Former North Carolina state Rep. Ricky Hurtado was born to two Salvadoran immigrants who fled the country’s civil war in 1980.
“They just had to figure out how to make ends meet here,” Hurtado said.
Growing up, Hurtado said there was always food on the table and a roof over his head. He is grateful for everything his parents provided, but as a first-generation college student, he had to navigate higher education on his own.
“Those challenges early on really painted a lot of my own perspective and viewpoint, and I think it shaped a lot of my career as well,” he said.
Hurtado’s wife, Yazmin Garcia Rico, was born and raised in Alamance County, which he said is what drew him to the area.
“When you talk about my connection to the community, I can name community-based organizations, I can name a lot of things,” Hurtado said. “But it’s really her. She has deep roots here.”
Garcia Rico is the director of community engagement and impact at the Cone Health Foundation and has previously served as the director of Hispanic/Latinx policy and strategy at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Hurtado is the co-founder of LatinxEd, a nonprofit that promotes leadership development and education equity across North Carolina. He said Elon University offers several resources that support the Latine community both on and off campus.
“Students have interned with us, use this as a resource as needed, and we always find ways to collaborate with other programs and initiatives happening on campus as well,” Hurtado said.
Through community-led initiatives, research and strategic partnerships, the organization helps address challenges facing Latine students and families in North Carolina. Hurtado said it’s important for students to engage in non-profit organizations because they give exposure to what’s happening across the state.
“It has been about finding community, finding voice and finding a way to see yourself in the future of the state,” Hurtado said.
When Hurtado moved to Alamance County in 2018, he said it was important for him to get to know every corner of the area, which included churches, nonprofit organizations, community centers and more. One way he has done that is with the Alamance Dream Center. The center serves as a hub for activity in Alamance County, providing programs that educate, train, advocate for and inspire community members.
“I play soccer there every Monday night, which is a lot of fun,” Hurtado said. “Builds community. You get to see folks regularly. We rent out the space, which matters as far as income generation for the community center.”
Lisa Edwards, executive director of the Alamance Dream Center, worked closely with Hurtado and his wife — especially when Garcia Rico introduced health and wellness opportunities at the Dream Center.
“They’ve been a part of the community for a long time,” Edwards said. “They really, they have firsthand knowledge of the community and the struggles and triumphs and all of the things.”
When the Dream Center hosts Hispanic Heritage festivals, Edwards said, Hurtado plays a big role in the planning stages.
“When you’re working with a community, you want to really build trust, and the best way to do that is connecting with other people that are trusted and known,” Edwards said. “That’s what Ricky’s been able to be for us here and and now it’s just been a pleasure to get to work alongside of him.”
In 2022, the Dream Center took its student leadership group of middle and high school students to visit Hurtado at the North Carolina State House of Representatives. Edwards said Hurtado gave the students a tour, and they loved seeing how people responded to him.
“In the van coming home, hearing different ones saying, ‘Yeah, maybe I’ll be a representative some day,’” Edwards said.
Hurtado said it is important to support nonprofit fundraising efforts at places such as the Dream Center, where much of the behind-the-scenes work often goes unnoticed.
“Every year you got to count your pennies and shake every couch cushion to make sure you have enough budget to make the whole thing run.”
He said it is critical to engage in the national conversation about the role of immigrants and Latine residents in the community.
“I’m excited to make sure that folks see that diversity is our strength, and that moving forward, that’s the only path that will really lead us to prosperity, is making sure that we find a way for all of us to thrive,” Hurtado said.
Edwards said Hurtado embodies what the Dream Center wants to be about — celebrating people and somebody open to everybody.
“He’s somebody who has really applied himself to make a difference in the world, and somebody who can speak to what opportunities that education can bring to you,” Edwards said.