David Martinez
Academy Coordinator
David was born in Monterey Park, California and raised in Chula Vista, California. The son of a Cuban physician and an East Los Angeles school teacher, David enjoyed life growing up alongside his little sister and a multitude of dogs. With the help of Christian education and a healthy relationship with church, he found himself immersed in a community that constantly encouraged him towards loving God and loving his neighbor. Service projects and mission trips in adolescence were his hands-on invitation to a life of servant leadership, a life he continued to cultivate as he stepped into leadership roles in his church youth group and beyond.
David graduated from Baylor University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Humanities and returned home to continue his pursuit of a career in the medical field. In the Fall of 2021, he was invited to volunteer at an HLA field trip. It was there that he was introduced to HLA’s mission to holistically encourage and empower future leaders of hope. Not long after, he accepted the offer to partner with HLA’s mission on staff. His hope is that those he serves might experience the love of Jesus and the free gift of Life which He offers. When David is not on the clock, you will find him catching waves, reading books, and eating dried mangoes.