A Letter from the Editor <3
A reflection on the people, places, and experiences that inspired La EsquinitaNC
Dear amigx,
Gracias por estar aquí.
Before you explore La Esquinita, I wanted to share a little about the people, places, and experiences that inspired it.
As a first-generation college graduate, I was the first in my family to navigate the American education system. When I began exploring college in high school, I relied on the people around me—students, educators, and community leaders who generously shared what they knew. They taught me that knowledge grows when it's shared, and that one conversation can change someone's future.
In 2025, I was accepted into the Education Policy and Analysis program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Learning alongside educators and researchers from across the globe showed me that while our communities face different challenges, many of us are working toward the same goal: creating more equitable opportunities for all learners. It also reminded me that some of the most powerful solutions don't always begin in policy—they begin in communities.
They begin with people—neighbors, teachers, families, mentors, and communities willing to share what they know and open doors for someone else.
Growing Up
I grew up between Winston-Salem and High Point, North Carolina, as the daughter of immigrants. My parents worked incredibly hard to provide for our family, and though they didn't have high school diplomas or college degrees, they possessed a wealth of practical knowledge and resilience.
They taught me the importance of community and the power of looking out for one another.
Learning to Navigate
I graduated from High Point Central and later earned my Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Guilford College. My own educational journey was shaped by the people who shared their knowledge with me. I often felt like I had started learning about opportunities "late," but through my relationships and networks, I began to understand how to navigate systems that were not always easy to access. I learned how to apply to college, find resources, and recognize opportunities that were often hidden within the process.
The "opportunities" were there—but not everyone had the keys to access them.
Over time, I realized that many of my Latino peers did not have access to those same networks or information.
Paying It Forward
Latinx Graduation at Guilford College
In the Spring of 2022, my friends and I created the first-ever Latinx Graduation at Guilford College, held entirely in Spanish. More than a graduation ceremony, it was a celebration of the village that helped us get there—our parents, families, mentors, and community members whose sacrifices often go unseen. It was our way of saying, "Estamos aquí." We belong here, and our stories, languages, and cultures deserve to be celebrated alongside our achievements.
Building Community Through Mentorship
This belief inspired me to create a mentorship program at Guilford College in the Fall of 2022 as my senior contribution project. I wanted to create a space where students could ask questions, share resources, and learn from one another—because I knew firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone takes the time to pass along what they know.
Becoming a Maestra
In 2023, I was accepted into Teach For America and moved to Houston's East End to serve as a middle school social studies teacher. Teaching reminded me that education is about far more than academics; it's about helping students imagine what's possible for themselves. I wanted every student to know about the opportunities available to them—not just the ones that were easy to find, but also the ones hidden within systems, relationships, and communities. My time in the classroom reinforced my commitment to educational equity and deepened my belief that knowledge should be shared, not gatekept.
Looking Beyond
"Many of the solutions we need are already around us."
The more I reflected on my own journey, the more I realized that every opportunity I'd found could be traced back to someone who chose to share what they knew.
At the same time, I couldn't ignore how often that knowledge remained scattered across conversations, organizations, websites, and networks. Too often, access depended on knowing the right person or asking the right question.
I couldn't stop thinking:
What if everything we needed existed in one place?
Latinx Graduation at Guilford College
In the Spring of 2022, my friends and I created the first-ever Latinx Graduation at Guilford College, held entirely in Spanish. More than a graduation ceremony, it was a celebration of the village that helped us get there—our parents, families, mentors, and community members whose sacrifices often go unseen. It was our way of saying, "Estamos aquí." We belong here, and our stories, languages, and cultures deserve to be celebrated alongside our achievements.
Building Community Through Mentorship
This belief inspired me to create a mentorship program at Guilford College in the Fall of 2022 as my senior contribution project. I wanted to create a space where students could ask questions, share resources, and learn from one another—because I knew firsthand how life-changing it can be when someone takes the time to pass along what they know.
Becoming a Maestra
In 2023, I was accepted into Teach For America and moved to Houston's East End to serve as a middle school social studies teacher. Teaching reminded me that education is about far more than academics; it's about helping students imagine what's possible for themselves. I wanted every student to know about the opportunities available to them—not just the ones that were easy to find, but also the ones hidden within systems, relationships, and communities. My time in the classroom reinforced my commitment to educational equity and deepened my belief that knowledge should be shared, not gatekept.
In 2025, I was accepted into the Education Policy and Analysis program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Learning alongside educators and researchers from across the globe showed me that while our communities face different challenges, many of us are working toward the same goal: creating more equitable opportunities for all learners. It also reminded me that some of the most powerful solutions don't always begin in policy—they begin in communities.
They begin with people—neighbors, teachers, families, mentors, and communities willing to share what they know and open doors for someone else.
"Many of the solutions we need are already around us."
I couldn't stop thinking:
What if everything we needed existed in one place?
The more I reflected on my own journey, the more I realized that every opportunity I'd found could be traced back to someone who chose to share what they knew.
At the same time, I couldn't ignore how often that knowledge remained scattered across conversations, organizations, websites, and networks. Too often, access depended on knowing the right person or asking the right question.
Looking Beyond
Looking Beyond
The more I reflected on my own journey, the more I realized that every opportunity I'd found could be traced back to someone who chose to share what they knew.
At the same time, I couldn't ignore how often that knowledge remained scattered across conversations, organizations, websites, and networks. Too often, access depended on knowing the right person or asking the right question.
In 2025, I was accepted into the Education Policy and Analysis program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Learning alongside educators and researchers from across the globe showed me that while our communities face different challenges, many of us are working toward the same goal: creating more equitable opportunities for all learners. It also reminded me that some of the most powerful solutions don't always begin in policy—they begin in communities.
They begin with people—neighbors, teachers, families, mentors, and communities willing to share what they know and open doors for someone else.
"Many of the solutions we need are already around us."
I couldn't stop thinking:
What if everything we needed existed in one place?
Con Cariño,
That question is the foundation of my work.
I created La Esquinita as a space inspired by the communities that raised me — a place where culture, knowledge, and opportunity come together. A place where we recognize that our communities have always had the ingredients to help one another thrive.
This was created with you in mind.
I hope you see pieces of yourself in these pages. I hope you discover a resource that opens a door, a story that reminds you you're not alone, or an opportunity you choose to share with someone else.
Most of all, I hope you make this little corner of the internet your own.
La Esquinita has never been just about sharing information—it's about ensuring that knowledge, opportunity, and community are accessible to everyone, because we all deserve the chance to thrive.
Starlynn Mendez
What if we created something like la tiendita en la esquina—the corner store where people come not only for what they need, but for connection, guidance, and a sense of belonging?
