Hispanic Heritage Month at BBHH: Meet Adriana Amaya

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, BBHH is featuring our own Program Director Adriana Amaya.

Photographed by Monica Reyes Photography

God sent Adriana Amaya to Brother Bill's in March of 2022. Adriana had been working in radio for 12 years when she went back to school to get her bachelors in political science and master's in public administration. Within radio, she always spoke about public affairs, putting out shows that dealt with community organization and social awareness. Adriana says, "It wasn't entertainment, it was help" for her listeners. She wanted to do more for the people.

She was born in Monterey, Mexico, and came to the US when she was ten years old and lived in the Webb Chapel neighborhood. She says that "in her neighborhood, there were a lot of organizations that came by the apartments and school" and that "different ministries came to offer help." As a child, Adriana was captivated by the generosity of humanity, and she wanted to give back. Adriana says, "Not everything you do has to deal with the tangible sense; you can give joy, you can give love those [intangible] things with a ripple effect," and that was what she was called to do.

Photograph by Monica Reyes Photography

After recording weekly radio shows for years, Adriana knew that "these shows need to be played more than once" and transitioned into developing a series of podcasts.

In her debut podcast Tu Comunidad con Adriana, Adriana interviews with experts in their fields to answer questions about topics nobody else seems to be addressing. The most popular podcast within the series featured surgeon, Dr. Castro. The podcast covered the dos and don'ts of surgery, and how to find the right doctor. Other topics in the series include finding English classes to reading apps, budgeting, and domestic violence. Adriana also collaborates with other podcasts, bringing that community aspect to the table. 

Tu Comunidad con Adriana can be found on Spotify or Apple. She is currently working on several new podcasts, primarily her podcast about higher education, a confusing yet critical subject for her audience. There is not a clear path to higher education for some Latinos, Adriana says, "When it is talked about from the perspective of someone from the community versus the professors or outreach team from the university, it makes more sense." To be this mouthpiece for her community, she takes advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. For example, The City of Dallas was offering free English and GED classes for one year. Adriana says that "she was so pumped," and one of her coworkers at the radio station asked her why she was so excited because Adriana was fluent in English and had a master's degree. Adriana replied and said that "at one point, [she] didn't have either and wanted everybody in the community to be able to access it," to make education "a choice, an option." 

Adriana hopes for her podcast to be picked up by radio stations so that it is played in the grocery store, or while waiting in the doctor's office, anywhere that there is a high Hispanic population. She sees the podcast helping more and more people and more and more people getting involved in the podcast as well. 

Through her podcast, Adriana answers and addresses the questions and topics that everybody has, but nobody knows how to find the resources and solutions. When Adriana was looking for help when she was a young mother, she "wishes she knew of all of the services available to help her, like the ones they have here at Brother Bill's." 

Adriana has been married for almost 13 years. She worked full-time to put herself through school while simultaneously being a new mother. She has overcome adversity throughout her life. She says that "[she] hasn't given up because [she] wants to be at the table where decisions are made, not for [her], but for the community." Adriana hears the community and wants to be their voice in those conversations that can change people's lives.