Maria Elena Zuniga
Hello and welcome to my site! I am Maria Elena, and originally, I hail from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. My Caribbean family are proudly Garifuna, and reside in El Triunfo de la Cruz via Tela.
In 1970, my family journeyed to the U.S. in search of better opportunities. We established our roots in New Orleans, LA, and this is where I flourished as a child into adulthood.
Later, Hurricane Katrina displaced my children and me, and Houston, TX became our second home, which is where I currently reside. You can learn more about that in my book Starting Over: A Second Line of Hope.
MY CULTURE
As a Garifuna and Afro-Latina, I come from a rich culture where family and helping others are central to all we do. Whether that is gathering with the family for weekly dinners, coming together to make traditional food, or having the privilege of serving someone in need, these activities are evident of who I am at my core.
Our Pueblo
Our heart
What brings us together
My Life Today
Naturally, I found myself gravitating towards positions where I could serve people. While my father and mother found their way of helping people through delicious food, I chose to help people when they are facing some of the most challenging times in their lives.
How I Serve
My professional background coupled with my Central American birth has proven to be an asset to communicating with the masses. My passion for authentic servitude and command of multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Garifuna, has given me a diverse base for helping others. Though my professional career has centered around non-profit organizations and other community-based organizations, such as HIV/STD Prevention agent and disaster relief, I have journeyed into other areas to expand how I help. I saw a particular need with the Latino community who were transitioning into their new beginnings. Having had made my own transitions as a child, I can understand the fear and uncertainty one may face. Then later, as I experienced the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other devastating storms, their indelible impact emphasized the importance of helping others with their new beginnings.
Author
Starting Over: A Second Line of Hope is currently available on Amazon.com and through other bookstores. The Spanish translation is coming soon.
Course Creator
Coming soon… I will provide a course teaching English to Spanish and Garifuna-speaking individuals.
Translator
In this capacity, I convert text and audio recordings from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Ensure translated content conveys original meaning and tone.
Interpreter
I am a native Spanish speaker who is fluent in spoken English and proficient in written English, and I provide consecutive and simultaneous interpretation in a professional, friendly, and polite manner.
Notary Public
I am an independent contractor authorized to perform notarial acts in legal affairs, particularly witnessing signatures on documents in English or Spanish.
As a bilingual independent contractor, I ensure that real estate loan documents are legally executed by the borrower or seller, notarized, and returned to the title company for timely processing.
Loan Signing Agent
As a bilingual independent contractor, I ensure that real estate loan documents are legally executed by the borrower or seller, notarized, and returned to the title company for timely processing.