Cool Kid Natalie Martinez inspires children in community

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Our ABC7 Cool Kid for Thursday, April 16, is Natalie Martinez, who inspires children in her community to look beyond what they know.

"Growing up in a society where you're not represented and there's no one out there that's doing what you want to do, so you're like, 'It's not for me maybe,'" Martinez said. "They don't believe in themselves."

Martinez works with Adelante Youth Alliance to help children who feel this way.

"This is the school I went to. That immediately got my attention. When I went here, there were a lot of kids who struggled, so I wanted to come back and help the students who struggle," Martinez said.

Natalie is there because she cares and it shows.

"I saw that there's passion and there's commitment to what she does. She's not just there to get community hours, she's there because she gets to make a difference in her community," said Jose Madera, program manager for Adelante Youth Alliance.

She wants the students to look at her and see their world in a new and better way.

"No matter where you come from, there's always possibilities to make a better future for yourself and to give back to your community too," Martinez said.