My name is Martha Castaño. I have a PhD from Yale University in Contemporary Latin American Literature. I wrote my dissertation on Gabriel García Márquez on “The Discourses of Love and Violence in Love in the Times of Cholera and No One Writes to the Coronel.” Being in the academic path has allowed me to reflect upon the disconnect between theory and practice. Thinking about Colombia’s long history of civil war, I decided to take a more proactive role in working towards helping to diminish the problem of violence and inequality, particularly among children of high risk. I was born in Circasia, Colombia. It is a poor town, located between Armenia (the capital of the state) and Pereira (a more developed city). Circasia has always been vulnerable to political turmoil and natural disasters. For more than half of a century, Circasia was affected by the violence created by the civil war between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. Because it is in the Andean Mountain Chain, Circasia is also prone to earthquakes and torrential rains. In addition, many displaced people have migrated from the countryside to settle in Circasia. My mother and great-grandmother were born in Circasia. My mother’s aunt, Eloisa, helped send my mother to the United States in search of a better future for her and her children. As a result, I had a life-transforming experience that I would never have had if I had stayed in Colombia. I was privileged to have an education that gave me the tools to not only grow intellectually, but also to think critically. I feel a strong duty to give back to the community, values that my Aunt Eloisa bestowed on me. I am now determined to work towards social transformation through education in Colombia and elsewhere throughout the world.