About

Bienvenidos...

My name is Monica Olivera and I am the creator of Hispanic Heritage Studies and our sister site, MommyMaestra.com.

I'm a Spanish-Mexican American born and raised in Texas. For the last 13 years, I've been homeschooling my three kids, writing about our experiences, and creating resources to help other Hispanic families like mine learn about the beauty of Hispanic culture and the role of Hispanics in U.S. and World History. My work has been published on sites such as PBS Parents, NBC Latino, Woo! Jr., and many others.

I am also an author. My books include The Latino Family's Guide to Homeschooling and Preschool at Home: A Guide for Caregivers both of which help parents navigate the world of educating their children at home.

My Background

I come from a family of community leaders and activists. 

My grandmother was a prominent community member in Dallas who organized community-wide events that promoted Mexican culture, celebrated Mexican holidays, and supported Mexican small business owners. She was recognized by the Dallas City Council for her contributions and efforts. 

My mother, Mercedes Olivera, was one of the first Hispanic reporters and columnists in the country. Her column ran for 45 years highlighting Latinx issues in Dallas and across the nation. As a result of both these women, I grew up immersed in social justice issues. 

All the people that raised me, including my mother and grandmother, have now passed on.

In their honor, I create materials to give a voice to my community and help Hispanic families see the important role they play in our nation’s history.

I write to encourage these families to follow their dreams and make a difference to leave this country a better place because of their contributions. 

This Website

Hispanic Heritage Studies is the website that I wish I'd had available when my kids were younger. I struggled to find resources that would help me to teach them about the diversity of Spain and Latin America, and the important contributions our ancestors have made to society and the world.

Many of the resources shared on this site are ones I wrote for my own children, and I am glad to finally have a home where they can be available to other families like mine.