My evolution is wrapped in a personal revolution, coming to understand that I am no longer afraid to stand up for myself and others.
"I have spent the majority of my life wanting to help others, but never before has the road to doing that been so clear for me. Whether it was as a kid, knocking on neighbors doors during the holiday season to collect canned food donations, volunteering at orphanages in Mexico, or founding a nonprofit geared at creating socially conscious media in an effort to assist overcoming trauma; my desire has long been to help others.."
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As an advocate for social good, I'm not about picking sides or boosting my ego. I'm here to remind people of their own resilience and incredible capacity to confront or overcome difficult circumstances. I represent someone who has at times, been marginalized, discarded, and taken for granted. At the same time, I'm part of a distinct community of people that refuse to shy away from making a difference and showing the world that we are so much more than they bargained for. In the novels that I've written, they are infused with a life lesson, or message on humanity. In the podcast or films, we're creating empathy and humanizing people through storytelling. The events I curate and host, seek to build a community of people who work to be a better person for themselves, their families, and communities. My work is far from over, and in many ways, it has only begun, but the road ahead is clear to me. I won't stand quiet on the sidelines, and I genuinely feel like a modern day Wonder Woman. Not because I'm superhuman, because I'm not. But because I believe that humanity is worth the effort.
About Aalia
Aalia Lanius is the Founder and President of Unsugarcoated Media, a 501(c)(3) media organization. Dedicated to helping survivors of trauma lead mentally healthier lives, Lanius' focus is creating media and events that empower, educate, heal, and inspire another the way it has for her. Lanius is also a multiple award-winning American novelist, social entrepreneur, and advocate with over 20 years of sharing her personal experiences with audiences of all age groups and diverse backgrounds. Executive Producer and host of the award-nominated seasonal podcast show, “Unsugarcoated with Aalia”, a visual and audio experience that features conversations intended to bring value and amplify voices that create more empathy and understanding of one another. Having been homeless and abandoned by her parents at 14 years old, it comes as a surprise to most that Aalia launched her first company by 25 years old, built a million-dollar generating business before graduating university with Honors, obtaining a BA in International Business, Managerial Leadership and Entrepreneurship, followed by attending Concord Law School. During that time, she also experienced personal and health challenges such as battling cancer three times, an unhealthy marriage that eventually ended but not before enduring domestic violence and emotional abuse. As a novelist, she launched her debut novel, "Tough Love", in 2018, beginning a journey of writing fiction that strikes at social issues. With a more proficient storytelling skill and a more tempted wish to empower the under-represented groups in the society, Aalia released "Jugend" in 2019, to directly challenge hateful rhetoric. "Jugend" has been named the Top Multicultural Fiction Novel of 2019 by Dan Poytner’s Global EBook Awards, Book Excellence Award Winner for Multicultural Fiction, and awarded the 2019 Bronze Medal in the Readers’ Favorite Fiction-Cultural category. 2020 Book Excellence Award Winner for Multicultural Fiction. In 2019, she produced and spearheaded EmpowerCon, an inaugural 1-day empowerment event, at the Los Angeles Convention Center for survivors of trauma with a focus on connection, healing, and growth. She continues to look for opportunities to support and collaborate with other like-minded organizations and individuals. Aalia resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Major Motion Picture Executive Producer and Entertainment Attorney, Joseph Lanius, and is the mother of four, and grandmother—but Aalia is definitely NOT your average grandma!