Emmy Award-winning journalist and author José Martínez delivered the keynote address before joining Alvernia students for a candid conversation about identity, belonging and turning personal experience into impact.
An evening that began with stories of migration, identity and finding one’s voice ended with live music, dancing and a celebration of Latino culture at Alvernia University.
José Martínez, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author and WFMZ reporter, delivered the keynote address during Latinos Unidos on September 25 at Francis Hall.
Presented by Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute, the program brought students, educators and community members together for an evening centered on Latino identity, representation and leadership.
Turning Identity Into Impact
Martínez’s keynote, Your English Is Great, But…: Turning Identity Into Impact, traced the experiences that shaped his life and career—from growing up in Cartagena, Colombia, to building a new life in New York, California and Pennsylvania.
Drawing from his memoir, Your English Is Great, But…: A Life Between Languages, Cities, and Grief, Martínez reflected on navigating different cultures, confronting assumptions about language and belonging, and learning to view identity as a source of strength rather than something to minimize.
The central message was simple: people do not have to erase parts of themselves to succeed.
Instead, the places, languages and experiences that shape a person can become the foundation for leadership, storytelling and meaningful community impact.
Listening to the Next Generation
The keynote was followed by a student panel exploring how identity influences leadership, ambition and the desire to create change.
Martínez joined two Alvernia students onstage for a candid conversation about belonging, representation and the experiences that have shaped their lives.
The students discussed the people, places and cultural influences that helped form their identities. Their responses demonstrated that Latino identity is not a single experience, but a collection of stories shaped by family, heritage, community and individual aspirations.
For Martínez, listening to the students was among the most meaningful parts of the evening.
The conversation allowed the program to move beyond one person’s story and create space for emerging voices—young people already defining what leadership and representation will look like for the next generation.
Culture as Connection
The celebration extended beyond the keynote and panel.
The evening also featured student artwork, food, live music and salsa dancing, bringing the themes discussed onstage to life throughout Francis Hall.
With the PA Mambo Orchestra performing, Martínez joined members of the Alvernia community on the dance floor—ending the evening with the same spirit of connection and cultural pride that shaped the program.
The moment reflected the broader message of Latinos Unidos: Latino identity is expressed not only through conversations about representation, but also through music, movement, food, art and shared experiences.
It was a night for serious reflection, but also for joy.
More Than a Celebration
Events like Latinos Unidos create opportunities for students to see their histories and identities recognized within academic and public spaces.
They also remind institutions that representation must extend beyond heritage-month programming. Meaningful inclusion requires listening to students, investing in their leadership and creating spaces where they can speak for themselves.
The evening at Alvernia accomplished something especially important: it connected personal storytelling with collective possibility.
One journalist shared the journey that shaped his voice. Students shared the experiences shaping theirs. And the community came together to celebrate where those voices can lead next.
Latinos unidos, somos más.
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