Marta Michelle Colon
Who she is: Marta Michelle Colon was only a teenager when she saw her brother begin to misuse drugs after being prescribed opioids as the result of a motorcycle accident. This experience, including his eventual death, led her to take action. In her devastation, she founded Be Gutsy, a national awareness campaign aimed at educating the Latinx community about the dangers of misusing opioids. Through local partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and healthcare programs, the campaign addresses opioid misuse among Latinx youth. In just two years, Be Gutsy directly impacted more than 5,500 young adults and indirectly reached tens of thousands more through health fairs and medical programs.
What being a Woman of Worth means to her: “Being celebrated as a Women of Worth is a validation that we can transform negative experiences into a positive impact for others. Becoming a Woman of Worth amplifies my reach to speak openly about how the prescription opioids epidemic is impacting our Latinx community. I feel more empowered to continue developing a central strategy that includes education, access, communication — rather than shame, stigma, punishment, and harm.”
Donate: Support Be Gutsy, here.
