The event, hosted in Robstown, brought community leaders together to spotlight the power of mentorship and to promote men’s health.

ROBSTOWN, Texas — Community leaders, business owners and youth advocates gathered Thursday for the first-ever ‘Inspiration Luncheon’ hosted by the Northwest Business Association, an event focused on networking and the long-term impact of mentorship on young people across the Coastal Bend.

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Nueces County Precinct 3 Commissioner John Marez served as one of the keynote speakers. He told attendees that his own path into public service began with mentors who visited his school when he was growing up.

“That seed is planted and it may take years, decades, before it fully grows,” Marez said. “But I think that’s the way to do it — go into schools, go into nonprofits, go into every institution you can to share with them the variety of subject matters and jobs you can get into.”

The luncheon also highlighted the work of youth boxing coach Jose “Coach Joe” De La Paz, who mentors at-risk kids in the community. De La Paz shared how his family experienced nearly three years of homelessness during his childhood, but he found stability, purpose, and a career in boxing. Now he uses the sport to guide young people facing their own challenges.

“My dad always told me, you can either work hard and learn from your mistakes or you can be a smart man and learn from others,” he said. “It’s better if I talk to someone who’s been through that journey to help guide me there.”

De La Paz said the simplest encouragement can have lasting power.

“When people do that, you don’t realize how impactful you can be with a kid,” he said. “The voice when you tell them, ‘you can do it… you can finish this,’ that stays in their head.”

Both speakers told attendees that mentorship doesn’t require a title — only presence, consistency and a willingness to invest in the next generation.

The Northwest Business Association plans to host the Inspiration Luncheon twice a year, every March and November, with the goal of bringing young people and local role models together on a consistent basis. Officials say the March event is more geared towards young women as March is Woman’s History Month while the November event is mainly for young men because it is Men’s Health Month. However, anyone is welcome to attend either event.