This past weekend I had the honor of storytelling at the City of Snyder’s very first Mexican Independence Day Celebration — a day filled with corazón, culture, and community pride.

My heartfelt thanks to Diana Zapata and Brad Overcash for organizing this inaugural event and bringing such vision and dedication to Snyder. And a special thank‑you to Amy Hodges from the Scurry County Library, whose commitment to literacy and community storytelling helped make this celebration possible.

I also want to express deep gratitude to the collaborators who helped outfit me for this beautiful day. • El Charro in El Paso, quien personalizó mi sombrero so it matched my dress perfectly. • And Ernesto in Chicago, who added los detalles finales to my dress with such care and artistry that they completed the look and made the entire outfit feel truly special.

Snyder, Texas your corazón is strong. Thank you for letting me be part of your story.