Meet Bobby Gutierrez | Lead Media and Marketing Volunteer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bobby Gutierrez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bobby, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My Good Brain is a non profit organization that uses art as a psychological tool for youth mental health. Mental health can be a challenging concept for some families and younger individuals, but My Good Brain truly aims to provide resources to children and their families, with hopes to serve as fun, healthy, and effective mental wellness strategies. These types of resources can help individuals feel less anxious, more motivated, and most importantly, seen. Today’s world can be full of lots of fear, doubt, and other emotions—but being there for our communities is what we truly stand for, and having opportunities to share these resources is what we believe helps make a difference. We believe that by being present for those who may need support or even a fun laugh, the world can become a more supported place for everybody, regardless of age or background.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a member of the Media and Marketing Team and Outreach and Events team, I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the most hard working and special volunteers for the past few years. Starting off with Dr. Mayo, who is the founder of My Good Brain. When I joined My Good Brain in 2023, Dr. Mayo had such a welcoming and driven spirit. Soon after, I met Peri Trono, another very crucial volunteer of My Good Brain. From there, I was introduced to other amazing team leaders and volunteers. Almost right away, I felt like I was at the right place. I felt supported by a group of individuals who had hopes in using art as a tool to curate mental wellness for the communities around us. If anything, that is what I am still most excited and proud about—being able to work alongside trustworthy and talented individuals, with goals to bridge art and psychology together.

Something that sets My Good Brain apart from others is that we are always willing to show up for others, and continuously be a support system for those around us. Recently, we extended our location from the SF Bay Area to the San Diego county. Our founder, Dr. Mayo, relocated to the San Diego area, while many volunteers were still situated in the SF Bay Area. This was undoubtedly a challenge for the group as a whole—some of us wondered how volunteering and communication would look and change. But the truth is, not much did change, except for the fact that we would be providing double the amount of resources, workshops, and outlets for a variety of communities. Dr. Mayo began setting up the new My Good Brain office in San Diego, while Peri continued to organize in person art workshops and events in the SF Bay Area. In addition to this, our asynchronous volunteers kept up their hard work in continuing to upload new and updated media resources on our Instagram, Tiktok, and website.

Soon after adjusting to the relocation, the San Diego office was beaming with new opportunity, laughter, and successful events where nearby youth participated in art programs and workshops, while volunteers in the SF Bay area continued their hard work on in person events, monthly blog posts/podcasts, media outreach, and a variety of more resources.

But our success did not stop here—soon after, we were able to reach 1,000 followers on Instagram, as well as continue and form new partnerships with other amazing local organizations, with hopes to join forces and continue to spread our mission.

My Good Brain has encountered challenges and changes, but we have made it our goal to continue to be active, present, and there for others. I strongly believe that although we have faced the changes of life, we have always found a way to be there for our communities, and that is something that we always plan on continuing to do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite things to do is go to coffee shops and spend time outdoors. As a current first year undergraduate student at UCLA, I have found that I often find myself exploring different coffee shops in the Westwood/Culver City area. So, if my best friend was coming to the area, I would suggest we enjoy a Vanilla Cold Brew from the Boy and the Bear Coffee Shop. Additionally, I would suggest we take a hike at Will Rogers State Historic Park, and after, enjoy some time on the Santa Monica Peer!

In my view, I think that some of the funnest things to do are with friends. Whether it is trying a new kind of food, meeting new people, or visiting a special landmark—it is better with a friend!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One special group I would like to shout out would be the Latino community–whether it is my parents, siblings, relatives, or even other individuals. Being Latino has shown me that we can not only be there for each other as a community to uplift and support each other, but unite and join with others with hopes to make the places that we call “home” a better place. I have felt so supported by other Latino individuals who pursue school, music, or many walks of life–in hopes of living out their dreams while being there for others as well. Additionally, I have seen other Latino individuals around me with strong work ethics, and that truly inspires me to do the best I can.

Website: https://www.mygoodbrain.org/

Instagram: @mygoodbrain