Join us at Picosos Mexican Kitchen (7611 Milwaukee Ave) for our monthly Power Hour luncheon. Enjoy lunch (affordable lunch menu available for purchase) while networking with like-minded women. Our speaker this month is Christy Martinez-Garcia with Latino Lubbock Magazine.
Christy Martinez-Garcia
Publisher of Latino Lubbock Magazine
Christy Martinez-Garcia attended Texas Tech University and was named a Ronal E. McNair Scholar. In 1997, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations and Marketing, and attended graduate school at Texas Tech, as well as at Wayland Baptist University.
Christy, a Lubbock native, developed her professional skills working in city government, private business, and the nonprofit industry. She worked for the National Council of La Raza in Washington, D.C., as Assistant Director of Public Information overseeing national media activities.
Ms. Martinez is the publisher and owner of Latino Lubbock Magazine, which averages about 100,000 readers monthly and can be found in Lubbock and 28 rural communities. She created the publication in 2006 to centralize bilingual information, and as a tool for dialogue and understanding for Lubbock. In 2019, she was selected as Latina Publisher of the Year, nationally by NAHP. Latino Lubbock Magazine celebrated their 15th year of printing in January 2020 and is developing the digital presence of the publication. She also does PR/marketing consulting, specializing in the Latino Market.
For her commitment to the business community, she was selected as the Women in Small Business Champion from the SBA northwest, which is recognized statewide and nationally.
She serves as host of the Latino Lubbock Update segment on Trends & Friends that is featured Thursdays, at 5p.m. on KLBK.
She is active locally to nationally. Among her initiatives included serving on the board of the National Association of Hispanic Publications. She was at the forefront of the development and planning of the North University Gateway on 3rd and University. She was instrumental in the development research of the North Lubbock Mercado Initiative Charrette.
She successfully led the effort to name a street after, American hero, Cesar E. Chavez in Lubbock.
She authored the narrative for the first State Historical Marker recognizing Migrant Labor Camps of Lubbock and is now working on a historical narrative and State marker marking the 100-year anniversary of St. Joseph's Church. Christy uses history, and photography to build awareness about the contributions of Latinos to Lubbock history.
She is the founder of Los Hermanos Familia, a nonprofit organization whose objective is “Strengthening Families, Building Community,” and, an organization increasing the habitus for area families by fostering an environment that offers them more exploration, and thus knowledge and life experiences. LHF has over 34-member associations working collectively to bring over 11 activities to fruition annually; they also have over 220 volunteers, not to mention they achieve almost 7,000 volunteer hours per year.
Among those events include the annual “Vamos a Pescar, Let’s Go Fishing” event that ignited their movement to impact families. She spearheaded and raised the funds for the placement of outdoor fitness equipment that is helping families and individuals to become healthy and have accessibility to fitness equipment. She also led efforts to offer a free digital library free to any child - from kindergarten to high school - placement of little libraries in areas where children might not have access to books or technology, to name a few.
In 2013, Christy and her husband, Frank Garcia, of 28 years were selected as the 2013 Texas Tech Parents of the Year. The couple has committed to several student organizations as well as established a scholarship endowment.
Her most significant achievement is being the mother of Amaris Garcia, who graduated from Texas Tech University May 2014, as well as obtained an MBA June 2020. She is now working nationally doing marketing.
Christy is involved on several boards, committees, and organizations. She has been honored for her commitment to community.