Meet Rosalinda Martinez | She/Her/Ella Educator | Historian | Latina | Blogger | Community Champion

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rosalinda Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rosalinda, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind our success and brand is family first. Both my husband Arturo and I always put our family first and supporting our community and that purpose spreads across our careers. Our passions are family, education, and community. In our Latino/Hispanic culture family is very important. We live close to our family and we celebrate our heritage and culture daily. It’s also important for us to give back through volunteerism. We have volunteered for over 11 years with FWISD and so many other nonprofits. Arturo serves on several nonprofits: He was Past Chair for the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission to raise awareness on important community issues in our zip code. At the same time I was past chair for the Fort Worth Public Library and we volunteered as a whole family. Currently Arturo is on the Board of Directors for Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center and I’m on the Board of Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas Fort Worth Chapter. We are co-founders of Hispanic Heritage History Project/Chicano/a Trailblazer. Our mission to host a free public event during Hispanic Heritage month highlighting Latino/a/x contributions to our city and community. Founding members of Historians of Latino Americans (HOLA) aims to research, document, and archive our work and share it with the community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Both Arturo and I work in Higher Education. We work for Tarrant County College, Arturo is the District Director of Creative Services and I work for the District Admissions and Records Department. As first generation college students we felt that it is not only our responsibility but a privilege and joy to help and mentor our students. Arturo oversees a team of 22 creatives across six campuses and they ensure the college strategic communication goals are supported through design solutions that enhance the college experience. Arturo is a graphic designer and has art exhibitions shown at the Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth Public Library, TCC and ADLR Cultural Center. I help our students navigate the admissions process. As a first-generation college student I didn’t have someone to help me with the college admissions process. So it’s my passion and work to help our first generation students. We both value the importance of education as a stepping stone to success. TCC prepares the future workforce, buy offering certificates or an associate’s degree. It’s about affordability and proximity. We are proud products of public education and community college. We are college sweethearts and currently all three of our children are TCC students. For our family education is a family affair.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being married to an artist/creative and having children who are musicians we like to support art and music. We would first take them throughout our neighborhood where you could find colorful street art created by local talent. For example, the mural at Franko’s Market by local artist Arnoldo Hurtado of our world-renowned North Side High School’s Mariachi Espuelas de Plata. Another one of my favorite murals by Juan Velazquez’s Selena Quintanilla at 3308 N Main Street. Stop by the historic gem of Fort Worth’s Northside Artes de la Rosa Cultural Center. Artes de La Rosa is dedicated to preserving, promoting and interpreting the art, culture, lives, and history of the Latino community.

If you follow me on Instagram @pequenarosa11, you know I’m such a “foodie” and enjoy authentic taste of Mexican cuisine. In my opinion, we have the best tacos in Fort Worth, from Benito’s in Diamond Hill (best carne asada tacos), Guajardo’s Tacos Al Pastor on 28th st. (best tortas), and Beto Hernandez Foods on long and Azle st. (best barbacoa tacos and mendo). Fort Worth has a lot of charming locally owned restaurants try breakfast, lunch or dinner. One of our family favorites is Los Zarapes located at 1503 NW 25th St. Fort Worth. Additionally, you can always attend local festivals, museums or libraries.

We are truly grateful to live in a colorful, vibrant community! Where family, education and community come first. Where we value our community. And our cultura.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost I would like to give a shoutout to our immigrant parents. Like most first generation Mexican-Americans both of our parents left their country to a call a new one home. They learned a different language and we become assimilated into a new way of life. Thanks our supportive parents without them our life successes would not have been possible. My parents taught me not to seek knowledge, wealth or earthly possessions. Instead to seek wisdom to connect with our entire body/mind/spirit. To not be impressed by titles, money or fame. To keep going, keep fighting and keep giving back to our community. Even though we came from working class families we use every resource possible to better ourselves. We are grateful to be surround by such amazing and wonderful families. Arturo and I try to demonstrate the same positive role models for our children. We also build friendships with those who challenge us to become the best version of ourselves. We are surrounded by friends of integrity and share the same values.

Website: https://holatarrantcounty.org/

Instagram: @pequenarosa11

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rosalindamartinez603010

Twitter: @lindarosa09

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosalinda.martinez.524

Image Credits
Photo 1. Opal Lee Legacy Celebration. Arturo Martinez, created the Commemorative Art Poster. with Dr. Gwendolyn Morrison, TCCD Board of Trustees and Rosalinda Martinez. Photo 2. Chicana Trailblazer 2021 Rita Utt, Susie Olmos-Soto, Irma Perez, Eva Bonilla, Rosa Navajar and Rosalinda Martinez. HWNT Fort Worth Chapter. Photo 3. Historians of Latino Americans Tarrant County Founding Members: Will Giron, Cecilia Sanchez Hill, Richard Gonzales, Dr. Peter Martinez, Rosalinda Martinez, Rita Utt and Arturo Martinez. Also pictured Paul Quinones TCCD. Photo 4; Sul Ross State University “Living the Dream Mural” Dr. Robert Munoz, Artist Carol Fairlie, Proud Alumni Rosalinda, Arturo Martinez and Oscar Rodriquez.