Think how overwhelming it would be to come to live in Austin not knowing the language or the culture and perhaps not knowing anyone else except the family members who arrived with you. Add to that the fact you may have left much behind, including traumatic situations, which would be a good thing, but you also bring those emotional wounds. And you’ve left  behind everything familiar, many of your possessions and  maybe family members.

Dora Martinez, now the Advocacy and Client Services Coordinator at Austin’s Welcome Center moved to Austin in 2000. She did not arrive in the situation described above. She was born in Texas and has spent most of her life in Minnesota. She says she lived in a bubble.  She spoke English well, knew how things worked and she was the “take charge person” in her family. She never thought about the people who struggle.  She was very busy with her husband and her six children and was doing part-time work in retail sales. She wasn’t aware of anything outside her own life’s bubble.

Then in 2009, she heard from a friend about an opening as the receptionist at the Welcome Center.  A Spanish speaker was wanted and wanted immediately. Dora got the job almost before she knew what she was doing.  And right away her bubble began to stretch as she realized that many people were struggling to do the things she took for granted. She learned that not all Spanish speakers in Austin had roots  in Mexico, and that there were new residents from a number of countries in Africa and Asia.  She says she has learned amazing amounts in her jobs with the Welcome Center.  In her first job there as receptionist, she answered the phone and her strong  motherly instincts took over as she tried to help the callers in any way she could.  She came to realize what an enormous burden not knowing English could be as she saw families depending on 5-7 year-old children as interpreters for their parents in adult situations.

Dora’s abilities to learn and grow were recognized by then Welcome Center Director Jake Vela, and he gave her more and more responsibilities. He told her, “The more you learn, the more valuable you are.”  She says Jake “pushed me, in a good way. And he taught me to manage my time.”

The staff at the welcome Center provide services to  help bridge the many facets of the language barriers. For example, Dora may translate for people on job interviews, school conferences, probation hearings and medical visits.  She helps with paper work of all kinds (with the exception of immigration), including custody, divorce, small claims, leases, rental agreements, utilities, human services and medical forms.  She helps with communication with landlords and bosses. She finds some people just need a listening ear who will not judge, as their family members may.  A lot of her time is spent referring people to other places for services beyond the scope of The Welcome Center.  In the past fiscal year, 4,187 people were helped by The Welcome Center.

Her explanation as to her reasons for loving this work is that the children win her over every time. And “family means  everything” to her.  She knows that the ways she supports newcomers to Austin ultimately supports the families and children.

Dora’s words of wisdom are, “ We shouldn’t take for granted that things that are easy for us will be easy for others.  Be ready to help. People who know something should teach others.”

Newcomers to Austin are so fortunate to have this warm-hearted woman ready to support them!!!  Thanks you , Ambassador Dora Martinez.

For more information about the Austin Branch of AAUW, contact program co-chair, Sue Grove  sue.grove@riverland.edu  or Carolyn Bogott  csbogott@charter.net