About Victoria Cortez

Where I Come From

I was raised in San Jose, California, in a household shaped by tradition, resilience, and faith. Ours was a multigenerational, multicultural home full of discipline, laughter, strong women, and big dreams. I was taught early that education was a form of liberation—but that it had to start at home. That lesson has carried me through every chapter of my life, from motherhood to authorship to birth work.

I’ve lived through the beauty and the breaking of generational cycles. I know what it means to be the bridge—to hold the past in one hand and a better future in the other. Much of my work is rooted in that calling: to help children grow up whole, seen, and emotionally safe, and to help parents begin that journey from the very first breath.

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My Work: Stories & Support That Grow Strong Families

Through my book series, All Good Things N More, I bring stories to life that help children navigate their emotions, identities, and the world around them. These aren’t just storybooks—they’re tools for healing, self-discovery, and connection.

And through Guided by Grace – An All Good Things N More Doula Service, I offer compassionate, evidence-based birth and postpartum support for families in Alameda, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus counties. Whether I’m helping a mother create her birth plan, standing beside her in the delivery room, or guiding parents through the tender postpartum days, my goal is the same: to provide a safe, empowering space where families can thrive from day one.

For me, stories and doula care share the same heartbeat—they both affirm worth, foster resilience, and remind families they are not alone.

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Mental Health, Trauma & Healing Work

Beyond the pages and the birthing space, I’m deeply involved in mental health advocacy, especially in the areas of childhood development, family wellness, and breaking cycles of generational trauma. I know firsthand how trauma hides in plain sight—how it lingers in family dynamics, schooling gaps, community neglect, and unspoken histories.

My mission is to make both storytelling and birth work acts of healing—normalizing conversations about mental health in homes, schools, and faith spaces, and giving families practical tools to nurture resilience, reflection, and emotional literacy from the very beginning of life.

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Education, Advocacy & Social Justice

My advocacy didn’t stop at the dinner table—it led me straight into public education leadership. When virtual learning exposed just how broken many of our systems were, I rolled up my sleeves and ran for the school board to give families like mine a real voice in policy and decision-making.

I’ve fought hard for what matters:

• School choice that truly respects family freedom and dignity

• Culturally responsive curriculum that reflects real kids in real communities

• Voting rights and civic literacy so that every family can shape their future

• Minority rights and equity in education, because fair is not always equal

 

Why I Do This

Because I’ve seen how birth experiences can shape a family’s story.
Because I’ve held space for mothers in moments of both strength and vulnerability.
Because I’ve watched too many kids fall through the cracks.
Because I believe that stories can be soft enough to comfort and strong enough to spark change.

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I do this work for the families caught between systems and silence. I do it for the kids growing up in the middle of “not enough.” And I do it because I’ve never stopped believing in the good that can grow when we water the roots—starting from the very first moments of life.