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With steady dedication to her studies and to her 6-year-old son, Alita Smith shows strength in every endeavor of hers. After two decades in the hospitality industry, Smith took the leap to pursue her lifelong dream of being an educator.

As a child immigrant and bilingual student, Adriana Alvarez says she often felt isolated in school. Now graduating with a PhD, the former school teacher continues to promote biliteracy and challenge the injustices faced by emerging bilingual students.