CELEBRATING LATINX LIFE IN TEXAS
NOBLEZA SPRING/ 2019
VIVA LA MUJER
THE NEXT WAVE
HERSTORY MADE U.S. CONGRESS
SPOTLIGHT + MEGAN MARTINEZ QUEEN OF COSMETICS, WITH A HEART OF MULTICHROME GOLD MUSIC + NEXT WAVE OF LATINX IN RAP, ROCK, CUMBIA AND COUNTRY PROVECHO + 3 LATINA CHEFS - SEMI-FINALIST FOR THE JAMES BEARD AWARD
NOBLEZA MAGAZINE
CONTENTS MAKEUP MOGUL + EMMY WINNER + OLYMPIAN
POLITICS HERSTORY MADE! FIRST LATINAS FROM TEXAS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. MEET THE LATINAS BLAZING TRAILS ON THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL
STEM IDENTICAL TWIN SISTERS AND NASA ENGINEERS
THE ARTS MUSICIANS AND ARTIST, THE BEST OF THE BEST
EXCLUSIVE!
MEGAN MARTINEZ: COVER: MEGAN MARTINEZ PHOTOGRAPHY: DUSTIN ASHCRAFT
QUEEN OF COSMETICS
MEDIA FROM POETS TO SUNDANCE FILM MAKERS AND A DAYTIME EMMY WINNER, TEXAS HAS IT ALL!
SPORTS TWO OLYMPIANS AND THE FIRST LATINA PRINCIPAL DANCER OF THE HOUSTON BALLET
PROVECHO MEET THE LATINAS LEADING THE VEGAN MOVEMENT IN TEXAS
GABY NATALE: DAYTIME EMMY WINNER
MARLEN ESPARZA: OLYMPIAN & FIRST FEMALE OF GOLDEN BOY
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 3 JAMES BEARD SEMI-FINALIST
from the Editor “No estudio por saber más, sino por ignorar menos” – Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz I HAVE BEEN DREAMING OF THIS MOMENT FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS. IN 2015 I WAS IN L.A. ON A WORK TRIP, WHEN A GREAT FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE SPOKE THESE MAGIC WORDS TO ME, "YOU SHOULD START YOUR OWN (MAGAZINE)." I HAD BEEN SO BUSY WORKING TOWARDS MY EMPLOYER'S GOALS AND DREAMS, THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO DREAM FOR MYSELF. FROM THAT ONE CONVERSATION, A SEED OF HOPE WAS PLANTED, AND I BEGAN TO WONDER WHAT MY MAGAZINE WOULD LOOK LIKE. LIFE TOOK A CRAZY TURN THE FOLLOWING YEAR AS I WITNESSED MY COMMUNITY - THE LATINO COMMUNITY - BEING ATTACKED BY A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. I WAS SO OUTRAGED THAT I MADE THE CHOICE TO PUT MY DREAMS ON HOLD AND STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK, EVENTUALLY FINDING MY WAY TO WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE. FAST FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 2017, I, LIKE HALF THE NATION, WAS HORRIFIED AND SADDENED LOOKING AHEAD AT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF THIS NEW PRESIDENCY. I WAS FILLED WITH ANGER EVERY TIME MY COMMUNITY (AND OTHER COMMUNITIES) WERE SLANDERED AND CRIMINALIZED BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. I COULD NO LONGER TAKE IT AND I CHANNELED MY ANGER. I BEGAN TO WRITE AGAIN, AS A LINE OF SELF-DEFENSE. FOR EVERY INSULT, I WOULD PRODUCE A STORY ABOUT A LATINX CHAMPION. IT WAS THEN THAT THE CLOUDS PARTED, AND I SAW THINGS CLEARLY; I NEEDED TO RETURN TO MY FIRST LOVE, STORYTELLING.
Yol-Itzma
YOL-ITZMA AGUIRRE Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
WRITING ABOUT LATINX ACHIEVEMENT WAS WHAT I HAD ALWAYS KNOWN, IT WAS A PART OF ME. I FELT IT IN MY SPIRIT, IT WAS NOW TIME TO TAKE MY DREAMS OFF HOLD. I KNEW I WANTED TO CREATE A FRESH VIBE, A NEW SPACE WHERE LATINX STORIES LIVED, WHERE WE COULD FEEL PRIDE AND CELEBRATE EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND I KNEW I WANTED TO BUILD THIS IN MY HOME STATE, TEXAS. BEING A WOKE, EDUCATED LATINA, I ALSO WANTED THE NAME TO RECOGNIZE OUR PLACE IN HISTORY; NOBLEZA WAS BORN. 'NOBLEZA' MEANS NOBILITY AND WHAT WAS ONCE A TITLE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DENIED TO OUR ANCESTORS, I RECLAIM - RIGHTFULLY - AS OURS. THIS FIRST EDITION, SPRING 2019, IS DEDICATED TO ALL LATINAS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO WALK A PATH, IN ANY CAPACITY. I REVISITED EACH SECTION AND LOOKED FOR THE ONE, THAT IS LEADING THAT NEXT WAVE, BLAZING THAT NEW TRAIL. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE AMOUNT OF ORGULLO I FEEL WHEN I LOOK AT THESE PAGES. TO QUOTE ONE OF MY IDOLS, "ME SIENTO MUY, EXCITED!" I HAVE POURED MY LITTLE CORAZONCITO INTO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PAGES AND MY HOPE IS THAT YOU LOVE THIS EDITION AS MUCH AS I DO; THAT YOU WILL LOOK THROUGH THESE PAGES AND SEE A PIECE OF YOURSELF, YOUR FRIENDS AND/OR YOUR COLLEAGUES, ETC., BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE WILL FINALLY SEE EACH OTHER, REFLECTED. IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO TELL YOUR STORIES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER. WELCOME TO THE PAGES OF NOBLEZA...
@Yolitzmagik @Yolitzma_
send story ideas to: noblezamagazine@gmail.com
In honor of the women's edition, the 3 Latinas from Texas I admire most. Top: Selena Quintanilla Perez i have written so many blogs on what she has meant to my life (and the lives of many) she was the voice of my generation. through her I finally saw myself reflected in mainstream and for the first time i too felt beautiful in my brown skin and full lips. Middle: Jovita Idar, the woman who paved my personal path. She was an activist, organizer, educator and the first Mexicana Texan to start a newspaper. Every time I have doubts about launching my own publication, I remembered Jovita Idar. Bottom: This phenomenal woman, mi querida madre, her strength flows through me. She is my rock and foundation, the woman who built a new life in a new country and gave me all the opportunities she never had. Every day I strive to make her proud and to be worthy of her many sacrifices. Te quiero.
www.noblezamagazine.com
DEFEND DIGNITY PRINT BY SHEPARD FAIREY
The person on the poster was meant to be anonymous — to be representative of a community. I think what it shows is the strength, confidence, brilliance, and fierceness of my ancestors. - MARIBEL GONZALEZ (2017 UTSA MAGAZINE INTV.)
NEXT WAVE...
WE HAVE BEEN HERE LONG BEFORE THE COLONIZERS SET FOOT IN THE 1400S, WE WERE HERE BEFORE TEXAS WAS TEXAS. FROM OUR INDIGENOUS ROOTS, TEJAS, TO THE FRENCH AND THEN SPANISH CONQUISTADORES, THE INDEPENDENT NATION OF MÉXICO, COAHUILA Y TEJAS, REPUBLIC OF TEXAS, TO PRESENT DAY TEXAS. OUR TEXAS WOMEN'S HISTORY COMES IN EVER-CONSTANT WAVES. FROM OUR REVOLUTIONARY ANCESTORS, LAS ADELITAS, TO JOVITA IDÁR AND EMMA TENAYUCA, TO NAME A FEW; IT IS IN OUR DNA TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. THIS 2019 SPRING EDITION COMES ON THE HEELS OF NATIONAL CHANGE, THE MOST AMOUNT OF WOMEN THAT HAVE EVER RUN FOR OFFICE, THE MOST AMOUNT OF WOMEN ELECTED INTO CONGRESS, TEACHERS, MOTHERS, TIAS, AMIGAS, ETC., WE ARE TAKING THE TORCH FROM THE WOMEN BEFORE US AND CONTINUING THE FIGHT.
MUJERES OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION
THE ICONIC IMAGE BELOW (CENTER) WAS ONE OF FIVE CREATED AS PART OF THE “WE THE PEOPLE: DEFEND DIGNITY” PRINT BY SHEPARD FAIREY,TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND HIGHLIGHT MINORITY COMMUNITIES TARGETED BY RACIST RHETORIC, PARTICULARLY DURING THE 2016 ELECTION SEASON. THE 'LATINA' POSTER HAS COME TO REPRESENT THE FIERCE LATINA WITHIN US ALL. WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT THE PHOTOGRAPH HAS TEXAS TIES, NOT ONLY THE WOMAN BEHIND THE IMAGE, BUT ALSO THE TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER - ARLENE MEJORADO - AN L.A. PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WAS WORKING OUT OF SAN ANTONIO AT THE TIME, TOOK THE IMAGE OF HER FRIEND MARIBEL, LATER SHE (ARLENE) WAS ASKED TO WORK ON THIS NATIONAL PROJECT WHERE SHE SUBMITTED THE PHOTO, AND THE REST IS HERSTORY. MARIBEL GONZALEZ IS THE WOMAN WHOSE IMAGE IS NOW PART OF A HISTORIC MOVEMENT. SHE IS A TEXAN, A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE, PROUD XICANA, INDIGENA, MEXICAN-AMERICAN, EDUCATOR, MENTOR AND NEW MOMMY, GONZALEZ REPRESENTS US ALL. HER IMAGE CLAIMED OUR SPACE IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION. FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH WE WANT TO NOT ONLY HONOR THE GREAT MUJERES OF TEXAS THAT HAVE PAVED THE WAY, BUT ALSO CELEBRATE THOSE YOUNG WOMEN, LIKE MARIBEL, THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING BARRIERS AND BLAZING NEW TRAILS. OUR PAGES ARE DEDICATED TO THE NEXT WAVE... *in an effort to not sound repetitive in our writing; please note all the women featured in the edition are Mexicana/ Mexican-American Tejana, unless otherwise stated.
ORIGINAL PHOTO OF MARIBEL GONZALEZ BY PHOTOGRAPHER: ARLENE MEJORADO
DEFEND DIGNITY PRINT BY SHEPARD FAIREY
PARK CITY, UTAH. / AFP PHOTO / ANGELA WEISS/GETTY IMAGES
XOCHITL HINOJOSA HOMETOWN: BROWNSVILLE, TX
@XochitlHinojosa
XOCHITL IS THE QUEEN OF COMMUNICATIONS. HINOJOSA WAS A FEDERAL APPOINTEE OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND THEN BECAME PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY, SERVING AS NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF COALITIONS PRESS FOR THE HISTORIC HILLARY CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. XOCHITL IS NOW THE NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
XIMENA GONZALEZ ROJAS
HOMETOWN: BROWNSVILLE, TX
XIMENA WAS A WHITE HOUSE STAFFER ALMOST THE ENTIRE TERM OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AS PART OF THE OFFICE OF FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, INCLUDING THE DISTINCT HONOR OF HOLDING THE POSITION OF CHIEF OF STAFF. XIMENA EXITED THE ADMINISTRATION AS A POLICY ADVISOR ON THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS. XIMENA NOW WORKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AMBAR CALVILLO-RIVERA
EL PASO, TX
VICE PRESIDENT OF CAMPAIGNS AT VOTO LATINO AMBAR IS THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND SERVED ON THE 2013 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL COMMITTEE AND WAS A POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT FELLOW FOR THE 2012 OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
@ambarjac
JACLYN URESTI
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS THE NEXT REINA OF TEXAS POLITICS. JACKIE PREVIOUSLY WAS PART OF THE HISTORIC HILLARY CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, HILLARY FOR AMERICA AND THEN BECAME THE TEXAS STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, UNDER JACKIE'S EFFORTS, TEXAS SAW THE CLOSEST MARGIN FOR A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE.
@CEO_JackieJo
YOL-ITZMA AGUIRRE EL PASO, TX
WORKED THE HISTORIC 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS NATIONAL LATINO MEDIA SPECIALIST FOR THE HILLARY CLINTON SUPER PAC, CORRECT THE RECORD . AGUIRRE THEN BECAME THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR JUDY CANALES TEXAS 23RD CONGRESSIONAL RACE AND MOST RECENTLY WAS PART OF TEXAS HISTORY, AS OUTREACH ON THE STATE GOVERNOR'S RACE FOR THE FIRST LATINA AND LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE, LUPE VALDEZ.
@yolitzma_
CYNTHIA CANO
EL PASO, TX
CYNTHIA IS BELOVED ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WE ALL WATCHED HER IN HER SIGNATURE SHADES WORK BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE HISTORIC U.S. SENATE RACE FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BETO O'ROUKE. PREVIOUSLY CANO WAS A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DIRECTOR. HOWEVER O'ROUKE JUST ANNOUNCED HIS PRESIDENTIAL BID, WHICH NOW MAKES CYNTHIA A NATIONAL DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER ON A PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
@ccano1971
HERST0RY MADE FIRST LATINAS FROM TEXAS ELECTED TO U.S. CONGRESS
@VGEscobar @RepEscobar
ESCOBAR
CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR EL PASO, TX - DEMOCRAT
ON ELECTION NIGHT 2018, VERONICA ESCOBAR AND SYLVIA GARCIA BECAME PART OF TEXAS HISTORY. ONLY A HANDFUL OF LATINAS HAVE EVER SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND NONE HAVE EVER BEEN FROM TEXAS...UNTIL NOW.
FORMER COUNTY JUDGE AND NEWLY ELECTED CONGRESSWOMAN, ESCOBAR REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST BINATIONAL BORDER CITIES, EL PASO. A FIERCE LATINA, SHE HAS QUICKLY BECOME A VOICE AGAINST THE RACIST POLICY OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND HAS STOOD UP TO HIS CONTINUOUS ATTACKS ON THE BORDER AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE SUN CITY.
CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GACIA HOUSTON, TX - DEMOCRAT CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA IS NO STRANGER TO HISTORIC FIRST. SHE HAS PAVED THE WAY FROM LOCAL OFFICE, TO THE TEXAS SENATE, ALL THE WAY TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. ALREADY A PROVEN LEADER AS A STATE SENATOR, THE NEWLY ELECTED CONGRESSWOMAN COMES TO THE TABLE READY WITH A LONG HISTORY OF FIGHTING FOR CHANGE THROUGH POLICY. A CRUSADER OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS, INCLUDING PASSING THE 'RELATIONSHIP PRIVACY ACT' WHICH OUTLAWS REVENGE PORNOGRAPHY AND THE 'TRUCKERS AGAINST TRAFFICKING' BILL (WHICH REQUIRES HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVERS) MEANS TEXAS WOMEN WILL HAVE A VOICE FIGHTING FOR THEM. WATCH OUT, "LA CONGRESISTA" HAS
GARCIA
ARRIVED AND WE ARE HERE FOR IT!
@LaCongresista @RepSylviaGarcia
SEMA HERNANDEZ
@Sema4Texas
THE HOUSTON AREA SOCIAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST MADE HISTORY IN THE 2017-2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS BY BECOMING THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC LATINA TO RUN FOR THE U.S. TEXAS SENATE SEAT. SHE RAN A FULL GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN - WITH ONLY A FRACTION OF THE MONEY THAT HER OPPONENT HAD - AND STILL, SHE SWEPT THE ENTIRE SOUTH TEXAS REGION, WINNING OVER 200,000 VOTES, WHICH IS AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF VOTES FOR A FIRST TIME CANDIDATE. ULTIMATELY HERNANDEZ CAME UP SHORT IN THE PRIMARY BUT SHE DID IGNITE THE SOUTH TEXAS VOTE, WHICH NO ONE WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION IN THE WAY THAT SEMA DID. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR HER NAME IN THE FUTURE, SEMA HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED SHE IS RUNNING IN 2020.
LUPE VALDEZ
TEXAS HERSTORY MAKER
"OPPORTUNITIES IN TEXAS OUGHT TO BE AS BIG AS THIS GREAT STATE. FOR FAR TOO LONG, HARDWORKING TEXANS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND, KEPT OUT, AND ATTACKED FOR WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY ARE FROM, AND WHO THEY LOVE." LUPE VALDEZ 2017
LUPE VALDEZ OWNS TWO PLACES IN TEXAS HISTORY, SHE KICKED DOWN THE DOOR OF THE "GOOD OL' BOYS CLUB" AND BECAME THE FIRST LATINA TO BE ELECTED SHERIFF IN TEXAS (DALLAS COUNTY). WITH VALDEZ NOW LEADING, SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE DEPARTMENT, STARTING WITH HIRING A DIVERSE STAFF. SHE FACED CONSTANT ATTACKS IN THE MEDIA FOR HER SEXUALITY AS AN OUT LESBIAN SHERIFF, ATTACKS FOR ALLOWING OFFICERS TO OBSERVE RELIGIOUS DAYS LIKE RAMADAN, SHE ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR FEMALE MUSLIM OFFICERS TO WEAR A HIJAB . AFTER SERVING IN UNIFORM FOR OVER A DECADE, VALDEZ MADE A BOLD STANCE AGAINST TEXAS GOVERNOR, GREG ABBOTT; SHE WAS ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO ACTIVELY FOUGHT THE RACIST SB4 BILL, OFTEN SHOWING UP TO COURT IN UNIFORM. THE GOVERNOR EVEN ISSUED HER A LETTER DEMANDING SHE COMPLY,
"DEAR SHERIFF VALDEZ: "SANCTUARY CITY" POLICIES LIKE THOSE PROMOTED BY YOUR RECENT DECISION TO IMPLEMENT YOUR OWN CASE-BY-CASE IMMIGRANT DETENTION PLAN WILL NO LONGER BE TOLERATED IN TEXAS.YOUR DECISION TO NOT FULLY HONOR U.S. IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT'S (ICE) REQUESTS TO DETAIN CRIMINAL IMMIGRANTS POSES A SERIOUS DANGER TO TEXANS." - GOVERNOR ABBOTT LETTER TO SHERIFF VALDEZ, OCTOBER 2015
NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED AND DECIDED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.
DURING THE 2017 - 2018 MIDTERM PRIMARY, VALDEZ BROKE THE POLITICAL GLASS CEILING, BECOMING THE VERY FIRST LATINA AND THE FIRST LGBTQ PERSON – OF EITHER POLITICAL PARTY – TO WIN THE NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR, BEATING OUT THE 7 OTHER MEN IN HER DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.
AGAINST THE ODDS, UNDER CONSTANT CRITICISM AND MEDIA BIAS COVERAGE, VALDEZ STILL CAME ALMOST WITHIN A 10-POINT MARGIN, WHICH WAS MUCH CLOSER THAN SENATOR WENDY DAVIS' 2014 GUBERNATORIAL RACE.
AS A NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS EMERGE, LATINAS NOW HAVE A NAME TO ADD TO OUR GREAT TEXAS WOMEN'S HISTORY...LUPE VALDEZ.
IRMA RANGEL THE FIRST LATINA OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE
B. KINGSVILLE, TX - 1931 D. AUSTIN, TX - 2003
GENERATION LATINX #TXLEGE MARY GONZÁLEZ- HD 75 REPRESENTATIVE MARY GONZÁLEZ CHANGED HISTORY BACK IN 2012, BECOMING THE FIRST OPENLY PANSEXUAL ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE SEAT FOR HER DISTRICT. SINCE THEN, GONZÁLEZ HAS HAD A PROVEN RECORD OF FIGHTING TIRELESSLY FOR EDUCATION AND WOMEN'S HEALTH, AMONG MANY OTHER PROGRESSIVE ITEMS. MOST RECENTLY SHE - ALONG WITH 4 FELLOW LGBTQ REPS INCLUDING LATINAS, CELIA ISRAEL AND JESSICA GONZÁLEZ, HAVE WRITTEN ANOTHER PAGE IN TEXAS HISTORY, FOUNDING THE FIRST LGBTQ CAUCUS,
@RepMaryGonzalez
VICTORIA NEAVE - HD 107 REPRESENTATIVE NEAVE FILED ONE OF THE MOST GROUNDBREAKING BILLS FOR WOMEN. HOUSE BILL 8, THE "LAVINIA MASTERS ACT," WOULD FINALLY BRING AN END TO THE BACKLOG OF THOUSANDS OF RAPE KITS THAT ARE LEFT UNPROCESSED. THE BILL IS NAMED IN HONOR OF A 13-YEAR OLD RAPE SURVIVOR, WHOSE RAPE KIT SAT FOR OVER 20 YEARS UNPROCESSED.
@Victoria4Texas
JESSICA GONZÁLEZ- HD 104 CONGRATULATIONS REPRESENTATIVE GONZÁLEZ! THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TX LEGE LATINX CREW. JESSICA GONZÁLEZ IS PART OF THE PROGRESSIVE WAVE. ALONG WITH REP. MARY GONZÁLEZ AND REP. CELIA ISRAEL, JESSICA BECAME PART OF THE HISTORIC FIRST LGBTQ CAUCUS. WE ARE EXCITED TO FOLLOW HER NEW JOURNEY.
@jessicafortexas
TEXAS LEGISLATURE FIRST LGBTQ CAUCUS 2019
PHOTO CREDIT: TWITTER
FOUNDING MEMBERS INCLUDE 3 LATINAS: REP. MARY GONZÁLEZ - CHAIRWOMAN REP. CELIA ISRAEL REP. JESSICA GONZÁLEZ
@TxLGBTQcaucus
FRANKIE GONZALES - WOLFE
FRANKIE GONZALES-WOLFE IS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING HERSTORY IN SAN ANTONIO; ALREADY HAVING CRACKED THE PROVERBIAL "GLASS CEILING" BY BECOMING THE FIRST TRANSGENDER LATINA TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AND IF ELECTED, SHE WOULD ALSO BECOME THE FIRST TRANSGENDER LATINA TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN TEXAS. AS WOMEN CONTINUE TO MAKE STRIDES ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, FRANKIE'S CAMPAIGN CARVES OUT A UNIQUE SPACE WITHIN INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM. AS THE FIRST, SHE IS A CHAMPION FOR LATINA VOICES AND FOR LGBTQIA VOICES AS WELL, EQUALLY. ALWAYS ONE TO PAY HER RESPECTS TO HER MOTHER, ABUELA AND ALL THE MUJERES THAT HAVE PAVED THE WAY, WE WANT TO NOW TAKE A MOMENT TO DO THE SAME AND PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THIS FIERCE LATINA. WIN OR LOSE, YOU HAVE MADE US PROUD!
more info visit www.Frankiefor8.com
LINA HIDALGO
HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE
LINA HIDALGO ROCKED HOUSTON'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE THIS PAST NOVEMBER, WHEN SHE SMASHED THE GLASS CEILING, BECOMING THE FIRST LATINA AND FIRST WOMAN TO BE ELECTED COUNTY JUDGE OF THE NATION'S 3RD LARGEST COUNTY AND THE LARGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY. JUDGE LINA HIDALGO WAS BORN IN COLOMBIA AND PARTLY RAISED IN PERU AND MEXICO. WHEN SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD HER FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AND MADE TEXAS HOME. THROUGH HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE, LINA GRADUATED FROM STANFORD, WITH HONORS. AFTER STUDYING GOVERNMENT BOTH HERE AND ABROAD, LINA RETURNED HOME AND BEGAN TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT. ON THE HEELS OF THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - AND WITH HER FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF HOW POLITICAL DEVASTATION CAN HAPPEN - LINA DECIDED TO RUN; YOU CAN NOW ADDRESS HER AS JUDGE HIDALGO. HER ELECTION NOT ONLY MARKS A FIRST FOR WOMEN AND LATINAS BUT ALSO EXPANDS THE SPACE LATINAS HOLD IN POLITICS TO INCLUDE NEW VOICES. NOW LEADING ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES, IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE NAME "JUDGE LINA HIDALGO" AT THE TOP. THE FUTURE IS LATINA AND THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED!
@Lina4HC
H E M R A S D T E O R Y
ALEJANDRINA GUZMAN
'PHOTO CREDIT: ALEJANDRINA GUZMAN FACEBOOK PAGE
@alejandrinazoom
WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE UT AUSTIN ALMNA ALEJANDRINA GUZMAN, WHO SAW THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. ALEJANDRINA BROKE THE 'GLASS CEILING' IN 2017, BECOMING THE FIRST LATINA - IN THE 135 YEARS OF UT HISTORY TO BE ELECTED STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AND SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST 'DIFFERENTLY-ABLED' STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED IN THE ENTIRE BIG 12 CONFERENCE. REMEMBER HER NAME, THERE IS NO DOUBT SHE IS A FUTURE LEADER OF TEXAS.
LATINITAS IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING GIRLS TO INNOVATE THROUGH MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDING DIRECT DIGITAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND ESTEEMBOOSTING SERVICES TO NEARLY 3,000 GIRLS AND TEENS ACROSS TEXAS ANNUALLY. FOR MORE INFO LATINITASMAGAZINE.ORG
TAPIA SISTERS COLOMBIANA-ARGENTINA, IDENTICAL TWIN SISTERS - ALMA AND SUSANA - WERE BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO, TEXAS. LIKE MANY OF US IN TEXAS, THE SISTERS ARE FIRST GENERATION AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD AS THE 'FIRST ONE' TO WALK AN UNPAVED PATH, OFTEN ENCOUNTERING ADDITIONAL HARDSHIPS AND OBSTACLES, BUT NEVER GIVING UP. WITH THE LOVE, SACRIFICE AND SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILY, THE SISTERS SET OUT ON THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL PATH TO BECOME ENGINEERS AND ACHIEVE THEIR DREAM; THEY NOW HAVE CALLED NASA THEIR HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME, FOR OVER A DECADE. ALMA STEPHANIE (UTEP ALUMNA) THE "MATERIAL GIRL" IS A MATERIALS ENGINEER AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON. NOT ONLY DOES SHE GET TO WORK WITH THE ACTUAL MATERIALS THAT COME TOGETHER AS PART OF BIGGER PROJECT BUT SHE ALSO HAS THE TASK OF INVESTIGATING THE MATERIALS THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, WHETHER A SPACE SUIT OR SPACE VEHICLE.
SUSANA (NMSU ALUMNA) IS A CHEMICAL ENGINEER AND THE STANDARD TEST MANAGER AT THE WHITE SANDS TEST FACILITY IN NEW MEXICO. SHE GETS TO WORK ON TESTING THE MATERIALS FOR IGNITABILITY AND FLAMMABILITY TO ENSURE THAT (IN BASIC TERMS) NOTHING BLOWS UP OR WILL POSSIBLY BLOW UP AND IF SO, FOR HOW LONG WILL IT BURN. THE FACILITY TEST ANYTHING THAT WILL BE SENT UP, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR ASTRONAUTS AND THEIR SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. ALMA STEPHANIE
AS LATINAS CONTINUE TO BREAK BARRIERS IN THE S.T.E.M. FIELDS; THE ENGINEER DUO CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE LATINAS IN S.T.E.M. (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH) LIKE 'TECHNOLOCHICAS' HOPING TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LATINAS, TO CONTINUE TO DREAM BIG, THAT ANYTHING IS WITHIN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY AND NOTHING IS OUT OF REACH, NOT EVEN THE STARS.
SUSANA
PHOTO CREDIT: TECHNOLOCHICAS
ALMA STEPHANIE TAPIA
SUSANA TAPIA-HARPER