Austra Y. Zapata

Austra Y. Zapata, MSW serves as the Associate Director of the Office of Aging for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, where she leads Spanish ministry initiatives that empower older adults through education, faith formation, leadership development, and community engagement. She is passionate about building age-friendly, culturally responsive programs that help older adults remain active participants in parish and community life.

​

Before joining the Archdiocese, Austra dedicated more than 15 years to serving immigrant and underserved communities. She led countywide naturalization and immigrant integration initiatives, connecting thousands of individuals and families with citizenship, legal, and community resources. As a National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) Fellow, she collaborated with leaders across the country to strengthen immigrant inclusion, civic engagement, and equitable access to services.

​

Austra holds a Master of Social Work and is a proud Afro-Indigenous Garifuna leader committed to serving diverse communities through advocacy and education. She continues to volunteer and lead nonprofit initiatives focused on immigration, education, disaster recovery, and community empowerment.