Flora M. Sánchez
Search Institute Senior Trainer
Vision Training Associates
Home State: New Mexico
Professional Expertise
Flora Sánchez is a consultant, presenter and trainer, facilitator, nationally certified counselor, and educator with extensive knowledge and experience in the Developmental Assets model advanced by Search Institute. Other expertise lies in the areas of:
- Community mobilization
- Youth development
- Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth Initiatives
- Conflict resolution and mediation
- Cultural diversity
Contributions to Search Institute
As a contract trainer for Search Institute, Sánchez serves as a public speaker, trainer, and training program designer for organizations and communities interested in building Developmental Assets for and with youth, starting a community-wide asset-building initiative, or creating community change on behalf of youth. She also assists Search Institute in developing effective models of community mobilization and training.
Sánchez has practical expertise in applying the Developmental Assets framework. As former coordinator of the New Mexico Network of the Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth initiative, Sánchez facilitated and supported local leadership in New Mexico communities as they developed initiatives to support positive youth development. This included recruiting for and building the statewide network and providing technical assistance, consultation, training, and public speaking in each participating community. She was a founding member of her local community initiative, YouthFirst, and currently serves as co-chair of the statewide initiative, The New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community. Sanchez also worked to implement positive youth development policy through her elected position on the New Mexico State Board of Education.
Contracted by Search Institute since 1995, Sánchez has provided over 500 presentations, keynotes, and trainings in 47 states, Canada, Brazil, Bermuda, and Korea.
Read a news article highlighting one of Flora’s trainings here.
Professional History
Sánchez is owner and president of FMS & Associates, where she serves as senior trainer and consultant involved in group facilitation, conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, and multiparty disputes. Former positions include:
- Elected member, three-term president, New Mexico State Board of Education
- Consultant to U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Education
- Director, Student Assistance Program, Albuquerque Public Schools
- Counselor and Teacher, Albuquerque Public Schools
Education
- M.A. in guidance and counseling, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
- B.S. in education and music, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
- Additional courses in group facilitation, cultural diversity, and organizational development
Publications
“Gang Mediation: A Process that Works” (Principal, 1990)
Sánchez developed several Search Institute training curricula.
Request Flora Sánchez for the following trainings by calling Search Institute Training at 877-240-7251 ext. 1 (outside the United States, dial 207-642-6270).
- Introducing Developmental Assets
- What’s Up with Our Kids?
- Everyone’s an Asset Builder
- Sharing the Asset Message
- Assets in Action: A Journey of Community Change
- Building Developmental Assets in School Communities
- Essentials of Asset Building Training of Trainers
- Champions for Asset-building Communities
- We Did Assets Training—Now What?
Sanchez has delivered customized workshops for organizations and specific sectors: mentoring programs, after-school programs, juvenile justice, early childhood, and school communities. She works collaboratively and cooperatively to develop trainings to meet client needs.
