10/06/2026
This Hispanic Heritage Month, HCCares is sharing the story of volunteer tutor Emilio Arribas, and it begins with two teachers.
His parents met at Eastern Michigan University while earning their master's degrees. His mom came from Monterrey, Mexico, and his dad from Burgos, Spain. They raised their family in metro Detroit, where they taught him the values he still carries today: family, humor, and hard work.
Emilio describes his heritage as a mestizaje, a blend of his mom's Mexican roots and his dad's Spanish roots. That blend lived in the kitchen too, where his mom and grandmother made flour tortillas from scratch and Christmas Eve always meant mole.
Growing up surrounded by educators, Emilio planned to become a high school math teacher. His mom, who taught Spanish for more than 40 years and fought plenty of battles through the NEA and MEA, steered him toward another path. He believes she wanted better for him and "maybe knew that I'd find other ways or opportunities to teach."
She was right. Since 2024, Emilio has found that opportunity at HCCares, where he turns math into one of the most fun parts of our students' week.
For Emilio, this month is about counting his blessings and honoring the life his family worked hard to build here. We're counting ours too. Gracias, Emilio!
