From Bodega to Civic Access: The Legacy of Falio Leyba-Martinez and Spanish-Language Access in Camden Schools
Photo of Falio Leyba-Martinez courtesy of The Latino Spirit
Latino Civic Leadership in Camden
BY DIEGO F. MAYA | The Latino Spirit
In the immigrant neighborhoods of Camden, opportunity often begins in humble places—sometimes behind the counter of a small neighborhood grocery store.
That is where the story of Falio Leyba-Martinez begins.
An Afro-Dominican Family’s Sacrifice
Falio was raised in an Afro-Dominican immigrant household whose parents came from the Dominican Republic seeking opportunity in the United States. In Camden’s Centerville neighborhood, his family operated a small grocery store known as Leyba Grocery. The business was built through the relentless work of his father, Falio Leyba, who dedicated long days to serving neighbors and supporting his family.
Many in the community remember him with affection and respect, often saying:
“Dios lo bendiga en el cielo.”
(May God bless him in heaven.)
Like many immigrant-owned bodegas, the store demanded relentless effort. His father often worked long days—sometimes up to sixteen hours—to keep the doors open while raising his children. But the store represented something greater than a livelihood. It represented a pathway forward for the next generation.
Education became the family’s central priority. The sacrifices made behind the counter of that grocery store were intended to create opportunities for the children that immigrant parents themselves never had. Growing up in that environment taught Falio an enduring lesson:
When parents sacrifice for their children’s education, the system must respect that sacrifice.
When Parents Could Not Understand the System
Years later, when Falio served on the Camden Board of Education, he noticed something deeply troubling. Camden had a growing Latino population—many of them Afro-Caribbean and immigrant families—yet many Spanish-speaking parents could not fully understand the school board meetings where critical decisions about their children were being made.
Parents attended meetings but struggled to follow discussions about:
- School Budgets
- Discipline Policies
- Academic Programs
- Policies affecting their children
For Falio, this issue was personal. He had watched his own father work tirelessly so his children could succeed through education. He knew thousands of other immigrant parents in Camden carried the same dream.
Those parents deserved a voice in the system.
Opening the Door to Spanish-Speaking Parents
During his time on the Board of Education, Falio advocated for Spanish-language access at school board meetings, helping ensure that Spanish-speaking families could understand and participate in decisions shaping their children’s education. What appeared to be a simple change carried enormous implications.
For the first time, thousands of parents could:
- Listen to discussions in their own language
- Understand decisions affecting their children
- Speak during public comment periods with confidence
The education system began to reflect the community it served.
The Pandemic Tested That Principle
Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of language access became undeniable. Schools closed and learning moved online. Parents suddenly needed to understand critical information about:
- Remote Learning
- Device Distribution
- Meal Programs
- Health Protocols
- School reopening plans
Yet in many places there was resistance to investing in bilingual communication. The pandemic revealed a simple truth:
When parents cannot understand what schools are saying, children suffer.
Demand for Spanish-language communication surged across New Jersey and throughout the United States. What some once viewed as optional translation proved to be essential civic infrastructure.
A Legacy That Still Helps Camden Families
Because leaders like Falio had already pushed for language accessibility years earlier, Camden was better positioned to serve Spanish-speaking families during moments of crisis.
Today, parents are far more likely to:
- Attend school meetings
- Understand district decisions
- Advocate for their children
- Participate in educational governance
That shift strengthens not only families but the entire education system.
The Meaning Behind the Story
The journey of Falio Leyba-Martinez—from the son of an Afro-Dominican immigrant shop owner to a public leader advocating for civic access—illustrates a powerful truth. Sometimes the policies that strengthen democracy begin with values learned at home. A father who worked tirelessly in a small grocery store believed education could change his children’s future.
Years later, his son helped ensure that thousands of immigrant parents could understand and participate in the education system shaping their children’s lives. And in moments of crisis, like the pandemic, that access proved to be not only important—but indispensable.
This column, Interconnected Power: Latino Leadership in Shared Public Space, examines how leadership shaped by culture, language, and immigrant legacy influences public institutions across South Jersey. The story of Superintendent Alfonso Llano illustrates how identity, governance, and access intersect in shaping educational systems that serve increasingly diverse communities.
Diego F. Maya is the Founder and Executive Director of US Latino Affairs Initiatives and Founder of Diverse Voices Link, specializing in multilingual public communications and civic engagement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became the first individual in the nation to simultaneously interpret and broadcast a governor’s daily briefings in Spanish, reaching more than 1.7 million viewers and establishing a model now used by municipalities and public agencies across New Jersey. Through platforms including The Latino Index and East Coast Latino Public Media, he works with governments, school districts, and community organizations to deliver accurate, real-time information to multilingual communities. Contact Diego at dmaya@uslatinoaffairs.org and learn more at www.diegofmaya.com.
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