Before she was Maria on "Sesame Street," Sonia Manzano was a kid in the South Bronx searching for someone like her on TV, and finding no one.Years later, she changed that. As Maria, Sonia chose not to play a character but to be herself, becoming the role model she never had.Now, through the children’s show "Alma’s Way," she’s helping a new generation see themselves on screen — just like she once dreamed she could.Listen to Sonia's full episode on Life In Seven Songs now: https://sf.news/3KIz5Zw

227K views · 18K reactions | It's neighbors like Maria who make our street one big family. Thank you Sonia Manzano for sharing your kindness, culture, and friendship with us for so many years. We love you! ❤ #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth | Sesame Street | Facebook