Uplifting Others: Veronica Cortez Interviews David Heredia
Veronica Cortez interviews David Heredia, author of Little Heroes of Color: I’m a Little Hero. Heredia has worked for Walt Disney Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Collectibles. His six-time award-winning education video series “Heroes of Color has been featured in the New York Times, on NPR, and on PBS Online.
Cortez: The book indicates that you wrote and drew the illustrations. Everything is great! I, myself, have loved both writing and drawing since I was a child. Would you consider yourself an illustrator first or writer first and what drove that passion to do either creative activity?
Heredia: I consider myself an illustrator with a story to tell. Drawing was my earliest form of communication—before I had the ability to express myself verbally. As I got older, I realized that storytelling gave those images purpose. My passion for drawing was with me since birth, but my purpose was born out of my desire to create characters that I wished I had seen as a child.
Heroism isn’t always flashy.
David Heredia
Cortez: This is a great topic to bring to kids. As a parent myself, I hope you’ll release more books about those who have influenced this world. What did you learn from the process of researching influential people?
Heredia: It taught me just how many powerful stories have been left out of mainstream history. The more I researched, the more I realized how intentional that erasure has been—and how necessary it is to reclaim it. I also learned that heroism isn’t always flashy. Many of the people in Little Heroes of Color made an impact quietly, through education, community building, and resilience. Researching them reminded me that ordinary people doing extraordinary things are often the true game changers.
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Cortez: In what way would you consider yourself or anyone you know a hero?
Heredia: To me, a hero is someone who uplifts others, especially when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. I’ve seen that in educators who go beyond the curriculum, in single parents making sacrifices for their kids, and in young artists who use their talent to speak the truth. I don’t consider myself a hero, but I do recognize the importance of the work that I do. If I can empower a young person to feel proud of who they are and where they come from, then I did my job well.
Cortez: In this book, there are ten heroes but there are more on the heroes of color site. How did you come to select these specific heroes for this book. Is there a systematic selection for each little heroes book you publish? How or why did you narrow it down to these specific 10 heroes?
Heredia: For this first book, I chose individuals who not only represent a wide range of cultures, time periods, and professions, but who also challenge the stereotype of what a hero looks like—rarely a person of color. As an Afro-Latino—I’ve wanted to more intentional about celebrating people that share my Afro-Latin roots. This is what sparked the idea for my second book with Scholastic, celebrating Afro-Latino heroes. The heroes on my website were designed for an older audience and enabled me to go deeper into their stories. I have about four new animation episodes in development and also working on my first thirty minute educational animation. I want kids and adults to see someone who looks like them and know that their background, identity, or zip code doesn’t limit their potential.
As for the selection process—yes, it’s very intentional. Diversity may be a bad word in education now, but I’ll keep using it, demonstrating it and promoting it every chance I get. These books aren’t about sales to me, it’s about my responsibility as a creator who is blessed to have Latin and African roots. It’s disturbing to see how DEI and immigrants are being condemned and criminialized, as if diversity is a threat. This country was built by immigrants—many of us are here because of them. I certainly am. Yet now, we’re demonizing culture, and attacking the very things that make America beautiful. This isn’t about patriotism—it’s about fear, insecurity, and a false sense of superiority. Every Little Heroes book is curated to highlight diversity across ethnicity, gender, discipline, and impact.
Cortez: Heroes of Color LLC was founded by David Heredia. Congratulations on receiving the 2024 Social Impact Business of the Year Award for for-profit organizations from the San Diego Cause Conference!! This only means that you’re making a wonderful impact in this world! Can you share more about the organization, Heroes of Color, and its mission?
Heredia: Absolutely. Heroes of Color, LLC is a creative education company I started to help students—especially those from overlooked communities—see the value in their own stories, talents, and cultures. Through art, animation, entrepreneurship, and history, we create programs that spark pride and open real career paths. Winning the 2024 Social Impact Business of the Year Award was meaningful, but the real win is seeing students realize they can turn their creativity into confidence—and income. Too often, gifted students of color are overlooked. My mission is to help make them seen, heard, and valued.
