Alumni Spotlight: Ara Grimaldo Sainuts, Class of 2021

Ara Grimaldo Sainuts serves as the executive director of After8toEducate, the first all-encompassing program to support unsheltered high school youth in Dallas. After8toEducate offers an umbrella solution to helping unsheltered students develop academically, emotionally, and socially, so they can ultimately live healthy and productive lives. 

“All youth deserve an opportunity to a quality education and access to resources to be successful,” Ara shared. “I am deeply passionate about educational equity because every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, deserves an equal opportunity to access quality education and unlock their full potential, leading to a more just and prosperous society.”

Ara’s parents immigrated from Mexico in the 1980s and despite not knowing the American education system, made sure to encourage and empower their children to keep pushing, even when there were challenges along the way. Thanks in large part to their support and encouragement, Ara became the first in her family to graduate college and obtain a graduate degree. As a result of her own experience, Ara has made it her personal mission to support as many youths as possible to reach their full potential because she believes education is the key to generational change.

In her free time, Ara loves to spend time with her husband and three daughters as well as her parents and siblings. She also serves as a mentor with Primos Dallas, a non-profit mentoring organization that connects Latino youth with professionals.