Cynthia Martinez will share a personal and powerful message rooted in her experience growing up as a Mexican-American child in Holland, Michigan—a community deeply connected to its Dutch heritage. Her early struggles with identity and belonging led her to a career in storytelling, journalism, and filmmaking, with a focus on amplifying the voices of underrepresented individuals.

Her award-winning documentary film, First Voice Generation, follows the journeys of first-generation students as they work to overcome the barriers to higher education—stories that reflect Cynthia’s path and the realities faced by many in our community. Talent and big dreams are evident, but opportunity, representation, and awareness are not. That work ultimately inspired her to run for, and win, a seat on the local school board, where she now serves as a trustee. Her mission to strive for equity in education isn’t just a goal, but a priority in all that she does.