Peace Academy of West Texas

06/23/2026

Today, members of Peace Academy of West Texas had the honor of attending the funeral service of Lt. Isai Huerta.

The service was a beautiful reflection of a life lived with courage, compassion, friendship, and love. Our hearts and prayers remain with his wife, family, friends, and the entire Odessa Fire Rescue family.

May Lt. Huerta’s legacy of service and his love for others continue to inspire our community.

Rest in peace, Lt. Huerta.❤️

06/16/2026

Our seniors and neighbors with disabilities are an important part of our community.

Peace Academy of West Texas encourages our volunteers and friends to support the City of Odessa’s Helping Hands program by helping with yard care and outdoor maintenance for those in need.

Together, we can make a difference, one yard at a time.

Please consider signing up and serving our community.

Let’s show the spirit of Odessa by serving those who once served our community.

City of Odessa, Texas

Help seniors or disabled residents with yard assistance.

Sign up here: odessa-tx.gov/helpinghands

Keep Odessa Beautiful
432-335-4686
keepodessabeautiful.org
Email: [email protected]

06/15/2026

Peace Academy of West Texas extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lieutenant Isai Huerta of Odessa Fire Rescue.

We honor his service and sacrifice to our community. We also wish a full and speedy recovery to the two firefighters injured in this tragic incident.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected during this difficult time.

Odessa Fire Rescue Mourns the Loss of Firefighter Isai Huerta

ODESSA, Texas — Odessa Fire Rescue is mourning the tragic loss of one of its own following a structure fire on Sunday evening.

At 4:59 p.m., Odessa Fire Rescue crews responded to a residential trailer fire in the 1900 block of South Westcliff Road. While firefighters were operating on scene, conditions deteriorated rapidly, resulting in injuries to three firefighters.

All three firefighters were transported to Medical Center Hospital for treatment. Tragically, one firefighter succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The fallen firefighter has been identified as 29-year-old Lieutenant Isai Huerta, who faithfully served the citizens of Odessa as a member of Odessa Fire Rescue for the past nine years. His next of kin has been notified.

"Isai was a huge part of our organization, a true firefighter," said Odessa Fire Rescue Chief Jason Cotton. "He was always happy, always willing to help, and he truly enjoyed the job. Our department is in need of prayer, guidance, and grace as we navigate moving forward. We grieve alongside Isai's family and ask our community to keep them and our firefighters in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time."

Odessa Mayor Cal Hendrick added, "Tonight, Odessa has lost a hero. Firefighter Isai Huerta dedicated his life to protecting others, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. On behalf of the City of Odessa, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, his brothers and sisters in the fire service, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We ask our community to join us in keeping them in our prayers as we mourn this heartbreaking loss."

The two other firefighters injured during the incident did not sustain life-threatening injuries and are receiving care and support.

The Texas State Association of Fire Fighters is leading the investigation. Representatives from the International Association of Fire Fighters are also expected to arrive in Odessa tonight to provide additional support.

Odessa Fire Rescue has already begun debriefing personnel and is ensuring first responders have access to all available emotional, mental health, and peer-support resources.

Odessa Fire Rescue will hold a press conference tomorrow to answer questions and provide an update on the investigation.

06/08/2026

The Peace Academy of West Texas is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the Philippines.

Our hearts and prayers are with all those who lost loved ones, those who were injured, and everyone affected by this tragedy. We pray for strength, comfort, and a speedy recovery for the victims and their families.

The Filipino community has been one of the most active and supportive participants in our International Cultural Festival, and we are especially thinking of our Filipino friends during this difficult time.

Please know that you are not alone. We stand with the people of the Philippines.

May God bless and protect the people of the Philippines.



Bongbong Marcos

06/04/2026

We had a very productive meeting today with Congressman August Pfluger in Washington, D.C.

We shared the work of Peace Academy of West Texas and discussed opportunities for future community engagement. We were honored to invite him to our Appreciation Dinner on July 24 and our International Cultural Festival on October 24.

We appreciate his interest in our programs and his encouragement for continued community collaboration. We also look forward to working with District 11 Regional Director Monica Gonzales-Mauldin on future initiatives.

Thank you for your time and support as we continue building bridges across our community.

05/29/2026

We were honored to participate in the DFPS Staff Resource Fair hosted by the Department of Family and Protective Services and One Accord for Kids.

This event provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with professionals and organizations dedicated to serving children and families in our community. We enjoyed sharing the mission and programs of Peace Academy of West Texas, building new relationships, and inviting community partners to our Wednesday Brunches and Coffee Gatherings.

We are grateful for the meaningful conversations, new connections, and future collaboration opportunities that emerged from this event. Together, we can continue building stronger families, stronger communities, and a brighter future for the next generation.

Thank you to the organizers for bringing so many community partners together.

05/28/2026

We were honored to participate in the Regional Alignment Group / Epidemiological Work Group Meeting as part of the Bridge the Basin initiative, alongside many dedicated organizations working for the well-being of our communities.

As Peace Academy of West Texas, we had meaningful conversations about how we can work together to support:

• youth and children,
• stronger families,
• mental health awareness,
• prevention and recovery efforts,
• education and community engagement.

We believe that building safer and healthier communities requires partnership, dialogue, and trust. We look forward to future collaborations that can bring hope, mentorship, cultural understanding, and positive opportunities to the next generation.

A special thank you to Basin Lighthouse and Regional Alignment Coordinator Maricia Watkins for organizing and facilitating this meaningful gathering, and to all organizations working to strengthen our region.

Together, we can continue connecting people and changing futures.

05/27/2026

05/24/2026

Today, Peace Academy of West Texas had the pleasure of attending this beautiful cultural event organized by our dear friend and Equatorial Culture representative. 🌎✨

It was a wonderful evening that brought people from different backgrounds and cultures together in a spirit of friendship, unity, and celebration. We were also truly honored to be recognized on stage and receive an award on behalf of Peace Academy of West Texas. Thank you for this thoughtful recognition. 🙏

Special thanks to Johana Zambrano for her tremendous effort, leadership, and dedication in organizing such a meaningful and successful program. Your hard work and positive energy made this event truly special. 🌸

Looking forward to building even more bridges of friendship, culture, and understanding together. 🤝