Our third “Badass Women of San Antonio” series will feature SA Women who are taking on family violence head on through advocacy, policy and legislation.Panel: Judge Monique Diaz, Dr. Stacey Speedlin Gonzalez, and Patricia S. Castillo L.M.S.W., and others. Hosted by Reporter Bekah McNeel.
We are “striving to bring family violence to the forefront of policy and community discussions because we understand that it sadly affects an unacceptable number of individuals and families in Bexar County,” said Judge Diaz.
About Monique Diaz:Monique Diaz was born in San Antonio, Texas, where she and her two brothers were raised by their Puerto Rican mother and Dominican father. Monique successfully earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Along the way, she developed her passion for working with families and children. Monique focused her studies on early childhood education in low-income populations. In law school, Monique remained committed to serving families and children while working at the Child Support Division of the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a judge of the Texas 150th District Court. Diaz assumed office on January 1, 2019. Diaz’s current term ends on December 31, 2022.
About Stacey Speedlin Gonzalez:Dr. Stacy Speedlin, Ph.D, LPC, LCDC, NCC- Clinical TeamStacy is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), a licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) and a nationally credentialed counselor (NCC). She has a doctorate degree in counselor education and supervision and is a visiting professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Speedlin has worked in the field of addiction and mental health for over ten years, has presented at several national and state level conferences, and published several manuscripts on various topics pertaining to mental health.
About Patricia Castillo:Patricia has 35+ years of working to end violence against women and families. In 1990, she co-founded the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative (Putting an End to Abuse through Community Efforts) Initiative, a coalition of 48 agencies, organizations and individuals as well as the F.A.C.T. (Family Assistance Crisis Teams) Program based in San Antonio, Texas. Using collaboration and community organization she serves as an advocate, educator and technical assistance resource to civic, legal, medical, religious, activist, educational, human resource and media groups. She’s done casework at the Women’s Shelter and with inmate women and their families at the County Jail. She was the first social worker ever assigned to the police Sex Crimes Unit-Homicide Bureau.
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