YOUR BEST INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER FOR FOSTERING YOUTH RESILIENCE.

Meet Ray Reynosa

Born on the Southside of San Antonio, Tx Ray Reynosa’s story began with adversity. At just two years old, he experienced homelessness while his 14-year-old brother protected and cared for him as they fled domestic violence.

Growing up, Ray moved between homes, often separated from family and searching for the stability and encouragement every child deserves.

Despite struggles with isolation and academic challenges, mentors and educators recognized his potential and helped change the trajectory of his life.

Their belief in him led Ray to graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Business, eventually stepping into a corporate leadership role before choosing to step on stage to give back to his community.

Today, Ray is dedicated to paying forward the guidance that transformed his life. Through speaking, mentorship, and his children’s book Rocky’s Adventure, he empowers young people to overcome adversity and believe in what’s possible.

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Rise Higher Together

Mission Statement

Ray’s mission is to empower individuals facing adversity by fostering hope, resilience, and growth through storytelling, mentorship, and education. We are dedicated to providing individuals and communities with the tools, support, and inspiration needed to overcome challenges, unlock their potential, and build a brighter future. By creating meaningful connections with schools, organizations, and local communities, we strive to transform lives and advocate for a world where every person has the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and reach life’s peaks together.

Reflections

  • Principal Travis Primary - Michelle Wallace

    We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Ray Reynosa to our campus for a special reading session with our K-3 students! His engaging storytelling and enthusiasm brought the book to life, capturing the imagination of every child in the room. It was incredible to see our young learners so captivated, eager to participate, and inspired to explore the magic of reading. Mr. Reynosa had a wonderful way of connecting with the students, making them laugh, ask questions, and think creatively. His visit not only reinforced a love for books but also encouraged our students to dream big and tell their own stories. We are so grateful for this experience and highly recommend an author visit from Ray Reynosa to any school looking to foster a love for literacy in young minds. We would love to have him back again!

  • Student - Arkansas

    One of the most influential experiences I had with PPYC was hearing guest speaker Ray Reynosa speak about the idea "Plant seeds to create shade you may never sit under." This quote has stuck with me and it is saying that the work we put into today, and especially in helping and supporting others, can create positive changes. Ray was telling us that helping and being supportive to others, including classmates and even future generations, is how lasting change occurs. He was sharing his story and it was moving for all of us and he helped me understand that by staying drug-free I am not just making a choice for myself, but also about being part of a larger movement to build a healthier, stronger community.

  • Haas Hall Academy

    On March 7th, PPYC had the privilege of hearing an amazing speaker, Ray Reynosa. Ray discusses how one should “plant seeds to create shade you may never sit under.” This signifies humanity’s investment towards our future. The lesson of the pep talk was to invest in the future of our colleagues and students and to always encourage/help one another all the time. PPYC members loved every moment from his talk and they were very moved by his story. Thank you Ray Reynosa!

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