On September 4–5, 2025, the Corpus Christi Literacy Council hosted the inaugural Future Focus: Literacy for a Changing World Conference at the Del Mar College Center for Economic Development. The two-day event brought together educators, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates to explore how literacy must evolve in a rapidly changing world.
The conference featured a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers:
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Dr. Isabel Araiza, sociology professor at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, presented “A Sociological Examination of Educational and Economic Opportunities in Corpus Christi.” Her talk examined how systemic inequities shape access to both education and workforce opportunities, underscoring the need for structural solutions to close longstanding gaps.
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Dr. Héctor H. Rivera, tenured Associate Professor at Texas A&M University–College Station (Educational Psychology). His research focuses on resilience, learning environments, and socio-emotional learning. He has served as a postdoctoral fellow at CREDE (University of Houston), scientific advisor to TIMES, Research Professor in Psychology, and founder of the Center for Child and Community Development at SMU. His session emphasized the role of supportive environments in fostering student growth.
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Dr. Horacio Sanchez, President & CEO of Resiliency Inc., is a nationally recognized authority on resiliency and applied brain science. His work explores the impact of poverty, school climate, brain-based instruction, and implicit bias. He is the author of The Education Revolution, The Poverty Problem, and Unlocking School Bias. His keynote offered evidence-based strategies for improving resiliency in schools.
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Jasminne Méndez, a Dominican-American poet, translator, playwright, audiobook narrator, and award-winning author of books for children and adults. Her middle grade novel in verse Aniana del Mar Jumps In (2024) received a Pura Belpré Honor, while her debut poetry collection City Without Altar (Noemi Press) won the 2022 Texas Institute of Letters Best Book of Poetry award. Her YA fiction debut The Story of My Anger is forthcoming in September 2025. At Future Focus, Méndez shared her insights on literacy, storytelling, and representation, underscoring the transformative power of culturally responsive approaches in education.
This high-caliber lineup enriched the conference with research-driven insights, creative perspectives, and actionable strategies for advancing literacy in today’s complex environment.
AI in Education: Preparing Learners and Educators for a Changing World
HRMG President Jonathan Swindle presented “AI in Education”, a forward-looking session on how schools and educators can responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into their work. His presentation highlighted:
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Curriculum Development & Lesson Planning – using AI to design flexible lesson materials, diversify teaching approaches, and save valuable time.
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Grading & Assessment – streamlining evaluation and feedback while safeguarding academic integrity.
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Student Engagement – introducing AI-powered assignments and interactive experiences that foster literacy, creativity, and critical thinking.
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Policy Development – helping institutions craft AI use guidelines that balance innovation with responsibility.
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AI Literacy for Students – preparing learners to prompt effectively, verify sources, and use AI ethically.
Jonathan also showcased real-world applications from HRMG’s work with Pride Corpus Christi, where AI assists in automating event management and volunteer coordination, and with Confirmed Life Safety in Chicago, where AI tools streamline compliance reporting, document management, and life-safety auditing for REITs. These examples demonstrated how AI is already powering efficiency and inclusion in community organizations and businesses today.
Smarter Grant Writing: Harnessing AI to Win Funding and Save Time
HRMG colleague Robert Kymes delivered “Smarter Grant Writing: Harnessing AI to Win Funding and Save Time”, a session focused on helping nonprofits embrace AI to strengthen fundraising efforts. Drawing on HRMG’s AI-driven brand Arcovix, Robert explained how organizations can benefit from custom software solutions with intelligent grant writing support, including:
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Leveraging ChatGPT and proprietary AI models to streamline the grant writing process.
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Analyzing opportunities and tailoring proposals to funder priorities.
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Reducing the time and burden of writing, while improving competitiveness in securing funding.
This presentation reinforced HRMG’s mission to equip nonprofits with accessible, intelligent tools that maximize impact and sustainability.
Shaping Literacy for a Changing World
Together, HRMG’s sessions demonstrated that AI is a tool for empowerment, from classrooms and nonprofits to community organizations and compliance-driven businesses. By combining strategy, software, and hands-on implementation, HRMG and Arcovix are helping clients embrace AI responsibly and effectively.
We thank the Corpus Christi Literacy Council for convening such a forward-thinking event and providing a platform to advance dialogue on literacy, innovation, and inclusion.
