• When: September 30, 2025

• Where: Atlanta City Studio Gallery (235 Mitchell St SW Atlanta, GA 30303)

• Time: Tuesday, October 7th, 6:30-7:30

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Ms. Murvartian is a business executive, small business owner, nonprofit leader, and proud immigrant. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Arte GA, a nonprofit that supports Latino professional creatives. Prior positions include Senior Director at Equifax, Wine Director of Sales and Purchasing at WineStyles, and Director of Telecommunications and Financial Analysis at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Ms. Murvartian was recognized by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as being one of the 50 most influential Latinos in Georgia in 2018, is a graduate of the 2014 Leadership Atlanta class, and a graduate of the 2023 Atlanta Regional Commission’s Culture and Community Design Program. She is the Founder and Chair of Fiesta de Libros and GHCC’s CREAR.

Her involvement in the community also includes being a board member of The Hambidge Center, a board member of the Institute of Mexican Culture, and a member of the Latin American Association’s Finance Committee. She was previously a Woodruff Arts Center Board member, a member of the 2020 Fulton County Core Services and Governance Task Force (Arts & Culture), Board Chair of GALEO, Vice-Chair of the GALEO Impact Fund, and President of the Atlanta Latina Business Women’s Association.

Ms. Murvartian is a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and holds a Master of Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan with a focus on International Economics. She is a graduate of Hamline University where she graduated cum laude.

With nearly a decade of experience in the coffee industry, Ivan is a proud Atlanta native and first-generation child of Mexican immigrants. His journey began with a deep love for coffee—but it quickly evolved into a mission. After noticing the lack of Latino representation and diversity in the coffee world, Ivan committed himself to changing that narrative. Through coffee education, intentional storytelling, and a focus on community, he brings people together—one cup at a time.

Ivan has managed and collaborated with some of Atlanta’s most celebrated coffee shops, including Gilly Brew Bar (named Food & Wine's “Best Coffee Shop in Georgia”) and Academy Coffee (featured in Eater, The Atlantan, and more). Over the years, he has become a respected and recognized barista nationwide—especially following the launch of his passion project, Recuerdos Cafe, a coffee cart pop-up he founded in 2023, rooted in memory, culture, and connection. Ivan is slated to open his own cafe (Early Fall 2025) that is rooted in community and uplifting the Latinos in Atlanta.

Margarita Abigail Rios-Balderas is a Co-founder of OYE Fest and the Director of Sales for private events for Zero Mile/AEG Presents. Originally from Cerritos, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, but raised in the A, she has cultivated a career that blends her passion for music, community, and culture. Her goal isn't just to put on events; she strives to curate experiences that leave a lasting impact. Whether it's organizing festivals that celebrate diversity, curating private events that create meaningful connections, or using her platform and resources to amplify important social causes. Using the power of entertainment to spark positive change in the world.

Hey, I’m Patricia Hernandez, a Latine Indigenous diaspora contemporary artist and the owner of PATL.SV, based in Atlanta. My work is a mix of my cultural heritage and personal experiences—everything from my ancestry and immigrant journey to single motherhood and mental health advocacy.

I love creating art that feels bold, emotional, and deeply rooted in identity. My style blends traditional figures, landscapes, and abstract shapes, often highlighting strong women and social issues. I pull inspiration from El Salvador, Mexican aesthetics, and even my kids’ Puerto Rican roots. You’ll see a lot of movement, texture, and expressive colors in my work because I want my pieces to feel alive and full of energy.

Beyond painting, I do murals, portraits, illustrations, commissions, gallery shows—you name it. I’ve had the chance to showcase my work across Georgia and beyond, and I’m always looking for new ways to push my creativity. I’ve worked with groups like Midtown Alliance, Fair Fight, Ser Familia, Living Walls, and big brands like Mailchimp and Emory Hospital. At the end of the day, I see my art as a tool for connection—whether it’s raising awareness, advocating for mental health, or uplifting BIPOC creatives.

I’m also big on making art a sustainable career, not just for myself but for other artists, too. That’s why I started Nuestra Creación, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Latinx, Indigenous, and BIPOC artists. We just hit a major milestone by becoming a 501(c)(3), which means we can do even more to secure funding and create opportunities for emerging artists.

Outside of all that, I’m just out here enjoying life—parenting, salsa dancing, drinking mezcal, singing karaoke, and diving into new creative outlets like tattooing and DJing. I also create sustainable merch to support my vision of growing PATL.SV into a strong art brand. One of my big dreams is to collaborate with companies that align with my mission to amplify diverse voices through art.

Sergio López-Ríos, I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. I moved to the U.S. at the age of 19 in search of better opportunities, and I was lucky enough to earn an athletic scholarship through soccer at Rochester College. Here I earned my B.A. in Sports Management and then went on to pursue my Masters at Central Michigan University. I started at Soccer in the Streets in April 2024 as a coach, and I am now serving as a Program Manager on the westside of Atlanta. A focus for me is to provide access and opportunity for children in soccer the same way it did for me.