Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Archila
Hi Cristina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
You know, as a proud multiethnic Latina, I have really come to appreciate how much strength comes from embracing culture, identity, and lived experience. Being a blend of cultures has shaped me in so many ways. I was born in LA, raised in Vegas, and moved to the Twin Cities almost 14 years ago, and honestly, every place has added to who I am and the energy I bring into different spaces. One of the most defining parts of my journey was growing up as a child witness to domestic violence. That experience has deeply influenced both my personal life and the work I do. It’s a huge reason why I am so passionate about making sure people have access to the resources and support they need.
I spent about ten years working in the public school sector, and seeing firsthand how systemic barriers affect families really pushed me to look for ways to create bigger change. That’s what led me into nonprofit work where I could focus on storytelling, advocacy, and directly supporting communities in ways that align with my values. At the core of everything, my journey has been shaped by a lot of experiences, but what drives me is resilience, community, and the power of advocacy.
That passion is a big part of why I volunteer with the Domestic Abuse Project (DAP). I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Board, as well as chairing the Advancement Committee. It’s work that’s really close to my heart.One in three women in the United States will experience intimate partner violence. That’s not just a statistic, it’s a crisis affecting millions of families. This isn’t a rare nor isolated issue, a woman in your life has been impacted. Supporting victim-survivors and their children is crucial, but breaking the cycle before it starts is just as important. That’s what makes DAP’s work so impactful. They focus on prevention and intervention at every level. It’s about more than just responding to harm, it’s about addressing the root causes of violence and creating real pathways for change. That holistic approach is why I am so committed to it.
But advocacy is just one piece of the puzzle for me. Being Guatemalan and multiracial has given me a unique lens on identity, and celebrating my cultural heritage is something I carry with me everywhere. That Chapina pride runs deep! Representation matters, and I know how important it is for people in our communities to see themselves reflected in leadership and decision-making spaces. That’s why it was such an honor to be recognized as a Latine leader in Minnesota through LatinoLEAD and their Avanzando Líderazgo Program. It was a powerful reminder of how important it is to be in community and create opportunities for others to network and thrive. Mi cultura and mi comunidad is at the heart of the work I engage in, making it deeply personal. At the end of the day, everything I do, whether it’s in my career, my volunteer work, or just how I show up in the world, is about building stronger, more resilient communities and making sure people feel seen, valued, and supported.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to accepting oneself is never typically easy. We live in a world that often demands we conform to whiteness, and as a multiracial person, accepting myself was something I had to work toward. There were times I questioned where I fit in or whether I was “enough” in certain spaces. You know the saying, ni de aquí, ni de allá, but learning to embrace my full identity with love and assurance has been my greatest act of resistance. Imposture Syndrome is something that many women of color battle, and I am no exception, but that self-acceptance has fueled my work, my advocacy, and my commitment to uplifting others.
When it comes to my volunteerism, the toughest part has been most recent. DAP, like so many nonprofits, is facing the real threat of losing critical funding. As a volunteer leader, working with DAP’s leadership and board to navigate these challenges has been tough, but we’re staying hopeful and focused on what’s possible. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking to know that life-saving services for victim-survivors and their families could be at risk because of decisions being made at higher levels. But hope isn’t lost. People are energized, people want to help, and ultimately, people want to be part of a collective force for the greater good. That energy is something we plan to channel.
I encourage everyone reading this to reach out to those in your community and start paying attention to the impact executive and legislative policies are having right now. This isn’t just about DAP, nonprofits as a whole need your help. Grassroots and local efforts are where real change begins. If you have the ability to support, whether through time, resources, or advocacy, now is the time to step up. Change happens when we’re in community and show up for each other.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m known for asking a lot of questions, especially the tough ones! Admittedly, that sometimes gets me into trouble. But I believe in the power of curiosity, especially when it comes to challenging systems, asking the hard questions, and pushing for real change. Speaking up is just part of who I am. I’ve been called an eloquent speaker, or as I like to say, I’m really good at talking! Which I think comes from being deeply connected to the issues I care about and the communities I serve. When you’re passionate about something, it’s hard not to use your voice. For me, that’s about advocating for women and children to live free from violence and standing up for marginalized communities. Making sure people are treated with dignity and respect and speaking truth to power is what drives me, so I strive to speak up in ways that move people, provoke thought, and inspire action.
I’m most proud of my commitment to community and civic engagement, which is why I’ve worked with and for organizations rooted in community. Each of these roles I’ve held over the years has shaped my understanding of how vital it is to give back and uplift those who need it most. At DAP, I’ve served on their board for nearly 2 years, supporting efforts to provide critical services to victim-survivors of domestic violence. My time at Breaking Free focused on advocating for victim-survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. While working at Saint Paul Public Schools, I supported youth through academic interventions and behavioral de-escalation, work that fueled my advocacy and deepened my understanding of the school-to-prison pipeline in Minnesota. Separately, I volunteered on a steering committee with the City of St Paul to help implement infrastructure changes through traffic calming near the school I was working at, a project aimed at improving community safety. At Bolder Options, I’ve seen firsthand the joy and resilience of young people as they navigate complex systems and form relationships with mentors, and for the last six years at La Doña Cervecería, I’ve worked to market a community-centered space that celebrates Latine culture and fosters connection.
Through my various work and volunteer experiences, I’ve come to understand these issues and topics through an intersectional lens and how deeply interconnected they are. That sense of connection is at the heart of everything I do. Navigating different identities and spaces has shown me the importance of building bridges and creating environments where people feel seen and valued. Whether I’m helping youth, supporting victim-survivors, or working in community, I know that every small action contributes to something bigger. I’ve always believed that I’m a cog in a larger machine, working toward the greater good. It’s that knowledge, of being part of something larger, that keeps me going, driving me to continue working toward change and resilience.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that often surprises people about those of us in movements, whether professionally or personally, is that while the work is a big part of our lives, it’s not our whole lives. We all have loved ones, hobbies, and personal outlets that make us who we are. We’re people first, and we each have our own ways of resetting so that we can continue to show up for the communities we’re passionate about serving. These outlets are vital for the work we do, though it’s unfortunate that many people feel guilty for taking time for self-care. Don’t get me wrong, this is serious work that demands time, energy and authenticity, but we all know that we have to put our own oxygen masks on first so that we can help others. Rest and resetting is an important part of the work and truly an act of resistance, otherwise we risk burnout.
For me, I love to reset in the woods. In fact, when people first meet me, they’re genuinely surprised by my love for the outdoors, and that I take my adventure kitty along for the ride. One of the first questions I get asked is what it’s like hiking with a cat, and I have to admit, he’s more of a passenger princess than an active hiker. He spends most of his time on my back, just soaking in the views while I do the work. Lucky guy! Not only do I love hiking, but I’ve ventured the Boundary Waters twice and hope to backpack along the Superior Hiking Trail next summer, if scheduling allows. There’s something about connecting with nature, especially with my best little bud, that grounds me and allows me to recharge, giving me the energy I need to keep doing the work that’s close to my heart.
Pricing:
- $45 Donation – Celebrating 45 years of service in the Twin Cities, a gift at this level will go towards supporting DAP’s mission of building communities free from violence by providing holistic healing for every member of the family.
- $100 Donation – A gift at this level can pay for the facilitation of one group therapy session
- $500 Donation – A gift at this level can pay for a year of child-parent psychotherapy services, helping to form healthy attachments and violence prevention
- $1000 Donation – A gift at this level can pay for 40 hours of individualized therapy by a trauma informed therapist
- Please note, these tiers are recommendations and donations of any amount, big or small, will go towards supporting DAP’s mission of building communities free from violence by providing holistic healing for every member of the family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mndap.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dap_mn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/domesticabuseproject
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carchila01/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChyPIY3A9ACs8auJ3x7vwpw
