During an incarceration in 2009, he noticed that inmates had
no access to books or to reading glasses. It was then that Daniel
founded the Library of Hope to collect books and reading glasses to
donate to inmates. Daniel's younger sister, Maria Isabel, founded the Young American
Dreamers, YAD, in 2010 to help local immigrant youth. Maria Isabel
passed away in a car accident, tragically, in 2012, and to honor her
legacy, Daniel joined YAD and was voted executive director in 2013. Barajas also continues to fundraise for annual scholarships to local
students and participates in philanthropic events in the community. Daniel now speaks at high schools across Polk County, talks to
students about his life, and shows them that one is not defined by
their past, and that breaking down barriers is possible. He also closely works with the Polk County Supervisor of Elections
Office to help register voters, increase voter turnout, and distribute
clemency applications to help felons restore their civil rights. Daniel is an example of one who could turn their life around and
benefit the community as a whole, and he works with the Mexican
Consulate in Orlando to do community workshops to teach immigrant
families of their constitutional rights. Thank you, Daniel, for your contributions. Honoring Ericka Gomez-Tejeda
Keywords matched
immigrant