Show notes
Today Patty welcomes Amanda Alvarez, a Puerto Rico–raised neuroscientist, salsa dancer, and founder of LaBori Boxing, a Dallas-based nonprofit offering free boxing training for youth 18 and under plus STEM education and career exposure. Alvarez shares how she began boxing at 17, studied neuroscience at NYU, earned a PhD at UT Dallas, and built Laboré to remove economic and geographic barriers for East Dallas kids after community-building salsa classes during COVID. The gym provides low-contact training, recently received a donated ring, partners with local nonprofits and schools, and has served 400+ students with about 150 weekly participants. She discusses brain benefits of boxing, safety compared with football, women’s self-defense classes, and student outcomes including nursing program connections and support for families. Connect with Amanda:laboriboxing.comDONATE HERE@labori_boxing@brainsandboxingEpisode Highlights:00:00 Meet Amanda Alvarez01:21 How Boxing Began04:42 Neuroscience Meets Boxing06:01 Brain Benefits and Safety09:23 Meaning of Labore10:51 Why She Started the Gym15:40 Funding and Growth18:10 Impact Stories and STEM Wins22:54 Self Defense for Women24:30 Kids Stress and Confidence29:34 Vision for the Future31:34 Rapid Fire Fun34:26 Wrap Up and Next Guest
