By: Alexis Gonzalez

Adolph Aguirre is an advocate in the community he serves and beyond. Today, he serves as the Executive Director of the American Red Cross DFW Metro West Chapter, but his journey began long before he joined the Red Cross.

Aguirre grew up in Dallas, Texas, as a second-generation Latino. His Mexican heritage and family history of living in Texas before it became part of the United States allowed Aguirre to grow up in a bilingual home—speaking Spanish with his mother and English with his father—an experience that would later shape his career and service.

As a child, Aguirre’s life was rich in cultural contrasts. His neighborhood in Dallas was among the first to welcome Latino families, and many of his earliest friendships were with older World War II veterans who lived nearby.

“They were very welcoming,” he recalls. “They’d give us candy, and I grew up experiencing both my Hispanic cultural background and American traditions. I learned to love tortillas and rice as much as biscuits and gravy.”

Aguirre also spent time in a Dallas children’s home, where he was exposed to various cultures—from Ethiopia to Vietnam to Central and South America. That experience taught him how to build bridges across communities and feel at home in diverse environments. But it also revealed the stark disparities in underserved communities.

That awareness fueled his determination to pursue education as a pathway forward. Aguirre became the first in his family to earn a college degree, later completing a Master of Divinity. His wife, inspired alongside him, pursued her academic journey, earning a Master of Social Work. Together, they raised three children, each of whom went on to earn advanced degrees themselves.

“We’ve really been able to break the mold for our families,” Aguirre said. “Education provided us opportunities, and we wanted to pass that legacy to our children.”

Before joining the Red Cross, Aguirre spent more than a decade in nonprofit leadership, including serving as an executive with the Salvation Army in South Texas. During that time, while responding to major flooding in the Rio Grande Valley in 2019, he first encountered the Red Cross. Working alongside Red Cross teams during shelter and feeding operations left a lasting impression.

“I remember thinking—this is the kind of work I’ve been doing all along. Maybe one day there will be an opportunity to serve with the Red Cross,” he said.

That opportunity came when Aguirre returned to North Texas to be closer to family. When he saw the posting for the DFW Metro West Chapter Executive Director, he knew it was the right fit.

“It was an opportunity to give back to the community where I grew up.”

In this role, Aguirre has found special meaning in connecting with the Hispanic community in North Texas. Whether it’s building relationships with community partners, speaking on Spanish-language media, or serving as an elected official liaison on a disaster relief operation, Aguirre’s bilingual skills and cultural understanding have allowed him to best serve the DFW Metro West community.

“It never fails—wherever I go, I’m asked to translate,” he shared with a smile. “But that’s what I love about this role—it allows me to fully embrace my heritage while serving the community.”

That commitment became especially clear during the Red Cross response to the 2024 Valley View tornadoes. Months earlier, Aguirre had led preparedness efforts in that same community, installing smoke alarms and teaching families about fire and disaster safety. When the tornadoes struck, he recognized many of the families.

“They weren’t strangers,” he said. “We had already built trust. Being able to return and help in their greatest moment of need was an honor.”

For Aguirre, the work is meaningful. His proudest moment came when his mother saw him on Univision reporting on a Red Cross disaster response.

“For her, it was more than just me being on TV,” he said. “It was confirmation that her son, the child of a migrant, had become an executive leader in a respected national organization.”

As he looks to the future, Aguirre is committed to expanding the reach of the Red Cross, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities in the Metroplex. And his message to others is simple: “If you’re bilingual, we need you. Your gift can change lives. No matter where you come from, there’s a place for you here. All it takes is a little bit of your time.”