Ruby never imagined that growing up in one of Houston’s most polluted neighborhoods would lead her to become a youth organizer. As a child, she thought breathing issues and asthma were normal—until she participated in the Youth Summit.

“The community I grew up in was at a disadvantage in terms of accessibility to clean air and resources,” Ruby said. “At the youth summit I attended, we did a tour of the most polluted parts of Houston, and they ended up taking us to my neighborhood.”

That experience made her determined to figure out what system caused her neighborhood to be in that position and commit to youth civic engagement. Today, Ruby is the Youth Organizer for Mi Familia en Acción (MFA) in South-Central Texas, which provides programming to students in Houston and Austin.

“My role as a youth organizer mostly involves impacting educational spaces. I go into different schools, from middle school through college,” she explains. For middle school students, MFA conducts nonpartisan crash courses on democracy, including collaboration with the Girl Scouts, so that students can earn a government patch. At the high school level, Ruby assists students in starting civic and service-based clubs, and at the college level, she assists with leadership development and internships.

Ruby also provides students with a chance to be exposed to civic life. “Part of my job is to facilitate trips to Austin to the state Capitol, where [high school students] get to meet their representatives. For many, this is their first time in Austin, and they leave feeling empowered.”

The philosophy she goes by is simple: “Educate, empower, and mobilize. You have to educate people, and then after you’ve educated someone then you can empower them. And then that’s when Mi Familia en Acción comes in, and we help mobilize those people who feel empowered.”

She was straightforward when questioned about what she considers the most important issues for young Latinos in Texas. “Immigration is the main one because it’s the most televised, and it is the number one issue that was associated with our recent presidential election.”

Despite all obstacles, Ruby remains inspired by going back to her mission. “I think every person should have their own mission statement. What do you stand for? What are the personal morals you carry throughout the work you do, and essentially, that’s what keeps me motivated. ”

She has a clear message to young Latinos. “There are some people out there who want to advocate for themselves, but it’s not safe for them to do so, and so when you’re in a position where you can, I deeply encourage you to find the courage to speak up. So if the only thing that’s stopping you from speaking up is fear, that’s a privilege.”