During October, the Literacy Coalition celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting Hispanic members of our community!
First up is Lulu Tovar, our Director of Career Education. 
Lulu is a proud first generation Mexican American. She credits her parents for instilling cherished traditions in their lives in the United States, fostering a deep connection to their Mexican roots.
She shares, “My favorite part about being a first-gen Mexican American has a lot to do with my upbringing. I grew up speaking Spanish and I enjoyed the best homemade Mexican food. I learned so much about my culture from my parents instilling a lot of traditions into our lives while being here in the US. I appreciate my parents for teaching my siblings and I to be proud of our roots and to embrace it as our own.”
Also reflecting her time with the Literacy Coalition, Lulu shared, “As a Latina, I am honored to be a changemaker in my community. Seeing our students progress in their English language skills and advance in their careers is so fulfilling.”
We continued highlighting Hispanic success by spotlighting Zoila Estrella Burrego Rodriguez, a recent PALS graduate who overcame her fear of speaking English.
Born in California and spending much of her life in Mexico prior to moving to Texas, Zoila enrolled in the Literacy Coalition’s PALS ESL class to improve her pronunciation and speak more confidently. After completing the course, Zoila no longer feared speaking English. A mother of three, she knows that her new skill will enable her to help her children in school, at doctor’s appointments, and beyond.