A Boyle Heights woman who overcame adversity and worked hard to become a homeowner right in her hometown now shares tips with her thousands of followers on how to budget and look out for their health.
Metzli Garcia describes herself as “just a Boyle Heights girl who wants you to move more, build wealth and uplift our hood.” As a content creator, her videos center on tips to increase one’s income, highlighting businesses in her community and fitness videos of her running and hiking to encourage others to stay active.
Garcia’s impressive resume includes a full scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated with a degree in Public Affairs, and the title of homeowner after having saved $100,000 before the age of 25.
The path to the emotional and financial health she has now hasn’t been an easy one, she shared. At the age of 9, Garcia and her younger siblings were placed into foster care.
“My dad had an unregistered gun in the house,” she said. “So, they took us away and my dad couldn’t even look me in the eyes. The last thing my mom said was, ‘Take care of your siblings.’”
Eventually, Garcia and her siblings were reunited with their parents. She shared that the childhood trauma she faced, as well as the pressures she had as the eldest daughter, fueled her ambitions to succeed.
Since age 10, Garcia has been in and out of therapy. As an adult, she found other healthy outlets that were therapeutic, such as running, hiking and strength training. While staying active, the content creator highlights small businesses in her community.
A Boyle Heights native is helping her community thrive by informing small business owners and entrepreneurs of resources available to them to make them success. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 news at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
“I try to do a different running video featuring all the coffee shops,” Garcia said.
And that’s not all – Garcia says it’s important for her to help her fellow neighbors. She anticipates opening a community garden right out of her home this fall.
“You need to be able to sustain yourself,” she said. “You never know what’s going to happen. A great way to do that is gardening.”
“It’s a great way to save money,” she added.
To learn more about Garcia, who is known as “your Boyle Heights bestie” on her social media accounts, click here.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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