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Building with Purpose: How FWHCC Is Strategically Shaping the Future for Businesses

By | blog, FWHCC News | No Comments

The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to release our 2026 Annual Impact Report, a powerful reflection of how far we have come — and a clear signal of where we are headed.

Over the past two years, our Chamber has undergone a significant transformation. We have moved from being primarily an event-driven organization to becoming a data-driven, impact-focused, and systems-minded institution that is deeply committed to understanding the real needs of businesses and designing solutions that create measurable results.

This report is not just a summary of activity — it is a blueprint for how we are building a Chamber that creates wealth, strengthens businesses, and positions our community for long-term economic success.

A Period of Rapid Innovation and Expansion

In just the past two years, the FWHCC has launched over 17 new initiatives, marking one of the most ambitious periods of innovation in our organization’s history.

These initiatives were not created in isolation. They were informed by research, member feedback, and a deep commitment to addressing the biggest challenges our businesses face — from capital access and workforce development to procurement readiness, leadership development, and systems building.

Among our most significant achievements during this period:

  • 10 new committees were formed, expanding our leadership structure and creating more opportunities for members, board leaders, and community partners to engage meaningfully in our work. These committees ensure that our advocacy, programming, and strategic priorities are shaped by diverse perspectives and deep expertise.

  • 6 brand-new programs were launched, each designed to meet a specific need within our business ecosystem. These include initiatives focused on:

    • Capital access and funding readiness

    • Entrepreneur incubation and pitch development

    • Contractor and service business readiness

    • Leadership development

    • Workforce and talent pipeline building

    • Supplier and procurement alignment

Together, these programs form a cohesive framework that supports entrepreneurs at every stage — from idea to scale to sustainability.

Building a Chamber That Understands Businesses Better Than Anyone

A central theme of this year’s Impact Report is our commitment to becoming the organization that best understands the needs of businesses in North Texas.

To do this, we have embedded assessment and data collection into everything we do. We now use structured tools like our Build Smart and Service Smart assessments to diagnose business bottlenecks, identify strengths, and tailor support accordingly.

Rather than guessing what businesses need, we are letting the data — and the voices of our members — guide our programming.

This approach allows us to:

  • Design workshops that address real, current business challenges

  • Connect members to the right partners, capital, and resources

  • Track progress over time and demonstrate tangible impact

  • Create a feedback loop that continuously improves our services

Our annual baseline assessment, combined with real-time webinar assessments, ensures that our work is always grounded in the lived experiences of our entrepreneurs.

From Programs to Pathways

One of the most exciting developments highlighted in the report is how our initiatives are becoming interconnected.

Programs like Lanzar, Capital Tandas, Valor Pitch Practice, and our Pitch Competition are no longer standalone offerings — they are becoming part of a cohesive entrepreneur pathway.

This shift lays the foundation for what will become our Lanzar Incubator, a year-long experience that integrates education, capital readiness, mentorship, assessments, and community building into one seamless journey for business owners.

Our goal is simple but bold: when someone enters the FWHCC ecosystem, they should never feel lost. Instead, they should experience a clear, structured, and supportive pathway toward growth and sustainability.

A Collective Effort

None of this progress would have been possible without our dedicated board, staff, members, partners, and sponsors.

From our corporate supporters to our grassroots entrepreneurs, from our government allies to our philanthropic partners — this Impact Report represents a shared commitment to economic opportunity, inclusion, and community prosperity.

Every program launched, every assessment completed, every workshop delivered, and every dollar invested reflects a belief that when businesses thrive, our entire region benefits.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the next phase of our work, this Impact Report serves as both a celebration and a call to action.

We are not slowing down.

In the coming year, we will continue refining our incubator model, strengthening our committees, expanding our capital access strategies, and deepening our data-driven approach to impact.

We invite our members, partners, and community to read the full report, reflect on our progress, and join us in shaping what comes next.

Together, we are building more than a Chamber — we are building an ecosystem that creates opportunity and generational wealth for entrepreneurs in Fort Worth and beyond.

Read the full 2026 Annual Impact Report here:2026 Annual Impact Report

 

Educacion Fort Worth ISD-Artículo de Opinión para el Fort Worth Star-Telegram

By | FWHCC News | No Comments

Por el liderazgo de la Cámara de Comercio de Fort Worth, la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Fort Worth y la Cámara de Comercio Metropolitana Afro-Americana de Fort Worth

La intervención del estado en nuestras escuelas públicas no fue el Plan A para Fort Worth. Los texanos valoran el control local, y nosotros también. Nuestra comunidad se enorgullece de gobernarse a sí misma, resolver sus propios problemas y dar forma a su propio futuro.

La palabra “intervención” significa interferir en un resultado o en el curso de los acontecimientos. Cualquier tipo de intervención puede resultar alarmante e inquietante. Pero la verdad es esta: el Distrito Escolar Independiente de Fort Worth (FWISD) ha tenido dificultades académicas durante demasiado tiempo, y nuestros niños están pagando el precio.

Este no es un problema de un solo año ni de una sola escuela. El plantel de FWISD que activó la intervención estatal ha recibido una calificación inaceptable todos los años, excepto uno, desde 2013. A nivel distrital:

  • Solo el 34% de los estudiantes de FWISD cumplen con los estándares de grado en lectura y matemáticas, lo que representa un rezago de 12 a 14 puntos porcentuales frente a distritos urbanos grandes comparables en Texas, en comparación con el 46% de los estudiantes de Dallas ISD y el 50% de los estudiantes de Houston ISD.

  • En 2025, 39 de las 125 escuelas de FWISD recibieron calificación D o F, 27 de ellas por tercer año consecutivo. Este año hay 5,790 niños de Fort Worth en escuelas con calificación F.

  • Solo el 14% de los estudiantes de 8.º grado de FWISD obtendrán un título universitario de 2 o 4 años, y los estudios muestran que los jóvenes adultos sin un título después de la preparatoria tienen solo un 12% de probabilidad de ganar un salario digno.

Estas no son estadísticas abstractas. Representan a miles de niños cuyas oportunidades futuras están siendo limitadas antes de llegar a la adultez. Para los niños de nuestra ciudad, estos resultados pueden reducir significativamente su acceso a la vida y a las oportunidades que desean y merecen. Y para nuestra ciudad, existen consecuencias significativas a largo plazo en áreas como la fuerza laboral, el desarrollo económico, la pobreza, la justicia penal y mucho más. Para nuestros niños, su capacidad de leer, escribir y hacer matemáticas es determinante para el futuro de nuestra fuerza laboral, su posibilidad de mantener a una familia y la salud pública en general.

Hoy, Fort Worth se encuentra en una encrucijada. Como líderes de la comunidad empresarial de Fort Worth, reconocemos que la intervención estatal ha llegado a FWISD, y la pregunta central es cómo hacer que funcione para nuestra ciudad. En su mejor versión, la intervención ofrece la oportunidad de cambiar el statu quo y generar mejoras significativas. Creemos que nuestra ciudad puede aprovechar este momento.

Por eso viajamos juntos a Houston ISD, el único otro distrito urbano grande en Texas que actualmente opera bajo una intervención estatal similar. No fuimos a Houston para confirmar una creencia preconcebida. Fuimos a aprender.

Lo que vimos fue innegable. Observamos maestros bien preparados enseñando con claridad, habilidad y energía. Los estudiantes estaban concentrados, retados y apoyados.

Vimos un distrito con un liderazgo sólido y la disposición de realizar cambios audaces para mejorar los resultados. En todos los niveles, hubo un compromiso inquebrantable de poner a los estudiantes primero—por encima de la política, por encima de la comodidad, por encima del miedo al cambio. Y los resultados son contundentes. El año previo a la intervención estatal, HISD tenía 30,295 niños en 56 escuelas con calificación F. Este año, HISD tiene cero escuelas con calificación F, y desde que existe el sistema de calificación, ningún estudiante de HISD asiste a una escuela con calificación F.

Nuestra visita fue inspiradora de distintas maneras para los miembros de nuestra delegación. Lo que nos unió fue el reconocimiento de que el progreso significativo es posible cuando el liderazgo se siente empoderado para actuar con urgencia y claridad.

Los niños de Fort Worth merecen esa misma urgencia, claridad y resultados. Como comunidad, debemos hacer que la intervención del estado funcione para nuestros niños y lograr un cambio generacional positivo para su futuro. Esto no se trata de ganar debates. Se trata de ganar futuros.

No llegamos a Houston con una opinión consensuada sobre la intervención estatal, pero regresamos con unanimidad en esta convicción: estamos entusiasmados con la oportunidad que tenemos frente a nosotros, y confiamos en que la acción audaz y el trabajo en equipo pueden generar resultados transformadores para nuestros niños y para nuestra ciudad.

STATEMENT FROM THE FORT WORTH CHAMBERS TEA INTERVENTION

By | Official Statements and Letters from the President | No Comments

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, DEC 17, 2025

Members of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce recently visited a New Education System school in Houston ISD with Superintendent Mike Miles and district leadership. Houston ISD is currently in the third year of mandated reform by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Following the school visit, Fort Worth business leaders released the following statement: A Fort Worth delegation visited a Houston ISD elementary school to learn firsthand how the TEA intervention is impacting students and teachers in the classroom. The delegation observed that Houston ISD students are engaged, teachers are focused, and all adults—from the classroom to the Superintendent–are being held accountable for student success.

Under Superintendent Miles’ leadership, the HISD budget has shifted to prioritize classroom instruction. District and campus leadership is engaged in the classroom to support and coach
teachers, and the ethos that every child can learn is evident. The bold systemic changes led by Superintendent Miles are positively changing the trajectory of the lives of children. We are inspired by and appreciative of the thousands of educational leaders in Houston who are implementing new practices elevating the standards for all students.

Through similar decisive and bold leadership, we are encouraged that the Fort Worth community will rise to the occasion for this generational opportunity to help all students reach their potential. We remain fully committed to supporting students, the district, and new school leadership as our community works together to ensure academic performance improves for every student.In partnership,

Ericka Garza
President & CEO
Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Launches Audaz Leadership Program to Strengthen Regional Leadership Pipeline

By | FWHCC News | No Comments
Fort Worth, TX — 11/26/2025 — The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has officially launched the Audaz Leadership Program, a cross-sector leadership initiative designed to equip emerging and established professionals with the skills, credentials, and mentorship necessary to excel in today’s rapidly evolving workforce.
The program builds upon the success of the Chamber’s mentorship initiative—the first phase in establishing a comprehensive leadership development ecosystem for North Texas. As the cost of higher education continues to rise, the Chamber recognizes that micro-credentials and targeted professional development will play a crucial role in advancing careers and expanding economic opportunity.
National data underscores the urgency of rethinking leadership development. Only 10% of executives believe their leadership training is effective68% of nonprofits struggle to find qualified leaders, and 72% of elected officials report feeling unprepared when first taking office. Meanwhile, career mobility is accelerating—Gen Z professionals now average employment across two industries within three years, and 21% of millennials change jobs annually.
“The workforce is changing faster than traditional leadership pathways can keep up,” said Gilberto Atayde, VP of Operations for FWHCC. “Audaz prepares professionals to lead across business, government, and nonprofit sectors—because tomorrow’s impact will require collaboration across all three.”
Developed in partnership with academic leaders and industry experts, the program focuses on skills identified by the Institute of Leadership Research at Texas Tech University’s Rawls College of Business, including strategic thinking, leading people, leveraging networks, negotiation, conflict management, coaching, goal setting, and change management.
For a program investment of $2,000, participants receive exceptional value, including:
  • Micro-credentials from Texas Tech University
  • Instruction from professors at Texas Tech, TCU, UT Arlington, and Texas A&M Law
  • Exclusive access to Harvard Online learning resources and certifications
  • A one-on-one mentor pairing for personalized guidance and career development
  • A cross-industry cohort learning experience built for long-term regional impact
The Audaz Leadership Program is designed for professionals seeking advancement, entrepreneurs striving to scale, and community leaders committed to strengthening Fort Worth’s economic future.
More information and program registration are available at:
https://fwhcc.org/programs/audaz-leadership/

Message From FWHCC’s President & CEO Regarding the FWISD Intervention

By | Official Statements and Letters from the President | No Comments

Dear Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Members,

The announcement from Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath marks a critical moment for Fort Worth ISD and for our community. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has stated that it will appoint a Board of Managers and a conservator to oversee the district and begin the process of selecting a new superintendent.

Throughout this period, we are grateful for the continued leadership of Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar, whose dedication is vital in providing stability and guidance for our students, educators, and families.

This transition will shape the future of our students, our workforce, and our local economy. Because of that, the voices serving on the new Board of Managers must reflect the full diversity of Fort Worth parents, business leaders, neighborhood advocates, civic leaders, and others who care deeply about student success and opportunity.

We encourage qualified community members to apply to serve on the Board of Managers through the TEA’s process at tea.texas.gov/board-of-managers. The deadline to apply is November 21, 2025.

Strong public schools are the foundation of a strong city. When students succeed, families are more stable, employers are stronger, and Fort Worth’s future is brighter. The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will continue to support efforts that strengthen academic achievement, career readiness, and equitable opportunity for every student in Fort Worth ISD.

We stand committed to working with families, educators, businesses, and civic partners to ensure every child in Fort Worth has access to the best education.

In partnership,
Ericka Garza
President & CEO
Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

 

Fort Worth Education Partnership FAQ – PDF