ARLINGTON, Texas—Karina Nuñez sits at a black table in the corner inside Marquez Bakery, seated with her family and colleagues, as the room hums softly with the sounds of sizzling food and plates being moved in the kitchen.
From the display cabinets, the scent of pastries lingers in the air. When her name is called out, she rises calmly, her chair sliding backward across the emerald-colored floor tiles, before she offered a bright smile and scurried back to work.
The collaborator
Her life changed a year ago after she joined her family’s restaurant, Marquez Bakery. Now 29, she has become a social liaison for the restaurant, reaching out to people and working with schools and charities. She considers herself the collaborator because she plans and coordinates with organizations to execute goals. She’s an all-arounder, ready to perform any task, as she is a tortilla vendor, works as part of the catering team and handles social media.
“I’m anywhere and everywhere, here, or whether I’m putting together the wall, the little people in Paul’s wall over there,” Nuñez said. “Like, I do it all. That’s what I really like about being here. I do everything, and it feels like home.”
APD Community Outreach Partner of the Year
This month, Marquez Bakery was recognized by the Police Department as Arlington’s Community Outreach Partner of the Year. She says wins like this mean less about recognition and more about giving back.
“The community is there for us, and so we’re there for the community,” she said.
At around the same time she joined Marquez Bakery, the restaurant was preparing for an upcoming collaboration with Small Business Mercado. Her mother, Norma Marquez Nuñez, co-owner of the restaurant, pitched to the creator of the night market, Cristian Berumen, saying Nuñez would be a perfect addition to his team. He reached out, and the rest was history. Nuñez has continued her community outreach with the night markets, showcasing local vendors while also promoting the events through social media.
“The biggest thing is we don’t do this for us, we do it for our vendors,” she said, noting that many vendors aren’t only showing up on Friday nights and long weekends. They have full-time jobs and careers outside of the market.
Latino Advisory Council
She had been involved with the Latino Advisory Council in an honorary role for two years because she had been semi-involved through her mother, who currently serves as one of the council’s co-chairs. Officially, Nuñez has been with the council for a year after being nominated.
She said she hopes the Latino Advisory Council receives more attention. The council meets with Mayor Jim Ross to advocate for the community’s needs. She says that as a young woman, her goal is to speak for the Latino community and for women because she wants their voices to be heard.
“More than anything, we want to get our name out there and let the Latinos and the community know we are here for you,” Nuñez said. “You can reach us via email, Instagram and Facebook. If there are any comments or concerns, we want your voice to be heard—especially in times as scary as it is today.”
Nuñez attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication, which led her to start a career in social work and then education. She also worked as a waitress before reaching her corporate job, where she worked for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program. One thing was made clear to her in all her experiences; she said she knew she wanted to work with people.
A year ago, she said she never would have imagined leaving her desk job surrounded by white walls and endless phone calls. She said she is inspired by how the restaurant has become a pillar of the community, giving her a path to give back in ways she never knew were possible.
