Dr. Leti Cavazos: Leading healing and empowerment through Cannenta
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s important to recognize the leaders who are overcoming barriers and driving progress in mental health care within their communities. By addressing challenges such as language access, cultural sensitivity, and stigma, they are creating inclusive, empowering mental health services that honor the unique strengths of their communities. Despite 22 percent of Hispanics/Latinos experiencing mental illness, only 36 percent receive mental health services compared to 52 percent of their white counterparts (SAMHSA, 2023), highlighting the urgent need for culturally competent care.
One leader making a major impact is Dr. Leti Cavazos, DSW, LCSW-S, founder and CEO of the Cannenta Center for Healing and Empowerment. Dr. Leti is dedicated to providing accessible mental health services to marginalized populations and has founded the Cannenta Foundation to break down financial and language barriers to care. Her innovative approaches have garnered numerous accolades, including the 2024 Leaders in Diversity Award by the Dallas Business Journal and the 2023 Quality and Excellence Emerging Business Award by the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We sat down with Dr. Leti to hear about her journey and her commitment to uplifting her community through equitable mental health services.