By Olivia Madera
As a first-generation college student born and raised in the community of Nyeland Acres, in Oxnard, Ayxa Agraz is committed to giving back to her community. She has done this by being awarded and recognized as a Future History Maker by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) on Friday, March 7.
HOPE is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that ensures political and economic equality for Latinas through leadership, advocacy, and education.
Nyeland Promise Advisory Board Member Brenda Heredia referred Agraz to apply for the award. During that time, Agraz said she was going through the loss of her grandma and had to leave for Mexico.
“My essay was to talk about a woman and what she means to you. I talked about my grandma and kind of carrying on her legacy because even though she passed away and she had big dreams, I feel like I really wanted to talk about her and how her legacy was going to continue with me,” Agraz said to VIDA Newspaper.
Only one of five Latina women was selected in California, and Agraz was one of them. Agraz said that receiving notice of the award was good news to the negativity that was surrounding her.
“It was really fantastic, and I was able to take a guest with me, and I took my mom. It was a really great ceremony,” Agraz said to VIDA Newspaper. “There were over a thousand Latinas that attended. They had several small businesses owned by Latina women. It was really great being able to support them and there were several workshops of Latina women in positions of power. So, it was really nice to see people like me sitting in those chairs.”
She said that she felt honored to show up for and represent her community. Being honored for this award and all of her achievements helped her realize that this was the type of motivation to keep her going.
“Ayxa is an amazing person. We know this and the HOPE organization found that out. Once people find out about the dedication, strength, and intelligence, they fall in love with her. She has a great personality, is compassionate with everyone, and is committed to making this world a better place,” Mary Anne Rooney Co-Founder of Nyeland Promise and Agraz’s mentor, said to VIDA Newspaper.
Growing up, Agraz said she always knew that she wanted to be an advocate for her community and her family. She soon got involved with Nyeland Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Nyeland Acres’ residents.
Her internship with the nonprofit dealt with outreach for the community since she is bilingual in English and Spanish and consisted of outreach for various campaigns. From there, Agraz said she was invited to be a board member and has been able to advocate for the community as well as meet and mentor younger individuals in Nyeland Acres.
“Nyeland Promise and being able to advocate with them helped me realize I was really passionate about social justice. So, I think just growing up, I think I knew I wanted to become a lawyer, and I didn’t know how I was going to get there,” Agraz said to VIDA Newspaper. “But Nyeland Promise provided me with internships and networking connections that I don’t think I would’ve gone anywhere else. I feel like they really prepared me.”
Agraz said that she always wanted to become an immigration lawyer, but in her HOPE Future History Maker application, she expressed that she now wants to be a future judge.
“I think it’s my end goal to create justice for all of the communities because I’ve always been an advocate for the Hispanic community, but there’s several other people and individuals that are also disadvantaged and underrepresented,” Agraz said. “I just feel like I want to create justice for all at the end of the day.”
Back when Agraz was applying for the Future History Maker award, she said that though she has done a lot of things for her community, she never expected to be awarded for any of it. All of what she gives back and advocates for in her community and with Nyeland Promise, she said, comes from her heart.
“Agraz is fully committed to helping the residents in our community, and her dedication to this is shown every day. It’s critical to have many individuals participating so an organization can thrive well into the future,” Rooney said to VIDA Newspaper. “She is caring, compassionate, and committed to helping others…both now and in the future.”
For Agraz, she said the award shows her that people are noticing the work she is doing which is great, but she still wants to continue to do the work that she needs to do.
“To me, it means a lot because I’ve had a lot of little girls approach me because for Nyeland Promise, we have a music program and I’m the director for the music program. So, I’m able to work with a lot of the children in my community and having little girls come up to me and ask me, ‘Oh, you’re traveling here now?’ Because I’ve had opportunities to travel through my university,” Agraz said to VIDA Newspaper. “So, it’s been like having little girls come up to me and tell me, ‘How do you do this?’ The older sister that I never had being able to provide that support for them, for me that means a lot. So, I think it’s just going to be, for me, motivation to continue helping them to continue to be close to my community.”
Rooney also said this award would give Agraz more confidence to pursue her future dreams.
“This award also shows the little girls in our community that they can be just like Ayxa,” Rooney said. “She is a great role model, and when she goes on to be a judge, others will be inspired to follow their dreams too.”
Agraz is the oldest of three siblings and has played the clarinet since she was 10 years old.
On the weekends, she plays in a traditional Tamborazo band at traditional Hispanic parties.
She is also involved in her community church as a mentor for the youth and is currently their oldest altar server.
At California Lutheran University, Agraz is a junior double-majoring in political science and Spanish. Around campus, she is a Commuter Representative for the Associated Students of California Lutheran University Government Programs Board. She is also the treasurer for the Women in Law Club, a Department Assistant for the Languages and Cultures department, secretary for the Pre-Law Society Club, and secretary for the Languages and Cultures Club.
Through her university’s study abroad programs and Alternative Spring Break experience she has traveled to Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, and in May, she will be traveling to Japan.
In Fall 2023, Agraz also attended the Hispanic National Internship program conference in Chicago to serve as a voice for California Lutheran University. Last summer, she attended the University of Virginia’s Roadmap Scholars Initiative, where she received mentorship and took first-year law courses.
After graduation, Agraz said it’s very important for her to stay in California near her community and family because she is very family-oriented, and those are the values of her community.
“I want to stay close to my family and community because every single award, any achievement I have, they’ve always been the people that have applauded, they have always supported me,” Agraz said to VIDA Newspaper. “So, I owe it up to them, just being able to stay close by and still advocate because of what is going on right now politically. I want to be here. I know for a lot of them, they’re behind the shadows right now and I want to be there for them even if I’m going to law school.”