Hispanic Heritage Month Partner Spotlight: Bachman Lake Together

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Healthy Futures is proud to spotlight our partners who are making a difference in Hispanic communities across Texas.

Following is our conversation with Bachman Lake Together.

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you, to bachman lake together, and the community you serve?

Bachman Lake is a neighborhood of about 40,000 residents, 75% of whom are Hispanic or Latino and roughly 46% of whom are foreign born. In our schools, 92% of students are Hispanic and 81% are emergent bilingual. For us, Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder of who we serve and who we are. As our Executive Director, Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman, puts it: “As a Latina and someone who grew up appreciating the values, culture, and strength of our families, this month reminds me why representation and cultural pride matter— not just symbolically, but in tangible ways that impact children and families every day.”

For parents, the month is also about passing culture forward. Monica Sanchez, a CAN Parent Agent and Bachman Lake resident, says it matters “because we remember where we come from, the values we bring from our countries, and because we teach our children!” These cultural values are an asset, and our work reflects this.

What inspired you to do the work you do, particularly in supporting the health and well-being of Hispanic communities? 

When Bachman Lake Together was founded, our work began with early learning, and it grew as families told us what else they needed, including school navigation, technology, and mental health resources. With a mission to partner with the community to create a thriving Bachman Lake neighborhood where children flourish and opportunity is shared across generations, we organize our work around four critical foundations: Early Childhood (Birth–2nd Grade), Upper Elementary (3rd–6th Grade), Parent Leadership & Advocacy, and Family Well-being. As the backbone organization for Bachman Lake, we align 50+ partners to connect families with the school, health, technology, and economic resources they need, while parent leaders help shape the programs that serve them.

For many on our team, the motivation is personal. Daniela Saldana, our Partner & Community Engagement Manager, was born and raised in Bachman Lake. She says BLT “gives me a way to pour back into the village that raised me by preserving our culture, amplifying voices, and supporting the next generation.” Angelica Guillen Landaverde, a CAN Parent Agent, shares what moves her: “I know that in the community there are people who are going through situations similar to those I experienced before arriving at [Bachman Lake Together], and having the information and tools that…the family center gives us changes our lives, and it’s something I want to share.”

What is one challenge facing Hispanic communities today that you believe deserves greater attention?

One challenge that deserves greater attention is how often Hispanic communities are served without being asked. Latino families represent over 20 countries of origin, multiple generations, and a wide range of immigration experiences, yet programs and policies are frequently built as one-size-fits-all, delivered only in English, and designed without the people they are meant to serve in the room. The result is a focus on what families lack instead of the rich assets they bring. Hispanic families are already caregivers, workers, and leaders in their communities. Often, what they need most is for systems to meet them in the language of their heart, to reflect their diversity and assets, and to be included in decisions from the start. At Bachman Lake Together, that belief shapes how we work with families as partners and leaders.

How does bachman lake together work to ensure Hispanic voices, experiences, and perspectives are recognized in the work you do?

As the backbone organization for our neighborhood, we organize, advocate, and uplift Bachman Lake families, and we try to build that into how we operate. Whether that means ensuring all public-facing communication is bilingual, tailoring initiatives and events to be culturally relevant, or placing parent voice at the center of our Strategy Steering Committee and Board of Directors, we intentionally try to honor our community in all that we do.

For example, within our parent-leadership program, Community Action Network, parent leaders connect neighbors with resources, co-lead and shape programming, and advise partner organizations on what families need. We also work to remove the barriers that keep parents from the table, including language justice rather than simple translation, meeting times, transportation, childcare, and a sense of safety. As Olga Martinez Hickman says, “We look like the people that we serve. The parents feel safe talking to us, but we also really try hard to create a safe environment, and that includes listening.”

What gives you hope for the future of Hispanic communities in Texas, and what role can we all play in building healthier communities? 

Our hope comes from the families themselves. While many initially become introduced to BLT looking for support for one child, we partner with them as advocates and leaders within their families and community.

Healthier communities grow when families hold real decision-making power, and all of us have a role in that, whether it’s investing in Latino-led and grassroots organizations, bringing community members into decision-making, creating spaces where Hispanic and Latino families can speak in the language of their heart, and many more. Lasting change must be built by and with the community.