Aurora Rowland-Martinez

Aurora Rowland-Martinez was born in Wichita Kansas, the daughter of Pete Rowland, Sr. She grew up in a single parent household. Although her family roots began on the King's ranch in Texas, she spent most of her youth in southwestern Kansas and eastern Colorado. Her father rarely spoke of their Cherokee heritage due to his own experiences and instead immersed Aurora into the Mexican-American culture hoping to ease the inequalities that he knew she would encounter. Aurora spent a lot of summers working in the sugar beet fields and bean fields. She was driving her father's pick up by the time she was eight years old. She helped her father sell fruits on street corners when they were in season. They sold pinto beans to different restaurants in Kansas as well. As a child she enjoyed learning dance moves by watching Soul Train and American Bandstand. Growing up, some of her favorite shows included Sanford and Son, Green Acres, The Jeffersons, I Love Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show and the Andy