ABOUT EMPOWERED TO EXHALE

 Empowered to Exhale’s vision is an inclusive culture that promotes wellbeing and sustainable performance.

 

Our Mission

We strive to create sustainable pathways to wellness that are rooted in authenticity, mindfulness, and purpose. Our clients will benefit from keynotes, wellness courses, and retreats designed to help them develop a sustainable approach to wellness that is customized to their needs. We appreciate our clients for joining us in our efforts to support organizations that advocate for and provide wellness resources to marginalized communities.

wellness retreats - our mission

OUR VALUES

 How our values help you

 

Authenticity

 

My authenticity (transparent, honest communication) makes others feel I am trustworthy and relatable, and they feel validated in their own experiences (that they are not alone)

 

Mindfulness

 

My discovery of the beliefs that shaped my approach to wellness helps them uncover their own, and become aware through mindfulness that they can care for themselves in ways that resonate with them and fulfill their needs.

 

Sustainability

 

A focus on sustainability encourage them to identify meaningful and effective wellness practices that resonate with them and are practical in their current reality.

 

Purpose

 

They are able to develop a path towards wellness and sustainable performance that is aligned with their overall purpose

Our core beliefs

 

Portia Jackson Preston

DrPH, MPH.
Founder.

Empowered to Exhale was founded by Dr Portia Jackson with a mission to Equip educators and leaders with tools to effectively manage stress and foster resilience so they may serve others from a position of wholeness. Dr. Portia Jackson Preston is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at California State University, Fullerton, where she conducts research  on multilevel approaches to self-care, and examines stressors such as racism drivers of health inequity.

Prior to her career in academia, she worked for Deloitte Consulting and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consulted for Susan G. Komen Orange County, and founded Active Steps Coaching. Dr. Jackson Preston earned her Doctorate of Public Health from UCLA, her Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her Bachelors degree  from Stanford University. 

  Speaker, professor & storyteller. Helping you understand your own story, so you can serve others from a position of wholeness.

THE TEAM

Delia Sanchez, MPH

Program Manager

Delia Sanchez is a Mexican American first-generation college graduate who is passionate about equipping students and professionals with education and tools for practicing wellness. As Program Manager for Empowered to Exhale, she coordinates ongoing programs and develops workshops on wellness for students, teachers, and early career professionals. Her current projects focus on course and retreat development, small group coaching for higher education staff, and creation and delivery of workshops for students.

Delia holds a Masters of Public Health with an emphasis on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, from California State University Fullerton. Having worked for the past two years as a substitute teacher for middle and high school students, she has firsthand experience with the difficulties of distance learning and navigating in-person learning during the pandemic. She has also assisted with research on professional quality of life in Head Start staff, and delivered student wellness workshops for San Joaquin Delta College and Long Beach City College. Her research experience includes serving as lab manager for the ExHALE lab (Examining Holistic Approaches to Leadership and Education) with Dr. Portia Jackson Preston, where she has contributed to four manuscripts and coordinated studies focused on wellbeing among college students and higher education professionals.


 

 Testimonials

Testimonials About Page

Thank you Portia soooooo much for doing the Vision Board workshop. I have been wanting to do one forever and never "had time". I'm the type of person who wants to do a million things but never successfully finishes one. The vision board really helped me focus and isolate the ideas that had been swirling around in my head. I've worked on it more and added more personal touches but it's by no means done. It also sits next to my bed so it's the first thing I see in the morning. THANK YOU THANK YOU for taking time out of your busy schedule. It is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks so much for a revealing and inspiring session! I was pleased to walk away with greater insight than I expected. I have a lot more thinking to do about how I'd like to continue my personal growth - relationships, finance, health - and I look forward to growing through it all.

Thank you again for such an incredible workshop session. I felt truly invigorated and empowered. Truly soul food to hear you talk!

FAQs

 

  • Wellness can refer to any of the components of health that you believe are key for your overall well-being (physical, mental, etc.). Many of our clients define wellness in terms of having the capacity to pursue their personal and professional goals, while being able to engage in fulfilling activities and relationships. The goal of our work is to help you understand how your approach to wellness is shaped by your identity, lived experiences, and environment, and to empower you to create a practice that is informed by your needs, preferences, and resources.

  • These categories are intended to provide a holistic snapshot of different components of your personal and professional well-being. They are not meant to be exhaustive, and they often overlap (for example, meditation may be considered both an emotional and spiritual practice). The goal is not for you to address all six keys at once, but rather, to identify those that are most supportive of your well-being.

  • Research has shown that in order to achieve sustainable change in a population, it is important to incorporate both individual and organization-level approaches. Also, employee wellbeing is foundational to achieving your organizational mission, retaining your workforce, and preventing and managing burnout and other adverse physical and mental health outcomes.

  • For individuals, our offerings include courses and retreats. We offer keynotes, retreats, and executive coaching to organizations spanning corporate, government, academic and non-profit sectors.

  • We typically book events one to three quarters in advance. We have limited availability for the upcoming quarter, depending on the nature of the request. To inquire, please fill out our contact form.

  • You may view our most frequently requested keynote speaking services here. To request this or other services, please fill out our contact form contact form.