Not the Face of Crime. The Face of Excellence.
Angelena exists to reclaim how Latino and Hispanic communities are seen—not just by society, but by our own children.
We live in a time when social media platforms, government agencies, and mass media regularly flood the public sphere with mugshots and criminal imagery. Research has shown that when communities—any communities—are consistently portrayed through a negative lens, it causes real harm. It shapes how others treat us. And more dangerously, it shapes how we see ourselves.
Studies show that repeated negative portrayals can lead to internalized shame, increased public bias, poor academic performance, and reduced belief in personal potential. These effects are especially damaging to young people who need visible role models to imagine what they can become. Visibility matters—for safety, for opportunity, for mental health, and for the soul of our culture.
Angelena is the response. Through stories, names, and faces, we counter the narrative. We show the world—and the next generation—that we are not what they’re being shown.
We are scholars. Creators. Workers. Caregivers. Entrepreneurs.
We are the face of contribution.
And we were born to be visible and heard.
My name is Theresa Avila Bimbela. I am a grant writer, educator, and descendant of Californios. I have built my career helping others rise—and now, I’m building something new. Angelena is part of a larger movement to reclaim how Hispanic and Latino people are portrayed. This platform shines light on our accomplishments, our brilliance, our truth.
What Is Angelena?
Angelena is a visibility campaign—and soon-to-be app—designed to counter harmful stereotypes by uplifting real stories of Hispanic and Latino excellence.
While public feeds are flooded with mugshots and criminal narratives, Angelena responds with milestones, role models, and truth. For every negative image posted, Angelena aims to share five moments of brilliance, leadership, or legacy.
We are reshaping the feed—one story at a time.
And with your help, we can flood it with pride.
Share Your Story
We want to hear from you—your wins, your work, your service, your contribution. And, especially the strides and accomplishments MEN are making.
This is how we rewrite the narrative. This is how we get seen.
CLICK HERE: Submit Your Story via Angelena Form
Your story may be selected to be featured on our social media platforms and upcoming app.
Let’s flood the timeline with pride.
Let’s show the world who we really are.
Follow & Amplify
Join us in changing the conversation.
Follow Angelena on social media and help us flood the timeline with pride.
Use our hashtags to reclaim the narrative:
#AngelenaApp
#WeAreNotCriminals
#LatinoExcellence
#NotTheFaceOfCrime
#ReclaimTheNarrative
#TheFaceOfExcellence
#BrownAndBrilliant
#ShareYourStory
#AmplifyLatinoVoices
Rooted in Truth, Guided by Healing
I want to acknowledge the deep harm done to the Native peoples in this country, harm that continues to this day. While I am not responsible for the actions of my ancestors, I am responsible for how I show up now. My work is guided by a desire to repair, uplift, and honor what has been ignored, erased, or exploited.
Historically, communities like ours — Indigenous, Black, Brown, immigrant — have been pitted against one another, divided by systems built to benefit white-led institutions and narratives. That division is not accidental. It serves a purpose, but it does not serve us.
I say this not to create blame, but to create space for awareness, unity, and transformation. As someone who carries many identities, including being part white, I believe in holding complexity with honesty and care.
Through Angelena, I choose to tell stories that reflect our realness, our power, and our joy. Not for approval, but for healing. Not as reaction, but as reclamation. If I am ever silenced, unseen, or misunderstood, it is not because I lack clarity, intent, or purpose. It is because of the barriers, systems, and established societal "rules" that I have followed all my life and yet still struggle to move through.
This work is an offering of visibility, dignity, and love.
Why the Name Angelena?
Because I was born in Los Angeles.
Because Los Angeles means “The Angels.”
Because my ancestors, Los Californios, helped found the city.
Because so many of us come from there or somewhere like it.
Because we are guardians of our own stories now.
Because we are all perfectly imperfect.
And because I believe in us.
— Theresa
Care to support the work?
Venmo @tabongrants
Thank you!
© 2025 Angelena by TAB Professional Services, LLC. All rights reserved.