Gracia Manzanares-Torres: 2014 TXF Intern

Gracia Manzanares-Torres is a rising junior at Williams College where she is majoring in English Literature and minoring in Latino/a Studies. During her junior year at LBJ High School, Gracia was part of the program Stories from Deep in The Heart along with two of her peers. She worked on an audio story that dealt with her parents' immigration story and the cultural changes that they experienced in leaving San Luis Potosi, Mexico and coming to Texas. She is interning at Texas Folklife as part of  her Winter Study course on Field Work in Public Affairs and Private Non Profits. She is helping Texas Folklife with Archives, Big Squeeze and other tasks that need to be completed. 

Gracia enjoys giving back to her community and being an active member of the student body at Williams College. During her freshman year, she served as Events Coordinator for Vista the Latino/a organization. She is now Vista's Community Organizer. With Vista, Gracia engages in dialogues and helps organize events to educate the Williams community on Latino/a culture and important issues. Gracia also enjoys writing lyrics and this Fall 2013 served as the Financial Officer of All Acoustic Alliance (AAA) at Williams College. AAA promotes live music and collaboration among student musicians and organizes coffeehouses and other performance events for musicians to participate in.