Our storyThe story of
¡Viva Polk! Magazine began years before its first edition. It all started with El Trompetista, the first Spanish-language publication in Polk County, founded by Tim Moore and Dr. Robert Melo to serve a growing Hispanic community that needed a voice of its own.
Over time, that vision evolved and joined the educational and community experience of Teresa V. Martínez. In 2019, ¡Viva Polk! was born: a bilingual magazine dedicated to informing, educating, and celebrating the cultural diversity of our community.
About the Executive DirectorTeresa V. Martinez arrived in the United States from Cuba as a young girl, carrying with her a language, a culture, and a story that, decades later, continues to live through the pages of ¡Viva Polk! Magazine.
In 1989, she founded the Institute of Spanish Communication, Inc. with a clear mission: to build bridges through language, leadership, and culture. Years later, that vision gave rise to ¡Viva Polk!, a bilingual publication created to inform, educate, and inspire while connecting cultures and elevating the voice of the Hispanic community.
An educator by vocation, Teresa devoted many years to teaching Spanish and ESOL, helping her students gain confidence, opportunities, and a sense of belonging through language. Her commitment to education extended far beyond the classroom, as she served on numerous community boards and spent 16 years on the Board of Trustees of Polk State College by appointment of the Governor of Florida. In that role, she contributed to the educational growth of an increasingly diverse community.
Her professional journey also led her throughout the Spanish-speaking world as a travel manager and interpreter for two Miss Universe titleholders, an experience that further enriched her cultural and human perspective.
In addition, she is the author of “Success in Exile - Five Decades of Cuban Stories,” a work that shares the stories of twenty-five Cuban families whose faith, sacrifice, perseverance, and commitment to education allowed them to build successful lives and new opportunities in the United States.
In recognition of her dedication and service to the community, the Polk County Board of Commissioners proclaimed June 6, 2008, as “Teresa Martinez Day,” and the Governor of Florida honored her with the prestigious Point of Light Award.
Under her leadership, ¡Viva Polk! has received multiple Charlie Awards from the Florida Magazine Association, recognizing the publication’s editorial excellence and design.
Today, Teresa remains deeply involved in every aspect of the magazine writing, guiding, promoting, and shaping its vision. And in the classrooms where students learn through its pages, she perhaps finds her
greatest fulfillment. Because for her, ¡Viva Polk! has never been simply a magazine; it is her legacy.
