Ramona Casas

Biography

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Ramona Casas migrated to Texas with her husband and young daughter. She began her community involvement volunteering at her daughter’s school and, later, at her local parish in Las Milpas. At the parish, she met Sister Gerrie from Hermanas de la Misericordia, who had moved to the Rio Grande Valley to engage in community and spiritual development. Ramona Casas trained in personal leadership development under Sister Gerrie’s guidance and she became a lead organizer in her community. Together with Sister Gerrie, Casas began a nonprofit organization, A Resource In Serving Equality: ARISE. ARISE provides information and training in life and self-development skills in the Las Milpas community. Casas took on a leadership role to raise awareness about health, education, environmental justice, immigration rights, and more. Casas thrives as a promotora, educating the communities about the importance of life goals and political awareness.