Celina Del Castillo Lewis

My success is rooted in a deep-seated passion and the unwavering belief that I can effect real change. My drive is fueled by my own harrowing experiences navigating the system for a family member; that personal struggle is what motivates me every single day. By combining my professional design expertise and communication skills with lived experience, I have built a powerful toolkit to advocate for others. I am doing this for every family currently suffering and struggling to find a way forward for their loved ones with serious mental illness. It is this intersection of professional skill and personal mission that defines my success and keeps me moving forward.

For a long time, I defined myself by my tools—as a graphic and web designer. But I learned that my technical skills are most powerful when they serve a specific, urgent purpose. I was told that if I stayed grounded in my reason for working—which is to ensure no other family has to suffer through the system alone—the right projects and platforms would find me. That advice gave me the courage to pivot into advocacy and politics. It taught me that my 25 years of design experience wasn't just about making things look good; it was about building the visual and digital infrastructure needed to change laws and save lives.

If you haven't found your "thing" yet, start by looking for a problem that needs a solution—one where your unique skills can make an impact. When you find a mission that truly matters, you become unstoppable. You will find yourself attacking obstacles from every possible angle because your purpose won’t let you quit. Early in my career, the job market was incredibly tough and the competition was high, but I couldn't walk away. Even when I considered leaving the design world, my passion brought me back because I realized my skills were the exact tools needed to solve the problems I cared about most.

The greatest hurdle in launching this advocacy work was the daunting task of connecting with key decision-makers and influencers. I initially expected a much steeper uphill battle, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve found that "people in high positions" aren't just accessible—they are reaching out to me, eager to collaborate and learn.

I attribute this momentum to the synergy between my design background and my advocacy goals. By treating every post and every piece of information as a professional project—meticulously curated and visually compelling—I’ve been able to capture attention where others might struggle. Since integrating my efforts with the National Shattering Silence Coalition (NSSC), we’ve seen our membership grow by the hundreds. It’s a testament to the fact that when you present a clear, professional, and passionate case for change, the world listens.

In both my design work and my advocacy, integrity means taking personal responsibility for the solutions I create. Empathy is the heart of my mission; it’s what allowed me to turn my own family's struggle with the system into a lifeline for others. Finally, resilience is my engine. Whether I’m navigating a tough job market or fighting for legislative change in Augusta, I’ve learned that when you are fueled by a deep "why," you simply don't stop until the work is done.