Who We Are.
Daniel O. Hernandez
Founder
Daniel O. Hernandez is a public affairs professional, community activist, and public speaker. A native of Marfa, Texas, Daniel is passionate about advocating for underrepresented communities and amplifying historically undertold stories.
Daniel’s career spans more than a decade working in strategic communications, public service, news media, and volunteerism. His leadership and strategic acumen are rooted in his upbringing and leveraged in service of mission-aligned clients and organizations.
Daniel is also the president of the Blackwell School Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the historic preservation of the former de facto segregated school for Mexican Americans in his hometown.
Daniel currently resides in Dallas.
In Action.
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Blackwell School: History behind Hispanic segregation in Texas
September 2023 | The now historic site is in Marfa, Texas. The site shares the stories of when "separate but equal" dominated American schools.
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Weekend Perspectives: Blackwell School National Historic Site
January 2023 | Host Louie Saenz welcomes Dr. Frank Perez, Carrie Dupry and Daniel Hernandez to discuss the new historical site in Marfa, TX, Blackwell School.
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Former students of the once-segregated Texas school describe receiving a 'whack of the paddle' for speaking Spanish
September 2022 | Blackwell School alumni work to put their story of segregation on a national platform.
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Marfa’s Blackwell School given national historic status
September 2022 | During a time of de facto segregation in Texas education, the building served Mexican American students for more than 50 years.
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Unburying the Past
Summer 2022 | The Blackwell School, a rare remnant of segregation in West Texas, is poised to become the next national park site.
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Marfa’s Blackwell School, site of de facto segregation, nears federal recognition
December 2021 | Now a community gathering place, the Blackwell School was one of many like it in the borderlands region.
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COLUMN: Texas still fails to recognize the history of all her people
October 2021 | Some months ago, I experienced a rude awakening with what I understood to be “my history.”
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Proposed Texas Historic Site Would Tell Story of Latino School Segregation
For much of the 20th century, Latino students in the tiny Texas borderlands town of Marfa – like many of their peers across the Southwest – were not allowed to go to the same school as white children.
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Marfa and beautiful West Texas struggle to strike a balance between tourism and coronavirus
September 2020 | COVID-19 has forced the town to cancel the annual Marfa Lights Festival held over the Labor Day weekend, which usually features food trucks, live music and plenty of dancing.
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Op Ed: Stay Home, Marfa’s Closed: An Open Letter to the Houston Chronicle
March 2020 | The Big Bend Region of our state is a place like no other.
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Connected Nation
September 2018 | From Dial Up to Fiber: How Connected Helped Anchor an Arts Community
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NPR Extra
Rural Texas Station Critical Resource During Recent WildfireDescription goes here
Speaking Engagements.
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General Mills
Familia Leadership Development Summit | Unlocking Your Integrated Identity
October 2023 -
Green Latinos
National Summit
June 2023 -
National Parks Conservation Association
NPCA Park Talk | New Ways to Connect with and Explore our National Parks
April 2023 -
National Parks Conservation Association
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Mexican American Civil Rights Institute
MACRI Talks | Learning About Mexican American Civil Rights Sites