. They now serve as the Program Director at the Borderland Rainbow Center.
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Vic also serves as a therapist and practices primarily with Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). Vic’s philosophy in practice is that, “Beauty is not who you are on the outside, it is the wisdom and time you gave away to save another struggling soul like you.”
Katie Risch Little
Fellow
Katie holds a Master’s in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration. Her published research is focused on diabetes camp and is titled, “Diabetes Knowledge and Attitudes of Camp Staff at A Diabetes Camp”. She is also a Certified Nonprofit Professional and has worked with many nonprofit organizations both in the US and internationally. She has a passion for helping others discover their strengths while overcoming their individual challenges. She is an exceptional advocate for creating accessible camps which meet the needs of all campers and staff. She enjoys working with youth and families impacted by diabetes and always welcomes the opportunity to help educate others. She is excited to be teaching Recreation courses as an adjunct faculty in the Spring of 2021.