I learned a good deal while volunteering for the past month at the Johnson club during the spring of 2013. What I liked the most about leading this club was talking to the girls about their problems and being able to help them solve them in a constructive way. I also liked it when the girls would offer their opinion on what should or could be done in that situation. We did a photo project, video exercise, made Mother’s Day cards, played some games. We also thought of ways to help one another with skits and advice including, but not limited to, spotting signs of an unhealthy relationship, how to better communicate with others, and how to improve relationships. My favorite activity was when they went around their neighborhood and picked up trash as part of the Global Youth Service Project. The girls split into two teams and literally ran with the activity. It was crazy to see them be so excited about it. I can’t say that I really have a single favorite memory. Every time I went to the club the girls always said or did something that would make me laugh or something that would tell me that by being here, it was doing them some good. At our last meeting, Elizabeth (the volunteer who mentored the girls with me) and I, asked the girls what they had learned, liked, or disliked about the club meetings. Most of the girls said that they liked the club because they got to meet new people and learn new things, when pressed on ”what those new things were the younger girls just said, “lots of stuff.” But the older girls said that they learned how to better handle sticky situations, how to control their anger, and how to better talk to people about what they feel. I think the club greatly benefited the girls, I think it not only taught them social skills, but also that people care about them and want to help them. As a club leader I learned a whole different aspect of being involved with young people. It was not too long ago that I was their age and living in the same kind of situations, if my youth leaders and friends had not been there for me, I could see my life taking a much darker turn at that point in my life.
-Desiraie Murillo
Johnson Club Leader Testimonial Fall 2012
I Love MyLatinitas.com
Our team was super excited to see this message about the online community we are creating at MyLatinitas.com….
To be honest, I think I feel a bigger community feel to Latinitas than I ever had with Facebook.
True, I try to create networking happen on Facebook, but I still feel so disconnected from everyone. Latinitas is a mini-community. I often feel very encouraged to let my fears known. Like its okay to make mistakes almost as though you all were family.
I want to be honest, as old as I am I often feel like that nerdy 13 year old girl from 7th grade, but hearing everyone’s story always encourages me to be okay with that.
It reminds me to post on behalf of younger girls who may read this and feel that they are alone. If you are one of them, I want you to know that you are not alone.
I wish I could give you all a big hug and thank you for the support I feel.
This is one of the reasons I am proud to be Latina.
Being Latina means you always haved family, friends or someone to trust in. This community is always encouraging each and everyone and I hope to do the same.
Remember, there is always tomorrow.
Love you gals!
April
Esperanza Library Club Leader Testimonial Fall 2012
My name is Teresa Rodriguez and I was a club leader for Fall 2012 at the Esperanza Acosta Moreno library. This was the first time this library location had the Latinita’s afterschool club. It turned out to be a memorable experience. I also had help from Dayna, an amazing volunteer who served as a great mentor. My favorite thing about being the leader of the club was watching the girls interacting with each other. They came in as strangers but the last few weeks of the club, they all acted like best friends. It was great to see them learn and have fun together as a group. This semester we did different activities in club which dealt with technology, media, and our culture. Every week we had a theme and the activities followed the themes. Throughout the semester, we did photography, arts and crafts, journals, and learned about the presidential campaign, red ribbon week, and college. My favorite activity was shooting our presidential debate video. I’ve never seen the girls have that much fun, but at the same time be very creative and ask thought provoking questions. My favorite memory was the girls coming in every week and asking each other how their day was, and how school was going. The girls learned many things in club, including friendship, body image, the importance of college, important events in our culture and in our world, and how to take photographs. In many ways the club impacts and benefits them. One way is for the girls to have mentors who are older who can give them advice and help them succeed. The club is great for the girls to create new friendships where they have something in common with the girl next to them. Also the club shows the girls new interests and makes the girls realize what potential they have. As a club leader, I learned many valuable skills like how to work and talk with these girls, and I learned the responsibilities one has. Even though at times it was hard and could get frustrating, it was a great experience and nothing made me happier than the girls having fun.
Sandoval Club Leader Testimonial Fall 2012
By Courtney Riddlebarger
If I had to describe the Sandoval girls in one word I would say charismatic. 
As their club leader, I was lucky and loved listening to their ideas and responses because of their wild creativity but I also had my hands full! I always knew I would be tired after my Thursday nights. My club mentor Bianca was also a great help and while we were always tired it was because we had so much fun and that’s usually tiring! The time always flew by and when it was time to leave, the girls were always wanting more time with us and the activities.
During this semester, we did workshops about Loving yourself, Domestic Violence Awareness, College, the Presidential Campaign, and a Photography Scavenger hunt. I would say that my favorite lesson with them was the presidential campaign because they really got into the videos and their ideas about being leaders to what they are passionate about. Their Charisma and excitement can really be used for incredible things some day. My favorite part was at the end of the campaign commercial they made, the girls yelled “Four more years!” very loud! I loved it because they came up with it on their own experience and it was very cute to see even the youngest of girls be so involved in something going on in our country.
As a club leader for Sandoval, I have learned that although people might not have the best of life handed to them, it is important to stay happy and not to lose yourself in the troubles going on in your life. The girls shared with me some of their experiences and to be so young they know so much about the harsh reality of life already. I think that they are really capable of channeling that knowledge to lead and to go very far in life. It seems that being part of Latinitas is helping them to do that!
Tays Club Leader Testimonial Fall 2012
By Courtney Riddlebarger
The Tays housing team was a very special group. My name is Courtney Francisco and I got the chance to be with them for this fall 2012 semester. I will start with their personality. This group was definitely the most experienced in the Latinitas clubs. They had completed semesters before and so they were very attentive and always gave feedback on the discussions. These girls were close to my heart and I always looked forward to Tuesdays for that reason. The housing employees were also very helpful and very nice. They were organized and seemed to make an effort to get to know me.
My strongest memory of this group was actually the last meeting with them at the showcase of their work.It was nice to meet their parents and have some food and talk about the past activities. I also remember going to the Aim High Conference with some of the girls because it seemed like they had so much fun and it gave me time outside of the club to get to know a couple of them individually.
Overall, I think that I learned from them that being dependable is very important. They were always there and their dependability helped me to realize that when making a commitment to something for them, following through with it means a lot to them. There were times when I was so tired or when I had so much other work to do, but I always went and I was never thinking of all of the other things once I got there. I think of how much a club leader could miss out on if they don’t take the time to really invest into their groups and get to know them. It made me feel good at the end because the Housing Authority actually invited me to their Christmas dinner and gave thanks to me for being there for Latinitas. They even made the effort to give me their information and I feel that in this club I really made lasting relationships with the volunteers and with the girls.
Desiree Rios, Club Leader
I had no idea that this organization would make such a huge impact on my life. Latinitas has transformed my college experience into something I never imagined it could become. I feel a sense of community and purpose as an intern and club leader. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization that stands for something so dear to my own heart: the advancement and empowerment of young Latinas. A lot of people talk about change, or wanting to make a difference, Latinitas is that chance to do both. When you are a club leader, you are introducing these girls to concepts they’ve never heard of before, teaching them how to use their voice, you change the way they see themselves and the world around them. I see many girls who are truly a reflection of myself, they dream like I once dreamed. I hope that seeing my success as a Latina pursuing her dreams, keeps theirs alive.
Actor Benito Martinez of “The Shield” Fame Says Yay for Latinitas
“As a father of two LATINITAS, I know fully the challenges that our young ladies deal with daily. I love the fact that LATINITAS has made it their mission to support and generate positive self awareness for our young ladies. Its important work; its loving work and it truly makes an impact!”
Benito Martinez appeared in season 8 of the hit show “24″ starring Kiefer Sutherland. Martinez current appears as “Luis Torres”, a member of a Mexican drug cartel, in season 4 of FX Network’s hit show “Sons of Anarchy” as well as one of the main host bodies of the entity Leviathan on the popular CW series Supernatural. In 2011 he had a small role in “The Blood Line” the finale of Torchwood’s fourth series, known as Torchwood: Miracle Day. He has also appeared in Million Dollar Baby and had a long-running role as police chief on the acclaimed show, “The Shield.”
Scholarship Recipient: Amanda Armendariz
Amanda Armendariz
Major: Education
Class of 2013
I am Amanda Armendariz and currently a club leader intern with Latinitas. This is my first semester with the program for fall 2011. I attend El Paso Community College and plan to transfer to UTEP to complete my education. I love working with children and teaching them something new every day. I plan to graduate from UTEP with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. My dream is to become an inspiring teacher, teaching children new things every day and watching their astonished faces. I have always said that I want to make a difference in someone’s life for just one day and I know when I become a teacher, I will. College is important to me, having an education opens up more opportunities that will allow me in becoming a successful citizen and role model to my younger sisters. An education rewards you with a good a career, great benefits and able to make life time investments. The opportunities that Latinitas has given me, has only made me a better person by teaching what I have learned in my classes and sharing it with the members, is unbelievable for me. Not only am I gaining the experience to compliment my field of study, but I am also getting rewarded with an educational stipend to help me fulfill my goal in becoming a teacher. It’s not always about the stipend but what I gained from the experience. Many thanks to all of the Latinitas staff for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful program. It takes a lot of work and dedication for a program to run smoothly, and Latinitas does. I really enjoy working with the friendly staff. I would also like to say thank you to our sponsors for supporting this educational club, Latinitas. Our community needs sponsors that will make future leaders successful. Once again, Thank You, you made it happen. Sincerely, Amanda Armendariz
Ysleta Library Club Spotlight by Jasmine Villa
The enthusiastic and outspoken Latinitas at Ysleta Public Library in El Paso, TX have not only learned but demonstrated what it takes to be an empowering Latina teen. Their charismatic and witty personalities meant the room was always full of laughter and discussions on the lessons and of their personal lives. The meek and quiet Latina stereotype is long-gone in the girls minds, even the shyest girl broke out of her shell within a month or two. These girls did not lack confidence and their big hearts shone in everything that they did. Throughout the spring semester, the girls scripted and recorded their own Latinitas talk show and sounded off on what it meant to be a true friend. Other projects included writing their own song and making a music video, drawing a comic about their emotions, tapping into their fashionista skills by upcycling and designing outfits, and created a how-to video on how to draw a cat. The tutorial of drawing a cat was my favorite activity, mostly because the girls had their own director, artist, camera-WOMAN, speaker, and script writer for the video– they went above and beyond with the lesson. With minimal guidance, the girls worked together to create an awesome tutorial.
An unforgettable moment was the persistence and determination to raise money towards the Autism Community Network of El Paso as their Global Youth Service Day project. Even though the club meeting on Good Friday was cancelled, the girls begged to come in to work on the Autism poster PSAs and concession stand flyers.Unfortunately, terrible news hit the next meeting, when the city of El Paso did not grant us the permits to sell concessions. Smile on their faces and willingness to overcome this, the girls rallied together and decided to raise the donation on their own. I admire their dedication towards making a difference in the community. I am super proud of them because they raised a whopping $115!!! For the project, not only did they decorate a frame with an autism awareness portrait, they also raised money for a cause that is important to them.
What they learned cannot be measured on paper. They learned different media and writing skills, but their creativity and confidence grew with each lesson. I was their mentor, but I became their friend, someone they could rely on to talk about their friendship or family problems. As their mentor, their enthusiasm for Latinitas grew, but as their friend I saw a change in each and every one of them. They had more confidence to be themselves and speak their mind. Friendships grew within the club and the club acted as a mini-support group for anyone going through a hard time. The girls have inspired me to keep working with Latinitas and know my girls at Ysleta have a bright future ahead of them and are destined for bigger and better things in their lives.
Daniela Lagunes, Club Leader Testimonial
Tays Housing Authority in El Paso, TX invited Latinitas Club during the Spring 2012 semester for six weeks full of media and lots of fun.Tuesdays were the days we met.I must say they were very excited to have us since the beginning. When I arrived to the first club meeting, they were already waiting for me. As the weeks went by we worked on a “how to” video tutorial, discussed the benefits of being healthy, learned how to deal with emotions and had our very own fashion show at the club. The girls had a blast with all the cool activities Latinitas Club offered. They were able to express their thoughts about issues such as the importance of inner beauty. The inner beauty lesson was one of the girls’ favorites because they learned that not all beauty lies on the outside, but it also comes from within. We worked on a service project for approximately two weeks and the outcome was extraordinary. The girls went door to door around their neighborhood, collecting cans for the West Texas Food Bank. Personally, this lesson was one of my favorites because the girls had the opportunity to help others in their own community. Discussions are a big part of the lesson plans which I think are very important because it allows the girls to understand each other better. Above all, the best part of this wonderful experience is realizing that on the first day you come in as a club leader and as the weeks go by you become their friend. The girls liked the club so much that they are hoping to have more fun with Latinitas soon!
Mondays were Latinitas Club days at the Judge Marquez Public Library. The girls in this club are from one of the Housing Authority Communities in El Paso, TX. They liked Latinitas so much that they are now part of this club at the library. Fashion, staying healthy,the importance of friendship and the importance of community service were some of the lessons we worked on during this wonderful Spring semester. The girls loved making videos that allowed them to express their views on different issues. Two of the lessons the girls favored were “Latinitas Stay Healthy” and “Global Youth Service Day.” They had a chance to share with other Latinitas their tips on staying healty and the importance of staying physically active. For the Global Youth Service Day activity we decided to create Thank you cards for the firemen and police officers around the community. The girls wanted to thank all the heroes for day to day efforts to keep the community safe. Personally, my favorite lesson was the one on fashion because they got a chance to design and make an awesome dress out of recycled paper. I had a blast with these amazing young girls this semester. Their smiles are contagious as well as their energy and enthusiasm. I hope we can share more time together next semester.
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