El Paso May 2013 NEWSLETTER
Upcoming Events
CREATIVE CHICAS SATURDAY CAMPS
May 11 from 12:30-2:30pm
Judge Marquez Public Library (610 N. Yarbrough)
Girls are invited to get in touch with their creative side in this series of creative expression classes. Girls in grades 4-8 will explore ways to express themselves creatively through photos, writing, arts & crafts and film. This creative expression series is hosted monthly at the Judge Marquez Public Library (610 N. Yarbrough). To register, call 915.219.8554, email latinitaselpaso@yahoo.com or register online at:
http://laslatinitas.com/programs/registration
CHICAS WRITE NOW LITERARY FIESTA
May 18 from 11am-1pm at 10935 Ben Crenshaw #207
In this writing workshop, local teen girls (ages 13-19) are invited to speak out and unleash their creativity through the pen. This monthly workshop series is aimed at literary divas who would like to gain writing skills, connect with literary leaders and get published. Members will have their writing featured in LatinitasMagazine.org as well in a printed anthology.For more information, contact latinitaselpaso@yahoo.com, call 219.8554 or visit http://laslatinitas.com/programs/registration
Butterfly Effect Benefit
Mark your calendar for the
“The Butterfly Effect Benefit”
on May 4, 2013 from 9:00am to 1:00pm
at the Double Tree by Hilton El Paso Downtown City Center.
Pamper yourself with a mani, facial or make-up consultation as you enjoy a brunch, fashion show and live music. Tickets are on sale for $25. The funds generated from the event will support our scholarship campaign. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW
Latinitas Meetings
LATINITAS: CREATIVE CHICAS AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB MEETINGS
Meet Weekly Every Friday After School
Esperanza Acosta Moreno & Irving Schwartz Libraries
Latinitas offers weekly after-school programs featuring hands-on creative expression lessons during the school year at local libraries, community centers, schools and housing communities. Our girl empowerment clubs help girls foster a positive self-esteem, build confidence and gain cultural pride through creative multimedia expression.
VOLUNTEER MEETINGS
Orientation: May 7 at 5:30pm, 10935 Ben Crenshaw #207
Community members interested in helping empower local girls are invited to join us for our Latinitas volunteer information session. As a volunteer-driven organization, Latinitas is recruiting volunteers to help mentor girls, serve as guest speakers, plan special events, organize fundraisers and more. Volunteers are invited to attend our planning meetings to find out about our upcoming volunteer opportunities. To get started, complete our online volunteer application:
http://laslatinitas.com/volunteer/volunteerapplication
For more information, email latinitasrossie@yahoo.com or call 219.8554.
Member Spotlight: Amaraini Alonzo
Amaraini “Lupita” Alonzo, a Junior at Irving High School, has been with Latinitas since the 8th grade. What she loves best about Latinitas is that it taught her to love herself and to build confidence. “I learned a lot, but mostly to love myself for who I am, how to take pictures, how to communicate with others, the importance of helping your community, and how to be part of a successful team,” shared Amaraini.
This hard working chica keeps herself busy with extracurricular activities. As a Peer Leader at the Club Latinitas at the Johnson Community, she helps recruit girls, coordinates field trips, mentors younger girls, organizes community service projects, and promotes the after-school program. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, a reporter for her yearbook class, and a KEYS Club member.
Rossie Lopez, Outreach and Program Coordinator for Latinitas, proudly boasts about Amaraini’s involvement with Latinitas. “I am so proud to see her become such a beautiful and strong lady who is definitely a role model to the younger girls in her community. She has the potential to reach her goals, and I would like to thank her for her hard work and dedication to Latinitas.”
Club Spotlight: Global Youth Service Day
Global Youth Service Day, also known as GYSD, celebrates youth leadership across the globe. On GYSD, Latinitas members helped address the world’s most critical issues through community service projects. From April 26th – 28th, Latinitas joined the international movement by hosting Amigas in Action projects within each after-school club. Latinitas members researched a community need, organized volunteer projects to address these issues and created media projects about their experience. Several of the clubs hosted collection drives to donate to local non-profits. From a book drive to a toy drive, each club raised awareness toward a key issue. The chicas tackled literacy, immigration, and child advocacy. One devoted group collected candy and hosted a birthday party for child immigrants at the Annunciation Home.
For more information on GYSD and how you can participate in next year’s event, visit: http://www.gysd.org/
Event Recap: Chicas Write Now
In this wordweavers’ writing workshop, local teen girls ages 13 – 19 were invited to unleash their creativity through the pen. On April 20th, the Chicas Write Now launched its first workshop. Attendees had a behind-the-scenes peek at the editing process of a magazine article, received writing tips toward discovering their inner literary strengths, and wrote an op-ed piece on what being a Latina means to them. Monica Gomez, member of the El Paso Writer’s League, published author, and award-winning performing singer/song writer, taught a creative writing lesson to take the attendee’s writing to another level.
Chicas Write Now will host the next monthly workshop on May 18th from 11 am – 1pm.
Event Recap: Girl Power Fest
In partnership with the Women in Business Association, Latinitas co-hosted the Girl Power Fest on April 13 with informative and inspirational panel of guest speakers and workshops, as well a fashion show, live music, entertainment, and a zumba lesson. Girls from various community groups attended the event representing Southwest Keys, YWCA, Transitional Living Center, Cuidad Nuevo and Upward Bound. The Youth Leader Panel, featuring Alejandra Gomez, Mariana Candelario, Yanil Gonzalez, Dairen Sanchez, Valeria Duron, Salma Atiya, Elena Lopez, and Krystal Pimentel, and our Leadership panel, featuring Norma Mendoza, Miriam Gonzalez, and Elizabeth Lopez, were our most popular panel. One girl enthusiastically learned to develop her leadership skills: “It takes more than enthusiasm to lead people and that there’s many types of leadership.” While another teen commented how, in order to become a great leader, “You need to be communicative and confident.” Workshops geared toward teens and pre-teens varied from body image, leadership, bullying, peer pressure and preparing for college. Attendees were encouraged to build confidence, discover their voice, express themselves, promote healthy lifestyles and make wise decisions.
Partner Spotlight: Women in Business Association
The mission of the Women in Business Association is to advocate equality for women in the workplace through awareness, activism, education and empowerment. Members from this organization are committed to addressing issues of commerce, to resolve any indifference, and are informed about the culture of different business environments. WBA has participated in numerous community service projects. Since 2010, the UTEP’s Women in Business Association has partnered with Latinitas to host the annual Girl Power Fest. In 2013, the Women in Business Association acted as volunteers, helped organize event logistics, facilitated workshops and participated as motivational speakers in our panels.
Volunteer Spotlight: Service-Learning Students
To connect teens with positive mentors and to provide college students with leadership experience, Latinitas provides service-learning opportunities for university and college students in El Paso, Texas and nearby regions. Throughout this semester, several students from the UTEP Center for Civic Engagement and the EPCC Service Learning Department became great assets to the Latinitas volunteer team. Volunteers are the heart of Latinitas and their enthusiasm and dedication toward empowering local youth made their commitment shine! Each service-learning student completed over 20 hours of volunteer work requirements by focusing on an area that helped with their personal and academic growth. These students helped with the Chica Art Fest, Girl Power Fest, Club Latinitas, photography, graphic design, blogging, and in-office volunteer work.
To learn more about volunteering with Latinitas, contact latinitasrossie@yahoo.com or call 915.219.8554.
Support Latinitas
Latinitas Scholarship Campaign:
The Latinitas Scholarship Fund was started to help young Latina college students reach their academic goals. Latinitas is dedicated to empowering the next generation of young Latina leaders to reach their fullest potential. We’ve met thousands of young Latinas in our multimedia enrichment programs and in the production of our digital magazine and our team has been struck by the daunting challenges many young Latinas face. As the nation’s largest minority and fastest growing youth population, it is vital for us to help these young women reach their full potential. The Latinitas Scholarship Fund was started to help young Latinas reach their goals by providing leadership and scholarship opportunities for Latina college students. Make an investment in our future and support Latinitas scholarship fund to assist Latina college students in reaching their higher education goals.
Contact Us
Contact Information
phone: (915)219-8554 or (915)282-5639
latinitaselpaso@yahoo.com
www.LatinitasMagazine.org
10935 Ben Crenshaw #207 – NEW OFFICE
El Paso TX, 79935
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