Arturo and Rosalinda Martinez are college sweethearts who have built a family and strong careers together while working to honor and preserve Hispanic heritage in Tarrant County. We are proud to count them in our impressive alumni roster as graduates of our 2019 Civic Voices Fellowship.

Rayna Glasser has 17 years of experience as an educator and currently serves as a math teacher and math department chair at Dunbar High School. “Working in the public school system, I see first-hand the individual needs of our students," said Rayna.

Myi’a Sanders is a professional learning partner at Big Thought, an impact nonprofit that closes the opportunity gap by equipping all youth in marginalized communities with the skills and tools they need to imagine and create their best lives and a better world.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of Hispanic Americans.

Following are a few ideas to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year in North Texas! For even more ideas, check out Visit Dallas and Visit Fort Worth.

Out-of-school time can make a definitive impact on a child's life by supplementing their education in important ways. We asked a group of our alumni who work for organizations that provide out-of-school programming for students in our community why out-of-school time is so important to student success.

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.

Dr. Sharla Horton-Williams is an education consultant working as a senior director with The Commit Partnership, the co-founder and managing partner of School Leadership for Social Justice, and the owner of Lifted Consulting.

All of her work has equity at the center.

On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Texas were told they were free, nearly two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This year marks the third anniversary since President Biden signed legislation that made June 19 a federal holiday. For more information on the history of Juneteenth, check out this article from the New York Times.

Tania Curry serves as the director of Dallas Thrives, a collective impact initiative launched in 2020 with the singular goal of breaking the cycle of poverty in Dallas County by doubling the number of young adults earning a living wage by 2040.

Sandra Maria Garcia is committed to supporting the next generation. As an immigrant and one of the first undocumented students in Fort Worth ISD, Sandra is a shining example of how a strong public education can open doors to opportunity and prepare students for success in professional leadership roles.

To educate community members and help them make an informed vote, we supported our Dallas County and Tarrant County Civic Voices fellows in building 17 stakeholder coalitions (up from four last year) and leading get-out-the-vote efforts for 39 upcoming school board races across North Texas.

If Jonah Ballesteros could go back and give his younger self advice, it would be to embrace his identity, ask for help when needed, and practice self-compassion. “I would tell my younger self to be proud of my cultural heritage and embrace my identity as a Tagalog and Kapampangan.”

While his day job as a project manager for MEP Consulting Engineers keeps Ryan Edwards busy working on engineering systems, primarily within airports, he is also very passionate about education and helping raise up the next generation of engineers.

Prisma Garcia serves as a social impact strategist at MoneyGram, supporting groups that have an impact on financial literacy, economic development, and workforce readiness. She is passionate about educational equity and sees strong connection points in her work and community service.

We love spending time listening to and learning from students in our Civic Voices Fellowship! Students are at the center of what we do, and we are committed to seeking their input and uplifting their voices as we empower community leaders to advance educational equity.

Nicole Raphiel is a founding member of IMPACT DeSoto, a coalition of community members supported by Leadership ISD that is focused on student success in DeSoto ISD. Since Impact DeSoto’s inception last year, the group has become trusted messengers and a driving force for change, informing and activating the electorate and playing a supportive role in the district as it progresses out of conservatorship.

Wesley serves as interim managing director and president for Arts Fort Worth, leading the organization's arts grants program, public art services, management of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, and visual and performing arts advocacy efforts.

Ann Marano has dedicated her life to helping students navigate their higher education journeys. For the first 30 years of her career, Ann worked in college admission counseling at several high schools, colleges, and universities helping an estimated 4,000 students get into college. Of those, she estimates 65% have been first-generation college students.