To qualify for a Humanities Texas grant, a humanities advisor must be involved in the planning and implementation of the activities. The humanities advisor for Barrio Fest will be Dr. Nicolas C. Garcia, a Fort Stockton High School graduate class of 2004 who went on to earn his PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Garcia will moderate two discussions during the Barrio Fest weekend. The first discussion will be on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Butz Education Center. The topic will focus on the educational experience of the Hispanic community prior to integration.

The second discussion will be held on Saturday from 5-6 p.m. at Joe’s Place. Descendants of some workers who came to Fort Stockton through the Bracero Program in the 1950s will tell their first-hand experiences of this work program that added greatly to Fort Stockton’s economic development.

When asked to comment about why he agreed to return to Fort Stockton and take part in Barrio Fest, Garcia said about his and his family’s educational experiences in Fort Stockton, “How do you measure one’s success? How do we measure our own success? For some, success means earning a college degree or being the first in their family to do so. For others, it’s getting out of a socioeconomic bracket. For me, success meant fulfilling the dreams my parents wanted for me - a happy life. As a Fort Stockton native, I carry the values this beautiful town has instilled in me. Your reputation will always follow you and the way you treat others is how people will remember you.

“I could never have dreamed of living this successful life if it wasn’t for my childhood experiences, and the belief others had in me. I’m proud to say my parents have two children who have earned doctoral degrees, and identify as proud Americans from Mexican ancestry. For all the youth who have dreams of their own and wish to be successful, just know anything is possible with faith, belief, grit, resilience and gumption. The importance of knowing your history and the impact it has on the future can determine how you approach your goals of being your own success.”