For the first time, the Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) is partnering with a school in the Irving Independent School District.
The school district's demographics have changed dramatically over the years with Hispanic students becoming the majority at most schools.
Asusena Resendiz, the President of the IHCC, said her goal was to encourage and to empower.
"This wasn't their choice. They didn't have a choice to be born into an economically-challenged situation," she said.
Marcela Montes, a counselor at the Pierce Early Childhood School, said the 4- and 5-year-olds had a lot in common.
"For the children to be able to qualify in our school, they have to be low English proficiency and/or low socioeconomic income. So we have a combination of both in a lot of our students," said Montes.
In addition to these factors, many of the students share another similarity. Montes said the Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was a great fit since 90 percent of the 665 students on-campus are Hispanic.
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"It truly represents the population we have in our school," Montes said.
Resendiz added the partnership is aimed at helping students as well as their parents.
"When you mentor the parents that are doing the best they can at home, that probably have two to three jobs, that are just still making ends meet, we need to let them know that they are not alone," she said.
Montes said even a simple act of reading a story can have a lasting impact in so many lives.
"You're reading a story, you're modeling good vocabulary, you're modeling good language. You're modeling help in the community, you're modeling, 'Look, I'm successful. I'm here. I'm willing to help you," she said.
The IHCC and Irving ISD will celerate their partnership Wednesday afternoon at a signing ceremony at Pierce.
Irving ISD currently has over 200 partners district-wide, including companies like Atmos Energy, Frito Lay, and Verizon.
IHCC will be the seventh partnership added this year.
