Conversations on Identity and Politics with NC Representative Ricky Hurtado

Join us for a chat with Ricky Hurtado, the first Latinx-identifying person elected to the North Carolina house of representatives. Ricky will share his own story of identifying as Latinx in North Carolina, his trail-blazing work in one of North Carolina's most historically anti-Latino counties, and what he has learned during his time in office as a Latinx politician. The session will be live-streamed, but we invite those who are able to attend in person.

A son of working-class immigrants, Ricky grew up in rural North Carolina and is a product of public schools. A first-generation college student, Ricky's dream finally came true when he was accepted into UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. He found his passion for public service while at UNC, mentoring other high school students who grew up in similar circumstances and were working hard to make their own dreams come true. He attended graduate school at Princeton University, focusing on how to create effective public policy to fight poverty and inequality and build strong, vibrant communities. After a brief time as a consultant and policy analyst supporting nonprofits and foundations across the country, Ricky became an instructor at UNC Chapel Hill and is co-executive director of an education initiative helping other first-generation college students and immigrant families break down barriers to educational opportunity.