09/17/2026
Thank you, members of the Board, and everyone that was present yesterday.
My name is Abraham Avila. I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and came to the United States when I was five years old. I grew up in a working-class family as one of six children. We did not grow up with much, but we grew up with family, faith in one another, hard work, and a strong connection to our Mexican roots.
At 21, I enlisted in the United States Army and served as an Infantryman. I did that because I felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the country that had given my family a chance to build a life here.
Years later, my wife Stephanie and I began selling food from our home. That small idea eventually became Casa De Avila Tacos, and today we are proud to be part of Loudoun’s business community.
But for me, the journey cannot stop with building one successful business.
That is part of the reason I am building Casa Del Pueblo.
The vision is simple: to help other Hispanic families, entrepreneurs, and young people see that opportunity is within reach. Sometimes people do not need a handout. They need a hand up. They need someone to show them the path, open a door, make an introduction, or simply tell them, “You can do this too.”
I want my children to be proud of where we came from, but I also want them to understand that success carries a responsibility to help others move forward.
That is what Hispanic Heritage Month means to me: honoring our roots, celebrating how far we have come, and creating opportunities for the generation that comes next.
Thank you for recognizing and celebrating Loudoun County’s Hispanic community. I am grateful to be a part of this proclamation. ✊🏽🌮
