Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Pablo Calderon

We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting an ELA member. This week we caught up with Pablo Calderon, our Racial Equity Guidance Council Co-chair.

Pablo Calderon was born in El Paso, Texas. El Paso crosses the Rio Grande from Texas into Mexico. His mother was born in San Antonio and his father was born in Roswell, New Mexico. His dad was a Methodist minister, and the family lived in El Paso, Rio Grande City, Lubbock, and Dallas. Pablo graduated from high school in El Paso and went to The University of Texas at El Paso where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education. Then, he moved to Dallas to study at Southern Methodist University where he earned his Master of Theology. A few years later, he went back to school and received a second master’s degree in public administration at the Harvard Kennedy School.

During his time in Fort Worth, he served his community by participating in different organizations. He served on the Fuerza de los Barrios (Power to the Neighborhoods) organization as a community ministry advocacy. He was chair of the Charter Review Committees, the Community Development Council, and the Hispanic Services Commitee. Pablo work experience was with Head Start, the City of Arlington, United Way and United Community Centers. He retired in 2015.

Pablo joined the Early Learning Alliance in 2013 and has been an active member and leader in ELA ever since. He is currently serving on the ELA Leadership Team and Racial Equity Guidance Council (REGC).

How did you become involved with ELA?  

“I was a Program Director at United Community Centers, a licensed child care that offers programming for ages four through high school, when I received the invitation to participate.”

Why do you think ELA is an asset to the community?

“ELA provides a forum for discussions and actions by key entities with a stake in the well-being of young children. The diversity and breadth reflect an appreciation that it takes a village to raise a child.”

What are some of the most memorable projects you’ve worked on during your time with ELA?

“Receiving grants from the United Way of Tarrant enabled us to host two series of equity trainings for ELA members, partners and community leaders.”

Other proud projects that he participated in were developing the Racial and Ethnic Equity Process for Designing Programs That Improve Child Well-being, supporting the Racial Equity Toolkit, and creating the Racial Equity Statement.

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

“It is a time to commemorate key events and honor the contributions of Hispanic individuals and community, many of which are not noted in our history books.”

How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

“I look for something new, worthy of recognition. For example, I read an article today that talked about the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If U.S. Latinos were an independent country, their GDP would rank fifth in the world.” That is larger than the GDPs of France, India, and the United Kingdom, according to the Latino Donor Collaborative’s 2022 Latino GDP report. “This remarkable contribution to the U.S. financial health will increase as more young Hispanic/ Latinos obtain bachelor’s degree or higher education. With open doors, this will lead to increased Hispanic/ Latinos professionals participating in early childhood education space and joining ELA as a supporter.”

If you are interested in the Early Learning Alliance’s Racial Equity Guidance Council, please email: ela@earlylearningntx.org.