About Kristen
Kristen Aguirre is a two-time Emmy-nominated journalist, speaker, host, advocate, and communications strategist with 15 years of experience in storytelling, media, public relations, and strategic communications.
Her work has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the Missouri Broadcasters Association. Her investigative storytelling during the Flint water crisis and its impact on the Latino community earned her an Emmy nomination. Her series West Michigan Warrior, which focused on people defying the odds, earned her a second nomination.
Kristen’s work has always centered people and communities too often left out of the conversation. Her campaign, #DWord, helped shine an international light on disability rights and challenged the way society views the disabled community.
Her Story
In 2019, at the age of 31 and at the height of my career as a TV journalist in Denver, Colorado, I survived an ischemic stroke that left the left side of my body paralyzed.
After my stroke, I spent three months in the hospital regaining use of my left side. The next year, I continued outpatient therapy to strengthen myself, get my life back, and rebuild a new one that I love.
Then in March 2020, my news station ultimately decided to fire me. Two months later, my dog died.
Jobless and dog-less, I was crushed. I thought my life was over. But then I started to realize how truly lucky I was to be alive. Through goal setting, faith, hope, and self-love, I started to pull myself out of the self-pity hole I had dug.
With the support and love of my friends and parents, I packed my bags, put on my biggest hoops, and moved back home to Chicago to take back my life.
Today, I share my story for anyone who is trying to hold onto hope during a challenging time, move through rejection, or rebuild a life they love.