Latinitas Launched New Social Network - MyLatinitas.com

The newest excitement for Latinitas followers is its new networking site, MyLatinitas.com. The site already has over 90 members from El Paso, Austin, and even New York have already singed up to connect to the beta site with other Latinitas readers and volunteers.  Girls can join a safe, moderated online community where they can share photos, upload videos, add music, join discussions, add friends, create events, build groups and post blogs about several topics of interest to young Latinas.

One of the most popular blogging themes includes President Barack Obama's presidential inauguration.  As various members tell about the exhilarating feeling that many Americans felt when witnessing this historic moment, one user told about her negative experience involving a schoolmate.  This site is useful for initiating such discussions among Latinas that as ethnic minorities are likely to affect our experiences.   

Other blogging topics have included entertainment, such as book and film reviews, as well as opportunities to apply for scholarships and organizations.  Many members have also used to the site to post blogs about personal interests, and have been able to network with other Latinitas.  

In addition to providing an outlet for creative expression among Hispanic girls, the site also features articles written by LatinitasMagazine staff and interns. 

Not signed up yet?  Join at www.MyLatinitas.com.  

Teen Latinitas Council: The Next Generation of Latina Media Makers

Latinitas’ mission "To empower Latina youth through media and technology", is on the move with the Teen Latinitas Council. Composed of 15 teen reporters, the TLC works with some of today's most advanced media to empower themselves and other teen Latinas in the U.S.

Our next generation of Latina media makers works to become more proficient in photography, radio journalism, website design, blogs, film production, poetry, interviewing, advertising, and marketing. By keeping up with the savviest technological media trends, members of the Teen Latinitas Council are preparing for their careers in journalism, as they are mentored by professional journalists who aid them in gaining the necessary tactics and resources to work in such a competitive field.

“My career goals are to one day work with a big time magazine or become a news anchor or reporter”, confesses Amber, a dedicated member of TLC. “I hope to gain the experience and skills that I will need in the future to follow my dream.”.

These skills are learned through a creative process in which the teens get to explore each medium and receive assistance and training to improve their proficiency. In addition to creating their own media, the Teen Council members act as advisors to Latinitas’ editorial board by pitching ideas and evaluating the effectiveness of the webzine. This group is already setting the agenda for what thousands of Latinas read on a monthly basis by contributing constantly to the TeenLatinitas.com- the first digital magazine created by and for teen Latinas in the United States.

This volunteer internship opportunity allows teens to take on leadership roles and use media as a tool for social justice and cultural awareness. Another primary goal for the Teen Latinitas Council is to shape positive experiences for all Latinitas and promoting Latina pride and a positive image of the culture. The council does this by engaging in media events, such as interviews with musicians Los Lonely Boys, celebrities like America's Next Top Model winner Jaslene and author Isabel Allende. On the webzine, the Teen reporters express their views about geography, Latina history, role models, school and beauty.

The Teen Latinitas Council hopes to continue growing and is always looking for new reporters to help Latinitas reach its followers through the numerous channels that make up journalism today. Their next orientation session for teen reporters will be on Sunday, February 28th @ 1:30 at Armijo Public Library. By joining the Council, Latinitas can share their skills and enthusiasm with the next generation of Latina media makers.

Our Father's Foundation Helps Make Expansion of Club Latinitas Possible

This month, Latinitas begins the expansion of Club Latinitas, the after-school program that began its efforts to serve several communities in the Fall of last year. Thanks to a grant provided by the Our Father's Foundation, Latinitas will be able to expand its after-school programs to a total of 11.

The Our Father's Foundation is a family-based organization that was founded in 2003. Through its efforts, OFF has already helped over a dozen non-profit organizations in El Paso, with a mission to fund programs that empower women and children.

Latinitas will benefit from the Our Father’s Foundation grant with the ability to assist many more girls in gaining media-related skills, such a photography and news reporting at its already beneficial sites like Armijo Library in central El Paso. Latinitas would like to recognize and thank the Our Father’s Foundation for its considerate donation and the help it has provided. For more information, visit http://www.theourfathersfoundation.org/.

Photography for Scholarships at the "Dos Mundos,Mil Lentes" Auction

Latinitas needs your support in attending the "Dos Mundos,Mil Lentes"
Auction, to take place on Friday, March 6th at La Fe Cultural and
Center.

"The Dos Mundos,Mil Lentes Project" is a 24-hour photography
contest, in which photographers of all ages captured hundreds of
images that depict both sides of the border. These photos have
previously been displayed at City Hall and the Abrazos Gallery at the Chamizal, where they are currently available for sale. The remaining
photos will be exhibited and auctioned at La Fe Cultural Center and
the proceeds from this auction will benefit Latinitas’ Scholarship
Fund.

If you are interested in volunteering at the auction, or helping to plan
the event, send an e-mail to volunteer@latinitasmagazine.org

Students Dedicate Time through Praxis and Center for Civic Engagement

Jacqueline Quinones, Senior Electronic Media major at UTEP, is excited to continue volunteering with Latinitas this Spring. Quinones is one of several UTEP and EPCC students who chose Latinitas as her Service Learning project for the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and Praxis- campus programs that aim to enhance student learning through community involvement.

So far, 20 students have been connected to Latinitas through these programs, contributing a total of 400 hours of volunteerism to Club Latinitas, Saturday workshops and other special events. Not only do CCE and Praxis allow students to receive class credit for their work, these community network programs also serve as link tfor students to gain a positive volunteer experience.

Students who sign up for these programs have the ability to practice their leadership skills, act as mentors and accompany young Latinas through an empowering process.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Quinones. “As a volunteer my task was to help with the day’s activities and to converse with the girls about anything they had on their minds. We talked about school, elections and how we are portrayed as Latinas."

Students who volunteer through the Center for Civic Engagement must complete a 1.5 hour training session and can choose from a flexible schedule to complete their volunteer hours with Latinitas. Although 20 hours is the minimum, other students like Quinones have decided to stay on board as volunteers with the organization.

“Joining Latinitas was one of the best decisions I've made with a rewarding experience. Actually, I'll be volunteering again this semester and encouraging other students to join as well,” added Quinones.

Alianza Para Latinitas Aims to Raise Funds and Awareness

From organizing fundraisers to raising public awareness, the Alliance for Latinitas has remained active in executing tasks that have helped to expand Latinitas’ programs in El Paso. This auxiliary group is responsible for coordinating and executing presentations, volunteer fairs, cultural celebrations and other events. The group of leaders that makes up the Alliance for Latinitas is especially focused on increasing funding for scholarships that benefit the educational endeavors of Latinas in our area, as well as their ability to participate in the programs that Latinitas has to offer.

Ginger Pineda Raya, the Chair of the Alliance explains, “our volunteer-driven organization, relies heavily on creative and effective fundraising in order to raise community support for girl empowerment initiatives.” Past fundraisers that the Alliance for Latinitas has organized include a walk-a-thon, a bachelor auction, and a benefit concert, all which involve much organization and the involvement of volunteers from the range of branches that make up the structure of the Alliance for Latinitas- such as the marketing, public relations and event planning committees. Currently, the Alliance for Latinitas is occupied with organizing the Dos Mundos/Mil Lentes auction, an event which will consist of auctioning a series of photos that were taken to portray life on the border and will take place on March 6th.

At the same time, this group is working to raise public awareness about Latinitas and increase the membership of the Alliance by hosting informational events and socials, including their recent mixer on Tuesday, February 17th from 5-7:30 pm at El Parque Restaurant on the east side. Alianza para Latinitas encourages new volunteers to put the talents to good use as part of a committee. The Alliance can always use some extra help.

When asked why she believes why others should consider joining the alliance Ginger adds, “Latinitas really does empower Latina youth. The various programs that Latinitas offers in the community are impactful and make a difference in the lives of the girls that we work with.”

You can RSVP to the event or find out more information by sending an email to volunteer@latinitasmagazine.org

Dos Mundos:Mil Lentes Photo Project

Latinitas Selected As Beneficiary of Photo Exhibit

A tale of two cities - El Pasoan seeks 1,000 people to document border life
By Maribel Villalva / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 07/22/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

El Paso photographer Tim Holt has been documenting the El Paso/Juárez region for more than 24 years and he's always amazed by what catches his eye. "This is a really cool place in which we live and most of the time, we don't realize it," Holt said. "El Paso has become a lot more colorful over the years. It's a much happier place than when I was younger." Holt is inviting 1,000 photographers -- anyone with a digital camera -- to share his passion and participate in the upcoming photography project "Dos Mundos/Mil Lentes" ("Two Worlds/A Thousand Lenses"). Through "Dos Mundos," Holt hopes to create an hour-by-hour account of life in this vast borderplex. "By getting people to look at the city in a different way, through a camera lens, more people might see how exciting El Paso is," he said.

Holt also is the founder of two photography groups in El Paso: Photo Enthusiasts of El Paso (PEEP) and MegaPixels. It was through PEEP that Holt also organized the "Drive-By Shooting" photo contest that encouraged photographers of all levels to drive through the streets of El Paso and, using a disposable camera, take pictures of their surroundings. The popular photo contest lasted about eight years, but Holt recently decided that contest had run its course and decided to do something involving the sister cities of El Paso and Juárez.

The goal is an ambitions one: to recruit 1,000 photographers on both sides of the border to document life in El Paso and Juárez during one 24-hour period, starting at noon Aug. 9 and ending at noon Aug. 10. Photographers can be professionals as well as anyone with a digital point-and-shoot camera. The only requirement is that a digital camera be used, Holt said. Participants will be assigned one hour within the 24-hour period to ensure that the entire day is well-documented. Participants will then submit their 10 favorite images to Holt who will, in turn, select a final collection to exhibit in the region.

The exhibit also will be a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization Latinitas, an online magazine (www.latinitasmagazine.org) geared toward young girls and teenagers. The organization also will be granted permission to use the images from the exhibit for one year to try to raise additional money for Latinitas. Alicia Rascon, Latinitas co-founder and chief executive officer, said this photography project goes hand-in-hand with the mission of the online publication. "This is such a wonderful project because it really resonates with us. We're all about highlighting bicultural Latinas and living within two different cultures. This really matches our mission," Rascon said. Rascon said the organization will organize traveling exhibits in both El Paso and Juárez and will ask for a donation. Additionally, she plans to sell postcards featuring some of the images from the project with the proceeds all going toward media enrichment programs for young girls. "Thanks to this project, we'll be able to do more outreach and even offer photography workshops where young girls can create their own photography." There also will be a mini-contest for young Latinas, Rascon said. She's going to encourage these girls to take their own photos and some of the images will be submitted to the larger "Dos Mundos" project.

Holt said he'd still like to get 1,000 people to participate in the project. So far, only 50 have signed up. The fact that Juárez is currently experiencing murderous violence because of feuding drug cartels might have something to do with the low turnout so far, but Holt said he's also inviting Juarenses to participate and photograph the positive things about the city. "People are still living their lives over there. They're going to the store, going to church. Here's our chance to say, 'Here's the good side of life in Juárez,' " Holt said. "We want this project to highlight the good side of both El Paso and Juárez."

El Paso photographer Leland DeFord is helping Holt organize the event and said it's important to keep the images positive. "It would be very easy for me to go Downtown and photograph transients in alleys, but we want to show these cities in their best light and highlight everything that's good about this community." Holt said he's also seeing a renewed interest in photography and he credits the accessibility of digital cameras for that. "It's really exciting to see that photography resurgence," he said. "I'm seeing a lot of younger people getting involved, too." And for this project, Holt said, anyone can participate. In fact, over the years, he said some of the most amazing images he's seen have come from non-photographers. "Some of the coolest things I've seen have come from students and novices," he said.

Make plans What: "Dos Mundos/Mil Lentes,""a photography event to documented a 24-hour period in El Paso and Juárez. When: Starts at noon Aug. 9 and ends at noon Aug. 10. Where: El Paso and Juárez. How much: $5. Information:"E-mail Tim Holt at timholt@mac.com or visit the project's Web site at www.snipurl.com/dosmundos.