Diana Barreto is originally from Mexico but has lived in Memphis for 20 years. Although Spanish is her first language, English is her dominant tongue. Diana has used her ability to communicate in these two languages to assist Spanish speakers across Memphis access the immigration system, the public school system, and the criminal justice system.
Diana is a lifelong learner. Her research interests in her undergraduate and graduate studies reflect her layered experience as an immigrant and Memphian. At Rhodes College, she designed projects that studied how Spanish speaking immigrants adapt to their new surroundings and find or create community. For her master’s thesis in urban education, Diana surveyed the Shelby County Schools social studies curricula from K-12 to determine how much Memphis history is taught in the public schools. In response to the lack of Memphis history outside of musical contributions, Diana designed a project-based unit to teach middle and high school students about the desegregation and integration of Memphis City Schools.
Through her personal and professional experiences, Diana has honed her knowledge of Memphis and the communities that make-up the soulful city. In her free time, Diana enjoys practicing yoga. When she is not hanging out with her cat, Kiwi, Diana loves to spend time with friends and family exploring Memphis’s many parks and growing art museums. She loves trying new food and attending community events.
