First Voice Generation Film

First Voice Generation, directed and produced by Cynthia Martinez, follows the stories of three Latinx high school students in Holland, Michigan, during an unprecedented global pandemic year. Each student struggles with their identity growing up in a historically Dutch community, feeling that they don’t belong because they are children of Mexican immigrants. Watch as they grapple with virtual learning and other challenges while dreaming of being the first in their family to go to college.

This film will be shown at the Knickerbocker Theater on the Hope College campus, 86 East 8th Street. The Holland Museum is proud to support the showing of this important locally produced film.

This program took place on Thursday, October 5, 2023
6:30-8:30 PM
Knickerbocker Theater
86 E. 8th St., Holland, MI 49423
Family Cultural Lens Program


Meet Cynthia Martinez

Picture of Cynthia Martinez, producer and filmaker of "First Voice Generation." Cynthia Martinez is a 2nd generation Mexican American born into a working-class family in Holland, Michigan. She is a mother, wife, writer, producer, and filmmaker. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she set out to work and realized she had stories to tell. With that passion, she enrolled in Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and completed her Master’s Program in 2012. Her experience includes working for Univision News in Miami and is currently engaged with directing and producing films and media that advocate social justice.


Cultural Lens Program Premier Sponsors:

Corewell is the new name for Spectrum Health starting in 2023


This exhibit is supported in part by an award from:

  • October 5, 2023 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  • 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

See the film at the Knickerbocker Theater
86 E. 8th St., Holland, MI 49423

Click here to purchase tickets or RSVP for FREE student tickets.