Francisco Guajardo

executive director, Llano Grande Center

As executive director of the Llano Grande Center for Research, a nonprofit organization based in the rural south Texas community of Elsa, Francisco Guajardo works to create community-based microenterprises that honor and celebrate the experiences and stories of rural people and communities. Much of his efforts focus on training teachers and school leaders who work in rural schools across south Texas and on building leadership skills of youth and other community members in the area. He has presented and conducted training on community youth development and public education across Texas and the U.S., as well as in Mexico, Sweden, Austria and Italy. Specifically, Guajardo has led efforts to develop a Spanish-language immersion institute in a rural south Texas community. He also directed an initiative to create a digital storytelling center for community change in rural south Texas. Most recently, Guajardo is involved in digital storytelling training for educators and community activists. In conjunction with his work at the Llano Grande Center for Research and Development, Guajardo serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Center for Rural Strategies. He also is an active fellow in the south Texas Kellogg Leadership for Community Change Initiative.