Empowering, Bold, Eccentric —
Three words that embody the message of power that The Tiarra Girls, a group of young Latina sisters that express their stories through their music.
“Our mission as a band is to be a voice for people that can’t be one for themselves and to make ourselves visible to the community by showing everyone that Mexican Americans and POC are talented, intelligent, and fierce.”
Tori Baltierra, a third of The Tiarra Girls, is an alum from Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, and three-time Austin Music Award winner. Her band spreads the message of empowerment and unity through headphones, speakers, and in the streets of Austin.
“Living in a democracy is a privilege and it gives you the power to change the country for yourself, your family, and the little ones who want to grow up in a world that will support them.”
Tori Baltierra
While in high school at the Ann Richards School, Baltierra was surrounded by opportunities to join groups that encourage students to apply leadership skills outside of the classroom. “My civics education was very informative. I was able to learn a lot about how I can be involved in creating change as a young person,” Baltierra says. The Ann Richards School is one of the few schools in Texas that provides a strong foundation for civics education to its students with hands-on projects, partnerships, and student participation to actively contribute to their community.
“Ann Richards gave me a better understanding of civil and social issues by empowering me and giving me outlets to advocate for my community while educating myself about these issues,” says Baltierra. Her experience and current activism is a prime example of what implementing a comprehensive and innovative civics education program into a school curriculum can accomplish.
“It had a great impact on my habits and helped me stay aware to not let the political climate make me feel powerless, especially as a young person about to vote for the first time.”
Students are required to complete service hours, which consists of 100 hours of community service, by partnering with local non-profit organizations and working on projects that give back and help their community, “Every year, we’re required to complete service hours and reflect on our experience. I think that component made me aware of my impact on the community, even if it was as small as planting a few trees.”
Creating a culture of voting that is consistent, loud, and continues after election day is the reform needs to turnout the vote. Voting rights are under attack in Texas through legislation that has led to low voter turnout and under-representation. “It irks me that people think their vote doesn’t count because your vote is your voice, and it has so much potential to fix the injustices of the world,” Baltierra says. We must encourage voting in Texas and instill the importance of voting at a young age by connecting the importance of voting to the community, where “your vote counts” is no longer a figure of speech, but a concrete result.
“Your vote is your voice, and it has so much potential to fix the injustices of the world.”