Behind every story is a voice waiting to be heard.
Mariana Martindale
Mariana Martindale—author of The Colors of My Voice, educator, and founder of ALMA EmpowerHER—is using her journey to empower others to rise, speak, and lead. Earlier this year, Mariana Martindale stopped by our studio for a headshot update to use in a variety of places, including online and in print. Mariana is the founder of Advancing Latinas through Mentorship and Achievement (ALMA) EmpowerHER.
ALMA EmpowerHER is a mentorship and leadership-development organization focused on helping first-generation Latina students and emerging professionals achieve educational, personal, and career success. The organization’s mission is rooted in the belief that access to mentorship, community support, and practical resources can help Latinas overcome barriers that have historically limited opportunities for advancement. Through its programs, ALMA seeks to create pathways to leadership by connecting participants with mentors, building confidence, and providing culturally responsive guidance tailored to their experiences.
To further this mission, ALMA offers a range of services that address both personal and professional growth. These include mentorship programs, professional development workshops, financial literacy education, career-readiness coaching, portfolio development, public-speaking training, and community-building opportunities. The organization also provides affordable English-language classes and civic education courses designed to help participants strengthen communication skills, understand civic engagement, and become more active leaders in their communities. ALMA’s approach combines practical skill-building with a supportive network that encourages participants to pursue higher education, career advancement, and leadership roles.
Mariana Martindale founded ALMA as a response to her own experiences as a first-generation Puerto Rican woman navigating higher education, career development, and leadership without a clear roadmap. She explains that the cultural, structural, and personal obstacles she encountered often made progress feel isolating, but those experiences also reinforced the importance of mentorship and community support. As a result, ALMA was created to ensure that other Latinas have access to the guidance, resources, and encouragement she wished had been more readily available during her own journey.
For Mariana, ALMA is a way to strengthen and invest in the Latino community. Through mentorship, leadership training, civic education, and workforce preparation, the organization helps create opportunities for Latina students and professionals to contribute more fully to their local communities. For residents of the Reading and Berks County region, where a growing Latino population plays an increasingly important role in community life, ALMA’s work reflects a commitment to helping local women build confidence, develop leadership skills, and become active contributors to the future of the community.
We’re grateful to have been a part of Mariana’s journey! This is what she says about her experience at the Berks Headshots studio:
These headshots have truly elevated my professional presence. As a first-generation college graduate, educator, and founder of ALMA EmpowerHER, showing up confidently in my work matters deeply to me. Your images have helped me present myself in a way that reflects both my personal story and my professional mission.
They’ve supported me in building trust with my community, promoting my programs, and stepping more fully into leadership spaces. Whether I’m connecting with students, launching my book, or sharing my doctoral journey, these images have made a meaningful impact.
Mariana is using her headshots on her website and her LinkedIn and other social profiles. She’s also using them in promotional materials for her recently published children’s book, The Colors of my Voice, as well as for speaking engagements and other community activities. She got a library of images to use so that she has a variety to pick from for different purposes, but they still have a cohesive look and are all recognizably her.
Find out more about headshot sessions at Berks Headshots! We love being able to support professionals in Greater Reading and Berks County who are making a difference in all kinds of ways!
