Author Archive

In the heart of San Antonio, Texas, the spirit of community service is alive and well thanks to individuals like Cami Canales, a dedicated board member of The Americano Dream of Texas (TAD). Recently, her act of kindness and generosity has touched the life of Cristina Palacio, a sophomore at Churchill High School, in a remarkable way.

Cristina Palacio found herself in need of academic support, and that’s where TAD and Cami Canales stepped in. Through Sylvan Learning Center, Cristina was to receive crucial tutoring hours and academic testing, vital resources for her educational journey. However, circumstances changed when Canales, also a parent, realized that her children no longer required the tutoring hours they had accumulated.

In an exemplary display of community spirit and altruism, Cami Canales made an in-kind donation of these unused tutoring hours to TAD. With her thoughtful contribution, TAD was able to collaborate with Sylvan Learning Center to facilitate a donation of tutoring hours and academic testing to Churchill High School, benefiting none other than Cristina Palacio.

The impact of this act of kindness cannot be overstated. For Cristina, it means access to resources that could potentially shape her academic future. For Churchill High School, it signifies a community coming together to support its students in their pursuit of excellence. And for Cami Canales, it reflects a deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of others, even in the simplest yet most profound ways.

This heartwarming story serves as a reminder that acts of generosity, no matter how small they may seem, have the power to create ripple effects of positivity in our communities. Through the selfless actions of individuals like Cami Canales and the tireless work of organizations like TAD, we can truly make a difference, one person at a time.

As Cristina Palacio continues her academic journey with newfound support, let us celebrate the spirit of giving and the profound impact it can have on the lives of those in need. And let us draw inspiration from Cami Canales and others like her, who remind us that kindness knows no bounds and that together, we can build a brighter future for all.

We are thrilled to announce a wonderful addition to The Americano Dream family. Please join us in welcoming our newest board member, Camila Bicalho!

Camila’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Born and raised in the vibrant culture of Brazil, she embarked on a transformative adventure at the age of 18 when she moved to the United States. Camila pursued her education in the heart of Texas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

“My journey from Brazil to the United States at the age of 18 has been filled with ambition, hard work, and an unwavering spirit. Today, I am proud to say that I am living the Americano Dream, and I am eager to contribute to the mission of The Americano Dream.”

In 2009, Camila ventured to Austin, Texas, where she began her professional journey at Dell Technologies. Today, she stands as a Global PMO and Communications Lead for Dell Services Lifecycle Hub, showcasing exceptional leadership and dedication to her craft.

Camila brings a wealth of experience and a passion for communication that truly sets her apart. Her journey in journalism began at The Skyline, Sul Ross State University’s esteemed newspaper, where she served as a dedicated news reporter. This early experience ignited her love for storytelling and reporting on important issues that matter to our community.

“I am excited to leverage my personal journey and experiences to advocate for the transformative power of education, community involvement, and cross-cultural opportunities. Together with the incredible team at The Americano Dream, we aim to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals seeking to fulfill their dreams in the land of opportunity.”

Fueling her passion further, Camila took on an internship at KXAN Austin News, showcasing her commitment to staying informed and contributing to the world of journalism. Her dedication to excellence and the pursuit of truth make her a valuable addition to our organization.

Not only does Camila excel in her professional endeavors, but she is also an influential force within Dell Technologies’ Central Region ERG Women in Action. Leading a chapter with 35 board members and a total of 6 thousand active members, Camila’s ambition and commitment to community impact shine brightly.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Camila is a devoted mother to her one-year-old son, Cooper Bradley. Cooper, born with hearing loss, has a remarkable story of adaptation and resilience, thanks to Camila’s unwavering dedication. Initially faced with challenges, Cooper now enjoys a normal life, a testament to Camila’s strength as a loving and determined mother.

Join us in extending a warm welcome to Camila Bicalho as she brings her passion, expertise, and compassionate spirit to The Americano Dream. We look forward to achieving great heights together and making a positive impact on the community we serve.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced eight Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants to support career and technical education (CTE) training by six North Texas-area educational institutions. Presented by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the combined $3,511,598 in grants will help the schools purchase and install equipment to initially train 1,164 students for high-demand occupations.

“Texas continues to support our next generation of highly-skilled workers and boost our state’s growing economy through career training grants,” said Governor Abbott. “These grants will provide schools in North Texas the opportunity to purchase and install equipment that will train over a thousand students for good-paying careers in farm equipment mechanics, nursing, electrical engineering, HVAC, and more. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission for their collaboration with these schools as we help North Texas students prepare to join our workforce in these high-demand industries.”

“The Jobs and Education Texas grants provide opportunities for schools across the state to create training for high demand jobs in their area,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “Six North Texas-area colleges have made the step to train more than a thousand students in the region to support local employers and bolster the economy.”

Earlier today, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III presented the awards at a ceremony that included state and local officials, school staff, and CTE students at Collin College Technical Campus.

The eight JET grants include:

• Collin College: a $332,365 grant to purchase and install equipment to initially train 140 students in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) program, with additional students to be trained in the future
• Commerce Independent School District (ISD): a $301,544 grant to purchase and install equipment to initially train 126 students in farm equipment mechanics in partnership with Collin County Community College District
• Farmersville ISD: two grants:
  • $702,240 for equipment to train an initial 132 students as marketing managers in partnership with Collin College
  • $746,743 to purchase and install equipment to initially train 230 students in agricultural engineering with Collin College
• Grayson College: a $349,999 grant to purchase and install equipment to initially train 80 students in industrial machinery mechanics
• Lovejoy ISD: a $446,763 grant to purchase and install equipment to initially train 200 students as electronics engineers in partnership with Collin College
• North Central Texas College: two grants:
  • $331,827 to purchase and install equipment to initially train 130 students in nursing
  • $300,117 to purchase and install equipment to initially train 126 students in welding careers

Through funding provided by the Texas Legislature each biennium, TWC uses JET grants to defray start-up costs to develop career and technical education programs for the public community, state and technical colleges, school districts, and charter schools. Equipment funded through JET grants must be used to train students for jobs in high-demand occupations.

Learn more about TWC’s JET grant program.

Our friends at the Embassy of Spain invite young professional leaders to apply to this unique international intercultural experience.

The deadline is June 11, 2023 at 11:59 CST.

The Hispanic Leaders Program of the United States was born in 1998 at the initiative of the Government of Spain with the objective, on one hand, of making the reality of the country known to young Americans of Hispanic origin and, on the other, of creating a network of contacts among prominent professionals in the political, cultural, business and academic spheres from both sides of the Atlantic.

Since then, it has facilitated the identification of opportunities for collaboration between the two countries, contributing to the empowerment of the US Hispanic community and ultimately having an impact on strengthening bilateral relations between Spain and the United States.

The US Hispanic Leaders Program has the support of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

Apply Here

Decades before Selena was crowned the Queen of Tejano Music, there was Lydia Mendoza. Today at TAD, we are celebrating the first iconic female Tejano singer, La Alondra de La Frontera. Lydia Mendoza was born in Houston in 1916 to a musical family. Her parents had immigrated to Texas in order to escape the Mexican Revolution. Her father was a railroad worker, so her family would travel with him and together would entertain the farmers and laborers along the Tex-Mex border. Lydia would spend a great deal of her early career performing with her family, and even as a solo artist, they would accompany and open for her concerts. 

When Lydia was a teenager, she caught the attention of Spanish radio personality, Manuel J. Cortez. He signed her onto Bluebird Records in 1937 and she recorded her first well-known song “Mal Hombre”. Mendoza’s song was a hit across the US-Mexico border, and she became a symbol of pride for the Tejano population, as well as other Mexican Americans.

Carlos Santana is an American guitarist who rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of Rock and roll and Latin American jazz. Its sound featured his melodic, blues-based lines set against Latin American and African rhythms played on percussion instruments not generally heard in rock, such as timbales and congas. He experienced a resurgence of popularity and critical acclaim in the late 1990 and in 2015, Rolling Stone magazine listed him at No. 20 on their list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He has won 10 Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, was inducted along with his namesake band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

Beyond music, in the lifestyle and entertainment realm, River Of Colors (ROC) has enjoyed tremendous success with the Carlos by Carlos Santana and Unity by Carlos Santana brand names. Founded in 1997, ROC is dedicated to bringing products to market that embody the passion and integrity of Carlos Santana and that are true to his distinctive style and taste. The arc of Santana’s performing and recording career is complemented by a lifelong devotion to social activism and humanitarian causes. The Milagro Foundation, originally established by Carlos Santana and his family in 1998, has granted more than eight million dollars to non-profit programs supporting under-resourced children and youth in the areas of arts, education and health. Milagro means “miracle,” and the image of children as divine miracles of light and hope-gifts to our lives is the inspiration behind its name.

Santana continues to spread his music today at his residency in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

We can’t celebrate the Hispanic impact on American culture without celebrating the “Queen of Tejano music” herself, Selena! Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. Billboard magazine named her the greatest female Latin artist of all time and she is credited for catapulting a music genre into the mainstream market.

Selena released Entre a Mi Mundo (1992), which peaked at number one on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart for eight consecutive months. The album’s commercial success led music critics to call it the “breakthrough” recording of her musical career. One of its singles, “Como la Flor”, became one of her most popular signature songs. Live! (1993) won Best Mexican/American Album at the 1994 Grammy Awards, becoming the first recording by a female Tejano artist to do so.

Unfortunately, on March 31, 1995, Selena’s life ended when she was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and the former manager of her Selena Etc. boutiques. Two weeks later, George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas, declared April 16 as Selena Day in Texas. Her posthumous crossover album, Dreaming of You (1995), debuted atop the Billboard 200, making Selena the first Latin artist to accomplish this feat. In 1997, Warner Bros. released Selena, a film about her life and career, which starred a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez as Selena, catapulting Lopez into fame. In 2020, Netflix released Selena: The Series starring Christian Serratos. Selena has sold around 18 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists in Latin music.

Gen. Richard E Cavazos was born in Kingsville, Texas in 1929. He graduated from Texas Tech University and began his military career during the Korean War. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions not just leading his company into battle, but for his rescue of 5 wounded men from the field. He received another of this award during the Vietnam War for his extreme acts of heroism on the field yielding a victory in battle. 

Gen. Cavazos remains an important fixture as he is the first Hispanic to become a four-star general.

Today we are celebrating Mexican American singer, Vikki Carr! She was born in El Paso, Texas, and has been actively making music for over 60 years! Vikki Carr was born Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martinez Cardona before changing to her stage name in 1962 when she signed on with Liberty Records. Carr is known for pushing to record in her native Spanish, something that wasn’t done for American markets. However, she found great success as she brought mainstream music to Spanish-speaking audiences.

Vikki has accumulated many awards throughout her singing career, including three Grammys, a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement award, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Medallion of Excellence Award in 2011, and the President’s Award from Vietnam Veterans of America in 2010, among many more. She’s one of the most awarded and well-regarded Latin singers of all time.

Carmen Crenshaw was born in Lima, Peru, and came to America as an immigrant to pursue the American dream. She moved to Houston working with Oil and Gas companies as an accountant. After several years in the USA, she met and married Jim Crenshaw and moved back to South America for his work. In South America, she started working with local charities, orphanages, and other faith-based organizations, which provided her the opportunity to work with Presidents, Ambassadors, and Leaders of Industry in fundraising efforts.

After many years in South America, the family moved back to the USA. Several years later her stepson; Dan Crenshaw, ran for US Congress, and Carmen decided to get involved with the Republican Party as she saw how critical it was that we reach our Hispanic community with a positive and truthful message about the greatness of America.

She served as the Chairwoman for the RNHA (Republican National Hispanic Assembly) Texas Chapter for the last two years, where she worked tirelessly to engage the Texas Hispanic voters. Carmen is presently serving on the advisory board of “Beta Academy” a south Houston Charter school, and with the “Greater Houston Council of Federated Republican Women” board as Chair of Public Relations.

Carmen is passionate about her role with the Hispanic Leadership Alliance and committed to our great nation. She is an example of how those who immigrate to the USA properly and for the right reasons, can become a building block for our Countries future. Carmen’s drive and perseverance are now focused on giving back to the country she calls home.