Thursday, January 20, 2011

Upcoming Events

UPCOMING EVENTS


What: Latinitas Teen Leadership Institute
When: January 29, 2011
Time: 10:00-4:00 pm
Where: Main Public Library (501 N. Oregon)
Grades: 9th-12th

What: Alliance for Latinitas Meeting-Volunteer Orientation
When: February 7, 2011
Time: 5:30-6:30 pm
Where: Latinitas El Paso Headquarters (1359 Lomaland)

What: Latinitas Teen Photography Workshop
When: February 12, 2011
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Where: Judge Marquez Public Library (610 N. Yarbrough)
Grades: 9th-12th

What: Latinitas Saturday Camp
When: February 12, 2011
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
Where: Judge Marquez Public Library (610 N. Yarbrough)
Grades 4th-8th

What: Photography Class for Teens
When: February 19, 2011
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
Where: Main Public Library (501 N. Oregon)
Grades: 8-12

What: Volunteer Mixer
When: February 24, 2011
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: Mesa Street Grill (2525 North Mesa Street)

Festival Promotes Chica Power

What does chica power mean?  Girls from Latinitas multiple after-school clubs gathered to promote chica power during the Chica Power Fest on December 4th from 10am to 4pm at the Main Public Libray.  Girls described chica power as "young teenage girl who has self-confidence and who has the ability to make smart decisions."  Middle school girls built confidence and developed their voice all while having fun at the fest organized by high school girls in the Latinitas Teen Leadership Instititute. The event highlighted panelists, multimedia trainers, and local female leaders. This event was free and  intended to help girls in grades 4-8 to become teens who are knowledgeable in subjects that are currently challenging teens.

Intern Spotlight: Yuritzy Ramos


Yuritzy Ramos is a TV/Radio Broadcasting student at El Paso Community College. She is currently working as an Event Planning & Promotions Intern for Latinitas. She is currently helping coordinate a photography exhibit featuring the creative works of Latinitas members.  Yuritzy is involved with her community. She has gone to hospitals in Juarez to care of the sick and she has also helped the poor in Chihuahua. Yuritzy decided to intern for Latinitas because she wants to gain experience in the workforce while making a difference and sharing her ideas with others. She thinks that Latinitas is important because it "helps girls to succeed, to become more confident of themselves, to share ideas and to learn more about the right thing to do." Yuritzy's future goals are to graduate and then get her master's degree. She eventually wants to move to Miami to work for a television station like Univision.

Teens Invited to Discover the Leadership Potential

      Latinitas will be starting the Teen Leadership Institute on January 29. The institute will run from January to May, ending with a graduation ceremony. Hispanic girls in high school are invited to join. The cost of the program is $20 and there are a limited number of scholarships available. The institute will help the teens to develop their leadership skills while meeting new friends, connecting with mentors and role models, and completing community service projects. During the monthly workshops, the girls will learn about leadership methods, decision making skills, goal setting, public speaking, civic engagement, and volunteering.
      The requirements for this program include organizing 2 community service projects, completing a minimum of 20 volunteer hours, participating in a training retreat (January 29), participating in fundraising projects, and committing to attend monthly meetings.
      "The Teen Leadership Institute is a great opportunity for Hispanic girls to actively involve themselves with the community while learning valuable leadership skills," says Marcela Aguirre, Public Relations Intern for Latinitas. Latinitas will accept applications for the Teen Leadership Institute until January 24:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/623JRWT

For more information about being a part of the Teen Leadership Institute, call  239-5051 or email at latinitaselpaso@yahoo.com.

Donor Spotlight: Jennifer Sanchez - Publisher Su Voz Latina Magazine

We interviewed Jennifer Sanchez, creator of Su Voz Latina, to see what she has to say about supporting Latinitas.  Here's what Jennifer has to say:

1. What made you decide to become a supporter for Latinitas?We strongly believe in their mission to help empower and encourage young Latinas.  We held a fund raiser for them. 

2. What do you like the most about Latinitas?
Their mission.  I also appreciate their quarterly Latinitas fests. I was honored to be the main speaker at the last one held at the public Library & experienced first hand the great impact they have on the girls. At these meetings, the girls have the opportunity to relate to and empower one another. 
 
3. Why do you think it is important for our community to have an organization like Latinitas?
Many people focus on the empowerment of adults and fail to recognize the importance of developing strong, independent, confident future leaders.

Teen Latinitas Fest Helped Girls Become Picture Perfect

Latinitas helped girls ages 13 and up bring out their creative side with the Teen Latinitas Fest on Saturday, November 13 at KOI Studio Productions. This workshop provided hands-on training with photography, audio recording, graphic design, film making, and poetry.  Photographer Bianca Cervantes from KOI Studio Productions and Latinitas partnered to provide this free training workshop for young teens so that they could gain knowledge in digital technology. It also helped the girls develop their self-esteem and cultural pride while learning and having fun. This is the first year that Latinitas has partnered with KOI Studio Productions to provide this fun and engaging workshop for the community of young girls in El Paso.

Volunteer Spotlight: Gaby Marquez

Gaby Marquez is currently working with Latinitas as a Workshop Leader for the Latinitas Saturday Camps.  On a monthly basis, she helps lead our Saturday Camps by running creative expression activities for pre-teens. Gaby has previously served as a positive role model to girls as a Club Leader at our weekly after-school programs. Gaby was motivated to volunteer with Latinitas "to prevent and reduce the teen pregnancy rate in the Latino community...I enjoy serving my community and would like to mentor other Latinas.  I like working with other motivated young women.  It is a great experience as well as encourages young girls to succeed." 

Special Thanks to Su Voz Latina Magazine

On December 10, Su Voz Latina Magazine hosted the Winter Wonderland Fashion Show at the Camino Real as a fundraiser to help Latinitas' girl empowement programs and scholarships.  The event was a great success with over 150 guests enjoying a fashion show, motivational speaker Bruce Villarreal and delectable lunch from the chefs of Camio Real.  The fashion show featured clothing from Trend Society,  Bedazzled, Dillard's, and Agua modeled by Bazaar models. The event also consisted of shopping in which local vendors had booths with various items on sale. Among the vendors were Scentsy, Bedazzled, Agua, etc.

"The staff, volunteers, and girls at Latinitas would like to thank Su Voz Latina, especially Jennfier Sanchez, for organizing this fundraiser for Latinitas. Through this fundraiser, Latinitas will be able to continue empowering young girls through its various programs," says Marcela Aguirre, Public Relations Intern for Latinitas. Latinitas hopes to continue its partnership with Su Voz Latina.