With a smile on her face and her mother and colleagues at her side, María del Carmen Martínez was recognized on Wednesday by the Overall Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles as the Mexican Pride of the Month.
The recognition ceremony honors Mexican migrants whose strength, commitment and career represent an example for the community.
“We created the recognition to change the narrative around Mexicans and immigrants, to teach the diverse positions and work of our communities,” said Carlos González Gutiérrez of the consulate. “And Carmen deserves it because she has supported many of the most vulnerable people.”
The recognition of Martínez, who was the Consulate’s financial advisor for the last 6 years, is the first time, of the 20 awards it has given, that the Consulate makes an exception to pay tribute to one of its own.
A woman who, according to her team, is the true example of what it means to serve the community and always looked out for the best interest of her clients.
“His unique way of serving, always with kindness, compassion and a genuine willingness to help, left a mark on each person he served,” said María Fernanda Sánchez, from the communities department. “His patience in listening and his spirit of service are an example of what it means to serve with the heart.”
Born in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, Martínez faced various challenges from a young age: she migrated between cities and countries; When she became pregnant for the first time, she eventually raised six children and overcame the difficulties of migration. Working in different jobs that gave her time to take care of her children, such as cleaning houses, taking care of children and other hard jobs, but with the objective of supporting her family.
But she said she reached a point in her life where she needed to do something for herself, and years later was when she found her passion.
“When I arrived in Los Angeles, I was afraid of being pregnant and I didn’t know what would become of my life,” Martínez said. “And, after the years, I felt lost; now that my children were grown, I said: what have I done for myself? And that was when I combined my passion for helping others with my ability to save and manage money.”
At 50 years old, he began a new stage of his life, focused on community service. From the Financial Advice Window of the Overall Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles, Martínez began helping many Latinos in the city improve their personal finances through saving, budgeting and meeting their financial goals.
“What I did was teach people how to save, with the little they have and with what they do, to achieve their goals,” Martínez said at the ceremony. “Listening to them and paying attention not only when they needed something from our department, but in anything else that involved the consulate, I have never turned my back on anyone.”
According to her colleagues, her work has significantly impacted the Mexican community abroad, consolidating her as a leader and inspiration. His story shows that, regardless of age or circumstances, it is possible to reinvent oneself, get ahead and contribute to collective well-being.
During the pandemic, Martínez helped many who needed financial support and also the community to lose their fear of technology.
“People like you remind us that empathy can transform the experience of those who come to the consulate,” said Sánchez, who worked alongside Martínez. “Not only did he do his job, but he went further, providing support even in things that were not our concern.”
“You have changed and improved the lives of everyone who crossed paths with you,” added Eduardo Rodríguez, executive director of Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP), where Martínez began his career.
As in every edition, Martínez received an illustration by artist Abby Aceves as a symbol of the “Mexican Pride of the Month” recognition and then celebrated with his team a bite of Mexican sushi from the El Sushi Loco restaurant.
With a soft voice and a heart full of emotion, Martínez said she is ready to rest; She has said that this recognition is very special for her, since she recently retired.
At the celebration, Martínez, who likes to write in his free time, recited one of his poems about Mexicans, in which he describes the community beyond the labels assigned to them when they arrive in this country. At the end of the celebration, his colleagues wished him a nice retirement, where they hope it will be filled with days in which he writes his poetry, continues collecting quartz and listens to the great José José playing on his horn at full volume.
“I feel happy and a little nervous, but I am proud of the work I was able to do being here,” Martínez said. “What drove me to come to work every day was the possibility of helping my people and we did it.”
