Jessica Aguilar
Jessica Aguilar is an accomplished disability advocate and co-founder of Grupo Poder y Esperanza, a family support organization that connects Latino families with specialists, resources, and educational materials. With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Economics from Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas, Jessica brings a unique blend of analytical skills and empathetic leadership to her work. Her personal experience as the parent of twins with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism and ADHD, inspired her dedication to creating systems that truly support families navigating complex disability services.
Since 2018, Jessica has been actively engaged in the disability field, participating in multiple advisory committees across North Carolina and providing referral and navigation support for families. Her work spans a wide range of areas, including transition-to-adulthood planning, financial management for families, sexual education for people with disabilities, and access to culturally relevant resources. Jessica is known for her hands-on approach, treating the families she works with as an extension of her own, and for fostering trust and empowerment among the communities she serves.
Beyond her direct advocacy, Jessica is recognized as a skilled leader, mentor, and networker with extensive experience in project management, nonprofit governance, and program development. She has earned multiple professional certifications in areas such as ACEs training, sexual and reproductive health, and community health education. Driven by her children and a commitment to family-centered support, Jessica continues to champion equitable access to services, remove stigma around disability, and inspire other parents to build their own supportive networks.
• ACEs Trainer
• Promotora de Salud Sexual y Reproductive
• Behavior Technician
• Blended Youth MHFA Version 2.1
• Non-attorney special education advocacy
• ACEs and Resilience - A Community Perspective
• Trauma Informe care
• Certificate Understanding Learning Disabilities and ADHD
• Building Strong Parent Advocates
• Triple P level 4 Standar 0-12 years old
• Verbal Intervention
• IEP University - August 2023
• Waze to Adulthood 2022 NC (Year 1 and 2)
• Waze En Espanol
• Transition University 2022-2023
• Let's Talk About It: Sexual Health and Wellness for Students with Disabilities
• Family Basic
• Family to Family
• Teen triple P Discussion Group Level 3
• Triple P level 3 Primary Care 0-12
• Critical Time Intervention (CTI)
• Peer to Peer
• Blended Youth Mental Health First Aid Certificate
• Blended Adult Mental Health First Aid Certificate
• QPR Instructor
• Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas - BBA
• Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award from North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Outstanding Parent Voice Volunteer with Mental Health America of Central Carolinas
• Salvador Caraco Mental Health Educator of the Year from Mental Health America of Central Carolinas
• State CFAD (State Consumers and Families Advisory)
• North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the passion I bring to everything I do. I genuinely love my work, and that enthusiasm drives me to create meaningful change. While I navigate the challenges of ADHD, I’ve developed strong organizational systems and rely on reminders that keep me focused and on track. Ultimately, it’s a combination of my passion and my structured approach that allows me to consistently achieve my goals.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to take care of yourself first. You can’t give your best or support others effectively if you’re not in a good place yourself. Prioritizing your well-being is essential for long-term success and impact.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to get involved and seek out opportunities to create or join support networks. It’s also important to ensure that families and community members have a voice when systems and policies are being shaped—representation matters, and your perspective can make a real difference.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is securing the necessary resources and support. There’s still a lot of stigma and bias around disability, which can prevent people from recognizing the potential and capabilities of individuals. My goal is to help others see that, with the right resources and support, people with disabilities can achieve remarkable things. Overcoming these misconceptions is difficult, but it’s also an opportunity to create more inclusive and empowering systems.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty and integrity—I always strive to do what is right and uphold my responsibilities. Family is also central to everything I do. I approach my work as if I’m serving my own family, and I treat every client and community member with that same care and dedication. For me, fostering these connections is just as important as the work itself.