Denise Hernández is a lawyer, social entrepreneur, DEI Practitioner, and community advocate. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Travis County Attorney’s Office, working on social justice initiatives and criminal justice transformation. Additionally, Denise is the co-founder of Hustle for the Cause, a social enterprise focused on socially conscious start-up consultation and branding. Through her work, Denise helps community activists build sustainable social impact organizations and events. Denise also organizes Chingona Fest Texas, an annual Latina empowerment event that ignites Latina entrepreneurship, leadership, and philanthropy.
Dedicated to social change and philanthropy, Denise and her wife formed the KDH Giving Fund in 2020 to support initiatives that uplift Black and Brown communities and LGBTQIA+ communities. Since launching the fund, they have raised over $10,000 in grants. Denise has been nationally recognized for her social impact work, honored as an Anne McAfee Leader of Cultural Change, and named a two-time finalist for Austin’s 40 under 40. She is driven by her lived experience to create social change and is deeply committed to mentorship and community building.
