This is a story meant to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for the minority women in speech-language pathology who find themselves struggling with a sense of belonging in their field. It follows the autobiographical account of Barbara Fernandes, an adult immigrant to the US, as she embarks on her journey as a CSD student learning both English and Spanish. It tells of her struggles facing isolation, microaggressions, and her own internal battles to eventually become one of the most successful entrepreneurs within the SLP field.

The journey from striving to thriving is amplified by the inclusion of her many Black, Brown, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant colleagues as they open up to share their own relatable challenges to persist within their field. The book serves as a rallying cry for unity and tolerance amongst minority SLPs, and it offers hope for minoritized SLP women. Lastly, it goes one final step further, asking much-needed, deep, and thought-provoking questions intended to push the field forward.

Contributors:

• Maria Claudia Franca
• DM (anonymous contribution)
• Ebony Green
• Enjoli Richardson
• Jamila Perry Harley
• Leila Regio
• Mai Ling Chan
• Michelle Hernandez
• Michelle Posner
• Pelesia Fields
• Ramya Kumar
• Tamala Close
• Pang Tao Moua
• Phuong Lien Palafox
• Yarimar Díaz Rodríguez
• Yao Du