Among the vibrant colors, Ballet Folklorico, and food trucks at the 2024 Mexican Independence Day celebration held on Bagley Ave. in Mexicantown, Luz Acosta was a proud recipient of the prestigious Ohtli award. This award, a high distinction by the Mexican government, recognizes individuals who forge the path for others. Ohtli (pronounced “oh-tlee”) is Nahuatl (a language spoken by the Nahua people) for “path.” Acosta’s tireless work has empowered Mexicans living abroad.
“The Ohtli is one of the biggest awards that the Mexican government can give someone,” said Jesús Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Community Affairs Coordinator at the Mexican Consulate in Detroit. “We sent our nomination to Mexico and there, a jury looked over [Ms. Acosta’s] qualifications.”
Acosta, who serves as the Executive Director of La Casa Amiga – a Catholic non-profit organization based in Pontiac, Michigan – originally studied computer engineering in Mexico. Now she is dedicated to helping families with housing, education, employment, food, and more.
Acosta is passionate about serving her community. When her husband’s job brought them to the United States, she sought out English classes. It was there at the ESL classes that she saw the needs of her community. She was inspired to help. Motivated by her own experience navigating a new culture and language, Acosta joined La Casa Amiga.
“I completely changed my career after arriving here in the U.S. and seeing everything that one could do for people and how we can help even though we are far from our country,” Acosta said. For the last eight years, helping people has been her mission.
La Casa Amiga offers a variety of important programs. One of its initiatives is the INEA program (Instituto Nacional para la Educación de los Adultos), which allows adults the opportunity to complete educational milestones, such as elementary school and middle school. This program is run by the Mexican consulate and is offered abroad in places like the U.S. Once the INEA program is complete, adults may sign up to complete their GED. Another vital component of education is the worker rights and education program, which empowers individuals with knowledge and certifications. This leads to better employment opportunities.
“We work closely with the [Mexican] consulate to protect workers,” said Acosta. “We are certified to train workers in Spanish. For example, we are certified to provide the OSHA 10 training in Spanish.”
Close to Acosta’s heart is the empowerment and workplace reintegration program for women. The non-profit offers courses on addressing workplace violence. There is a support system in place for women who would like to reinvent their careers.
Acosta says it has been a challenge adjusting to a new culture and to the limited resources on hand, but that has not deterred her motivation to help her community. She has a passion and has learned to surround herself with capable, hardworking people that help provide the necessary tools to her community.
Through its bimonthly food pantries, La Casa Amiga provides food for 100-150 people per drive. Overall, the organization supports 6,000 individuals each year, a testament to its broad impact. These food drives, along with their educational programs, have become a lifeline for many individuals who struggle to make ends meet.
For her contributions, Acosta received a medal made of silver, a rosette pin, and a certificate. The Ohtli Awardsymbolizes the trails blazed by leaders like Acosta who are dedicated to the uplifting of their community. Past recipients include notable figures such as Mexican singer Joan Sebastian, awarded in 2001, and Ray Lozano from the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, awarded in 2022.
“We at the consulate are unable to do the work that needs to be done without alliances like the one we have with [Acosta],” said Gutiérrez Rodríguez. “We need community-driven leaders who are known and respected in the community and who motivate others.”
Estefania Arellano-Bermudez is a Latina freelance writer living in metro Detroit. She is a regular contributor to El Central Hispanic Newspaper, and a member of Planet Detroit’s Neighborhood Reporting Lab.
This story was made possible by the Race and Justice Reporting Initiative, which aims to build trust between the news media and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities and strengthen representative democracy. Funding for the initiative has been provided by a generous grant from Press Forward.
