Meet Cynthia Padilla Pearson | Trauma & Conflict Management Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cynthia Padilla Pearson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cynthia, what are you inspired by?
I love this question, because it really opens up to the idea of what respect and admiration can look like. What inspires me is the amazing stories of people who have overcome or are the “under-dog” in many ways, and yet achieve their goals and come out on the other end with newfound purpose. My first introduction of what respect and admiration looked like was with my grandmother attending a rally at around 12 years old, that was fueled by the idea of protecting human rights and political activism. She was so inspirational by how she powerfully maneuvered and weaved through a large crowd at only 5’2 tall, pointing to and explaining what signs meant, and what to do if we were to be separated as we cheered and yelled sentiments of prosperity and change. I hadn’t fully grasped the idea of what it meant to stand for your convictions until that day and was left with the memory and understanding of how activism is not just a single event, but a culmination of numerous moments and acts of rebellion. My parents are from Puerto Rico and both sides of the family are not unfamiliar to the idea of effecting change and making a difference with little for themselves. My grandmother was a local teacher and a very well known community member that knew every student’s story. Her husband, my grandfather, was a dare devil of sorts, a great cook, rode motorcycles, knew how to fish with his bare hands, and worked for a local bakery company. They were the neighborhood grandparents and everyone adored them and I was lucky enough to be loved by them. In Puerto Rico it is not uncommon to see ‘parrandas’ and ‘bomba y plena’ sung and dance as a form of celebration or rebellion. Its traditional musical styling that dates to enslaved peoples is rhythmic, honest, and deeply proud as a form of unity, resistance, and heritage. I learned all about that with my family as we hosted many of these type of gatherings and my grandparents were the ones that taught me all the lyrics. As a kid I just thought that’s just how we are, isn’t everyone else like this too? As I grew up and they aged, I realized how all of the ways that I was a part of service for others was reflective of the way in which I saw my grandparents do just the same. Inspirational is how I would describe them and when it came time for my grandfather to leave this earth, I saw again how his high-school sweetheart, my grandmother, never left his side and made sure we celebrated to the rhythm of his heart and his people. Their story and that of many others in Puerto Rico inspires me to never settle, be brave and relentless, and always stand up for what is right. They are the most revolutionary people I know.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have a consulting agency (Trauma & Conflict Consulting, LLC) that specifically provides training and support in the area of trauma-informed approaches and conflict management. Using data-driven models and a community-centered framework, we provide solutions for conflict management and resolution practices that make a long-lasting impact on people and businesses. Our consulting services include trauma-informed approaches to direct service providers, clinicians, first responders, and educational systems with offerings of parenting programs, change management tools, and how to have courageous conversations. I saw a need for authentic, real-world experience in the area of conflict management and trauma-informed training. I formed my agency to provide sensible solutions to these issues. I am most excited about the collaboration between so many friends and past colleagues that are interested in doing this work together. We are a team of amazing mediators, counselors, lawyers, and communication experts committed to helping others. We take our convictions and turn them into action.

I’ve been in this field for about 13 years now and it was in the beginning of 2020 where I felt the most called on to help navigate some difficult situations. I found that people were really trying to build connections with others but were having difficulty expressing their feelings and wants. The pandemic and social awakening for some really highlighted the ways in which people were just robotically moving about in the world with little attention to the human experience.

It’s never easy to jump out and position yourself as someone that can provide a service, but I quickly realized that people were reaching out to me because they believed that I knew how to help and at the very least trusted my expertise. I had to ignore the self-doubt that usually creeps up when you start something new and had to remind myself that I’ve earned my place in this world. I’ve learned that fear is a liar as they say, and it is always better to try something knew than to live in regret. I want the world to know that TCC is more than just a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, it is a group of individuals that deeply care about our world and believe that we all have the capacity to envision the change(s) we desire.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, there is really so much to do and this is hard because my best friend is from here, haha! So let’s just go with this plan for a week’s visit: Monday- Arrival! Mani/Pedi appointments, Del Bar for dinner
Tuesday- Breakfast at Barneys, Meet up with family/friends at PuttShack
Wednesday- Atlanta Botanical Gardens, then Whiskey Bird, Apt4B
Thursday- Ponce City shopping, then Bar Vegan
Friday-State Farm Arena- Atlanta Social Lounge, then Habitat Kitchen and Bar
Saturday- Yoga in the Park, JoJo’s Beloved Cocktail Lounge then Candela ATL
Sunday- Midtown Beach Club, El Brunch then Airport

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my Shoutout to my family and friends who always cheer me on. I certainly would not have even thought to see myself as a business owner if not for my husband, Stan Pearson, II. He is the one person that doesn’t let me discourage myself, knows what to say when I feel like I am not worthy, and supports me and our family so effortlessly. His love and encouragement reveals the best in all that know him and I’m beyond honored to be his wife.

Website: www.traumaconflictconsulting.com

Instagram: @traumaconflictconsulting

Linkedin: @cynthiapadillapearson

Image Credits
Kelley Raye Photography