Sergio Aguillón-Mata, a Cincinnati nonprofit sector and arts impactor

The Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati  USA proudly features Sergio A. Aguillón-Mata in its “Kudos Corner” for his exceptional contributions and impact on the local nonprofit sector. He actively collaborates between nonprofits and the arts, while also creating visual art and literature. His work, inspired by tradition, circumstance, and personal experiences, showcases his impact as a Mexican-American author and artist

The Cincinnati Hispanic Chamber USA and the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati Foundation (HCCUSA Foundation) honor Sergio A. Aguillón-Mata, a distinguished and award-winning Mexican-American author, artist, and community leader, for his professional interest in the nonprofit sector, rooted in his AmeriCorps experience. 

Sergio A. Aguillón-Mata's work focuses on fostering connections between community members and the essential social services they require to thrive. While his professional career has primarily centered around assisting immigrant communities, his unwavering commitment extends to serving any member of the public without discrimination. Throughout his career, he has held various positions at the Freestore Foodbank, with his current role as an Immigrant Liaison at Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency.

Mr. Aguillón-Mata’s accomplishments include receiving in 2024 the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners’ declaration that the 10th of October will be Sergio A. Aguillón-Mata's official day throughout the county, in recognition of his work in the nonprofit sector and in the arts. In 2011, he received the National Culture and Arts Fund (or FONCA) "Young Creators" grant to complete the draft of his second book.  In 2003, he obtained the National Award of Literary Essay "Punto de Partida" from the National Autonomous University of Mexico with the essay titled "Palingenesia" about the 1965 novel "Farabeuf" by Salvador Elizondo. In 2003, he received the Zacatecas Culture and Arts Fund (or FECAZ) "Young Creators" grant to complete the draft of his first book.

We commend his professional achievements as an award-winning author and artist; S.A. Aguillón-Mata’s work features in numerous anthologies, compilations, and literary magazines, both printed and web-based, in Mexico and the USA. Mr. Aguillón-Mata has both curated and participated in contemporary art shows in Cincinnati, OH. In 2004, he published his first book of fiction titled "Quién Escribe (Paisajista)", printed by the Zacatecas Cultural Center Ramón López Velarde. In 2014, he published his second book of fiction titled "Tratado (De una zona privada)", printed by the independent label Pictographia in Zacatecas, Mexico. In 2016, he published his third book of fiction titled "Envés", printed by the Autonomous University of Nuevo León Press, in Monterrey, Mexico. Around this time, he started a modest visual arts practice, mostly as a painter.  In 2022, he curated an art show at the Cincinnati Art Academy, featuring works of Chicago artist Dianna Frid and Washington painter William Stovall.  In 2023, he was a featured artist in the collective show "Suspended Between Forms" at The Carnegie, in Covington, KY.

Born in Mexico City, Mr. Aguillon-Mata started his undergraduate studies in Literature at the Faculty of Humanities of the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Mexico (1997). In the summers of 2001 and 2002, he received two consecutive "Scientific Research Summer" grants from the Mexican Academy of Sciences to perform research at El Colegio de México, in Mexico City. In 2003, he graduated with honors from the Autonomous University of Zacatecas. In 2005, he enrolled in the graduate program in Hispanic Literature at the Center for Linguistic and Literary Studies (CELL) at El Colegio de México. In 2008, he moved to Germany to continue academic research projects sponsored by the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). He was hosted by the Goethe-Institut in Dresden and Potsdam University.

Mr. Aguillon-Mata lives in Cincinnati with his wife. Since the early 2000s, he has published a modest number of stories and essays across various media platforms, primarily in Mexico and the United States. He also maintains a consistent art practice.

Image and information sourced by Mr. Aguillon-Mata, LinkedIn, and www.aguillon-mata.com.

The Kudos Corner, an initiative of the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA and the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati Foundation (HCCUSA Foundation), seeks to acknowledge and honor the remarkable accomplishments of Latino individuals who have made a substantial impact on their communities.

Written by Lorena Mora-Mowry, host of the Latina Today Podcast and a member of the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati Foundation Board