Barrier Breaker: Maria Aguilar Rodriguez

It’s been 16 years since Maria Aguilar Rodriguez left Mexico for a better life and a career in the United States, but she still remembers the challenges of adjusting to a new country, a new language, and a new culture.

Today, Rodriguez uses her own experiences to help others in her job as a program coordinator with the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock, Arkansas. Rodriguez assists immigrants from Mexico to the United States, matching them with financial, educational, and healthcare services. Between the main office and a “consulate on wheels” program, the Mexican Consulate serves as many as 200 people per day.

Rodriguez works hand-in-hand with Crece con HOPE (Grow with HOPE), a program that provides financial services designed specifically for Spanish-speaking immigrants. Rodriguez can recommend HOPE to her clients with confidence; a loan from HOPE allowed her to launch a small side business selling packaged meals made from her own recipes.

“HOPE is a very important partner for the Consulate,” Rodriguez says. “We have the same mission – to make sure people have a good quality of life here. These immigrants are hard workers. We want to see them buy homes, build their credit scores, and start successful businesses in America. By helping immigrants navigate financial matters, HOPE is helping them navigate life in this country.”