Latinidad Award Nominees
Over the last several years, Nancy has served as a translator for the City of Knoxville, lent her talents to multiple departments at Centro Hispano, and recently became a College and Career Access Coach with Project GRAD at Fulton High School. Going back to her alma mater has made her realize her passion for helping students and giving back to her community.
One of her proudest accomplishments was helping to coordinate Fulton’s first ever Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly, an event which included poetry readings, community speakers, and traditional dancing and singing with the aim of spreading awareness and appreciation for Latino culture. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her pet bunny, Pelusa.
Victoria Peña is an alumna of the University of Tennessee twice over, earning a Master of Science in Teacher Education with a concentration in Special Education. An avid problem solver, she enjoys supporting children in finding the solutions to their success, and she is passionate about advocating for the children of marginalized communities.
Victoria has worked as a Special Educator; in the Pre-Kindergarten Special Education Department, where she specialized in early childhood; and is utilizing her expertise in behavioral strategies and supports for the classroom as KCS Behavior Liaison for the 2023-24 school year. Victoria is involved with the Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals, dedicates many hours to the children in Centro Hispano’s afterschool programs, and mentors undergraduate members of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, where she serves as the alumna advisor.
Victoria believes that “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” and strives to positively impact those around her every day.
Her practice specializes in the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders for children and adults. Her office offers a space where all clients can feel welcome, safe, and their cultural values are honored. Dedicated to increasing access to mental health services for Latinos in Tennessee, Maria is passionate about providing culturally sensitive mental health care and helping Latino families navigate the mental health care system. She offers community education on mental health and works with Centro Hispano to ensure that clients have access to effective and low-cost mental health services.
Comunidad Award Nominees
The McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville brings together collections in natural history, art, and culture to create a space for convergence, discovery, and collaboration. Its mission is to share stories and facilitate the exchange of ideas to awaken curiosity in service of the university and communities connected to Tennessee.
McClung’s commitment to creating inclusive spaces and bridging barriers has resulted in a number of beloved programs that enrich the entire community. Its fall exhibition, “The Spirit of Día de los Muertos” was a vibrant, community-led display featuring installations by local Latino/Latina/Latinx artists. To deepen cross-cultural understanding and connections to Día de los Muertos, the exhibition included free programming such as a Spanish-language screening of the Disney movie Coco; a family day offering bilingual tours, art activities, educational programming, and storytime in collaboration with Knox County Public Library; and a teacher workshop to further educate Knox County educators about Día de los Muertos.
Another notable program is McClung’s ¡Vamos al Museo! (Let’s Go to the Museum!), which provides complimentary guided tours, presentations, and activities conducted entirely in Spanish, helping to ensure that the museum is an accessible and welcoming space for all. Special thanks to the Museum’s Curator of Education, Leslie Chang-Jantz, who spearheaded much of the above programming as part of her deep commitment to empowering educators, promoting cultural exchange, and fostering a sense of belonging.
Muse offers a wide range of interactive exhibits, programs, and events designed to encourage exploration and discovery in various fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). From engaging exhibits that allow children to experiment with physics, biology, and engineering principles, to family labs and childcare camps that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, Muse strives to provide a dynamic and inclusive environment where all children can learn, play, and grow.
Through its dedication to hands-on learning and genuine belonging efforts, Muse Knoxville aims to ignite a lifelong passion for learning in young minds, cultivating the next generation of innovators, scientists, and leaders. With Spanish translations around all museum spaces, the development of a culturally relevant parent support playgroup and bilingual STEM kits for socioemotional growth, plus free Family Access Pass memberships and summer camp scholarships for Centro families, the Muse has demonstrated its commitment to inclusion and equity by working diligently to diversify its programs, exhibit offerings, and membership.
HoLa’s mission is to promote unity in the community by creating bridges between the Hispanic/LatinX communities and the community at large through art, culture, education and leadership. HoLa was founded in 1992 as Hora Latina where members of the Hispanic/LatinX community discussed and introduced others to the colorful cultures of Latin America and Spain. In 2002, HoLa Hora Latina was born to continue this mission, and the first HoLa Festival was introduced to the Knoxville community and beyond. In 2022, an estimated 15,000 people attended!
