When we’re navigating injustice—like the ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles—how do we stay grounded? How do we keep showing up for our communities and our financial well-being?

This week, I changed the planned episode of Wealth Para Todos because I knew that talking about “leveraging debt” wasn’t what we needed. Not right now. What we need is care. Collective care. Nervous system care. Strategic, sustainable self-care.

And that’s where D.I.V.E.R.S.E. Self-care comes in.

What’s Happening in Los Angeles Right Now?

Since June 6, 2025, ICE has been conducting coordinated raids across Los Angeles. These include arrests in the Fashion District, Home Depot parking lots, and even near elementary schools. President Trump has federalized the California National Guard, deploying Marines into LA—something we haven’t seen since the 1992 uprisings.

Families—especially undocumented and mixed-status households—are living in fear. People are pulling kids from school, skipping work, avoiding hospitals, and trying to stay unseen. Meanwhile, public protests have been met with tear gas, curfews, and mass arrests.

It’s not just emotional. It’s financial. And for many, it’s destabilizing every layer of life.

Why We Can’t Ignore This as Wealth Builders

As a money and self-care coach, I see firsthand how policy affects financial security. When a loved one is detained, legal fees, lost wages, housing insecurity, and trauma all follow. Emergency funds dry up. Plans to buy homes or go back to school fall apart.

And yet—we’re expected to just budget better?

No. We can’t budget our way out of systemic injustice. But we can build collective power. And that starts with D.I.V.E.R.S.E. Self-care.

What Is D.I.V.E.R.S.E. Self-care?

It’s an acronym for the 7 types of self-care that keep us inside of the wealth building cycle:

• Dinero (Financial)
• Interpersonal
• Vocational
• Emotional
• Restorative Body
• Spiritual
• Environmental

Let’s walk through each one with today’s reality in mind.

Dinero Self-Care

• If you have an emergency fund, this is the time to use it.
• If you don’t, start with $5/week in a sinking fund labeled “Family Emergency.”
• Learn how to send money internationally safely. Search for “remittance apps” with low fees.
• Make sure someone you trust can access your accounts if needed.

🔗 Bankrate’s Guide to Safe International Transfers

Interpersonal Self-Care

• Eldest daughters and community caregivers, I see you.
• Build networks of support with orgs like CHIRLA, CARECEN, and ILRC.
• These orgs can help you create family preparedness plans and rapid response strategies.
• Even just texting a friend weekly who “gets it” can be transformative.

Vocational Self-Care

• Reduce risk. Consolidate side gigs or request mental health days.
• Create “crisis hours” if self-employed—just enough to keep things going.
• Consider digital work options if available.
• You don’t have to perform at 100% right now. You’re allowed to slow down.

Emotional Self-Care

• You’re allowed to cry, rage, freeze.
• Journaling, voice notes, and nervous system check-ins help.
• Let your feelings come into the light so they don’t control you in the dark.
• Use affirmations or gentle reminders: “I am still here. I am still breathing.”

Restorative Body Self-Care

• Trauma lives in the body. So does healing.
• Stretch. Shake your arms. Roll your neck.
• Drink a glass of water. Take three deep exhales.
• These small acts matter. Your body needs moments of calm.

Spiritual Self-Care

• Light a candle. Pray. Call in your ancestors.
• Try the free Insight Timer App for meditations on rest, grief, and anxiety.
• Spiritual care isn’t about fixing—it’s about remembering you are not alone.

Environmental Self-Care

• Create calm where you can.
• Designate a safe corner in your home with essentials and comfort.
• Save the ICE raid hotline in your phone (find yours at CCIJ’s Website).
• Clear one space in your home—it can shift your mental state.

Why History Matters

Understanding policy helps us release the shame. From redlining to the Trump-era executive orders, systemic injustice has shaped our paychecks, housing options, and access to education.

Equal Justice Initiative offers a daily email: “This Day in Racial Injustice” to help you stay informed and grounded.

And if you’re ready to take action, sign up to write postcards to swing states or use the 5 Calls App to contact your reps with ease.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone and You’re Not Powerless

Whether you’re undocumented, part of a mixed-status household, or an ally, I hope this episode gives you tools and hope.

Let’s recap:

1. We can’t budget our way out of injustice—but we can build collective power.
2. D.I.V.E.R.S.E. Self-care is how we stay resilient—emotionally and financially.
3. Knowing history + taking action = power.