Teacher Spotlight Trena Bizardi

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Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  My Dine’ heritage highlights the utmost importance of family and community values. This has motivated me to pursue further education, with the goal of making a more meaningful contribution to tribal communities, while also providing a strong framework for nurturing enduring connections with … Read more

Volunteer Spotlight Maria Echeveste

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Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  I am very proud of my Mexican American heritage with Southern California roots.  My husband, Craig Echeveste, and I raised our family here in Phoenix. My grandmothers (one who traveled from Guanajuato, Mexico in the 1900s and the other born and raised in Globe/Miami, Arizona) faced adversity and … Read more

Volunteer Spotlight Glenda Chavez

Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  Living in Mexico for part of my childhood allowed me to be close to family and grow up learning and understanding our Mexican culture. Some parts of our culture bring us close together as a family like the love and appreciation for food … Read more

Volunteer Spotlight Heidi Vega

Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  My Hispanic background has profoundly influenced who I am today by emphasizing the significance of food, family, connection, and music. Growing up, I was exposed to a rich tapestry of flavors and recipes passed down through generations. Our tight-knit extended family has always … Read more

Volunteer Spotlight Kathy Jang

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Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  As an Asian American, I was taught the importance of studying hard, getting good grades, going to a good school and finding a solid job to work and retire from. This was all great because it did teach me discipline and determination, which I … Read more

Board Spotlight Manoj Varghese

Professional photo of Manoj Varghese

Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  The influence of Indian culture and family on my personal and intellectual development has been significant. Growing up in a close-knit family and community, I learned the value of strong relationships and the importance of supporting and caring for each other. The focus … Read more

Teacher Spotlight Kenny Wong

Q: How did your family and culture influence who you are today?  I’ve always believed in self-determination and hard work. This was instilled from my family a long time ago where I was taught to work hard, study hard, and try to succeed based on one’s own talent. The Chinese proverbs of hard work meshed well … Read more