Gladys Godínez: Rural Advocate, Storyteller, and Voice for the Invisible
When Gladys Godínez co-founded the high school activist group Nuestro Futuro (Our Future), she was still a teenager, but already, she had begun to reshape narratives in Lexington, Nebraska. Today, she carries that same spirit forward as an organizer, broadcaster, and defender of immigrant and worker rights across rural Nebraska.
Born in Guatemala City, Godínez moved with her family to the U.S. in 1989, eventually settling in Lexington after a stint in Inglewood, California. The transition was jarring: mid-December transfers, harsh cold not expected for a girl from warmer climes, and the task of learning a new language and culture while carrying the urgency to belong.
By age 15, she and her peers launched Nuestro Futuro, pushing back on disrespectful portrayals of Latino youth and demanding space in school and local dialogue.
In Lexington, where 60–70% of residents are Latino, she saw firsthand that rural narratives rarely include the people who give these towns life, immigrant workers, families, cultures.
In recent years, she helped found United by Culture Media (formally incorporated in 2021), a nonprofit and media outlet that lifts rural Latino voices via storytelling, podcasts, and local journalism. She hosts Courageous Mujer, a podcast dedicated to sharing personal stories of Latinas across Nebraska, blending personal reflection, policy, and community uplift.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Godínez mobilized quickly. When workers at the local Tyson meatpacking plant faced outbreaks and unsafe conditions, she was one of the first to call for transparency, paid leave, and protection for employees.
She worked behind the scenes organizing resources, legal clinics, and network responses, drawing on a foundation she had already built with rural organizing efforts. Her advocacy has been recognized widely: in 2023, the ACLU of Nebraska honored her with its Defender of the Bill of Rights Award for her work advancing civil liberties and rural voice.
Through Inclusive Communities, Gladys and Rose Godínez have been honored as ‘Humanitarians of the Year’, a recognition that underscores their ongoing commitment to building bridges, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering a Nebraska where everyone is welcomed with dignity.
Gladys insists on making rural Nebraska visible to America. She has publicly said the fight is not only about policy, but about dignity, inclusion, and being seen: “I want younger Latinos … to feel welcomed in their hometown because they grow up here.”
Her legacy is still unfolding: a life built out of crossing borders, creating bridges, and giving voice to those always assumed invisible.
Do you know someone whose story should be told — a mentor, educator, entrepreneur, veteran, artist, or advocate who has made a lasting difference in the Latino community? Please share their name and a little about their journey with us.
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