NOTE: This list is for promotional purposes only and not intended as an endorsement of any kind.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & COMMUNITY SERVICE
Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – Thrilled to share that she recently presented a large-scale art installation inspired by Día de Muertos at the Sugar Hill Museum in Manhattan, celebrating our traditions, memories, and community. Andrea also has an outdoor exhibition, "ImagiNATIONS," along Broadway’s pedestrian medians between 155th and 168th Streets in Upper Manhattan. The exhibition is on view October 28–November 23. Her artwork was also featured at the Femme Art Fair this past August in Washington, DC, celebrating #WomensEqualityDay, with the participation of the inimitable #GuerrillaGirls.
Gladys Ayala-Borjas (New York, NY) – organized and led a team of Comadres on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s walkathon last month. The event was organized by her office, the Alzheimer’s Association.
Maritere Bellas (Los Angeles, CA) – volunteered at two of her favorite charities through her Parish: Family Promise, they help families seeking stable housing and independence; and Guatemala Meals for Many, a food packing event twice a year where over 200,000 meals are packed by volunteers and shipped to families in Guatemala.
Olga Campos Benz (Austin, TX) – raised more than $10,000 by selling her late mother's quilts for Texas Children's Hospital patients and families.
Raesha Cartagena (Bronx, NY) – organized the 20th Anniversary Noche de Gala celebration for the Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts (PRIDA). Local Comadres were there to cheer her on.
Dr. Charley Ferrer (Homosassa, FL) – is proud to announce that she is a licensed realtor. Charley has made her first sale and it will close on November 6. She is also hosting Road to Home Ownership programs virtually.
Erica Gallardo (Kyle, TX) – was promoted to Senior Director of Public Affairs for Communities In Schools of Central Texas. Erica also volunteered at the School Supply Drive. For more information visit here: https://ciscentraltexas.org/readyforschool/
Clara Galvano Rivera (Bronx, NY) – was recognized by the Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts (PRIDA) for her years of dedicated service. Her award was presented during the 20th Anniversary Noche de Gala celebration.
Catalina E. Garcia, MD (Dallas, TX) – After 40 years in Anesthesiology practice, Catalina is happy to announce she retired, and now services as Trustee District I, a Dallas College Board-non paying elected position for a six-year term.
Paola Garcia (Forest Hills, NY) – recently completed the Lake Superior Science Immersion, where she joined 14 other educators across the states, 4 scientists, facilitators and a marine crew, and they lived on the EPA Research Vessel "Lake Guardian" for a week on Lake Superior. We studied zooplankton, water quality and photochemistry. This is a collaboration between NOAA, Seagrant, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, & the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office. Paola will be hosting a two-part workshop with The Climate Reality Project in October & November on Great Lakes & NY waterway literacy. Find more information here: https://cgll.org/event/save-the-date-2026-shipboard-science-immersion-aboard-r-v-lake-guardian/ // https://photos.app.goo.gl/4knwP9rNzQJtEcrv8
Velia LaGarda (New York, NY) – gave a stretch power dance class to breast cancer survivors at NY Presbyterian Cornell Hospital as part of a Breast Cancer Awareness event.
Cindy Landez Velasquez (San Antonio, TX) – was recognized for her loyal and dedicated service by the American Society of Civil Engineers this past October. Cindy served as the San Antonio Branch President from 2025-2026. She is also working on the new COOKING WITH LAS COMADRES cookbook, volume 2.
Karina Martinez (Austin, TX) – is excited to be participating in the Austin Studio Tour for the first time on November 14-15 and 21-22. Also, on November 13th, she will be showing at Austin Fashion Week.
Raquel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (Pharr, TX) – is an Adjunct Instructor at South Texas College University. Rachel is teaching two courses- Administrative Office Procedures and Legal Office Procedures.
Lynda Pontious De Leon (Gainesville, TX) – is a Social Entrepreneur and Women’s Advocate. She is part of a small team researching how well services for women who have experienced violence and abuse reach the women who need them. They’re looking at where support is missing or hard to access, what would make help easier to find and trust, and how the lived experience of women can shape better services. This first phase is desk research.
Ingrid Rojas Contreras (San Francisco, CA) -- – published an Op-Ed this past July in TIME: I See My Father in the Fathers Killed by ICE. Read the article here: https://time.com/article/2026/07/16/i-see-my-father-in-the-fathers-killed-by-ice/. Ingrid also raised money for Colombians following the earthquake.
Sandra Romero (Austin, TX) – is a volunteer at the Drug Free World Foundation.
Sol Thomas (Houston, TX) – graduated from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, with an Educational Doctorate (EdD) in educational leadership this past August.
Teresa M. Tobin (Metuchen, NJ) – was recognized by REFORMA and awarded a 2026 Legacy award for her years of service. Tess is a Past President of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.
Clarissa Valdez (Pearland, TX) – serves on the Executive Committee of Latino Giving Houston, a giving circle and donor-advised fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation. This fall LGH made its 2026 grant to Living Hope Wheelchair Association. Since 2010, LGH members have made an annual grant every year to support local nonprofits serving Latinos in Houston. I help recruit donors, run LGH promotions across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn, and publish a weekly spotlight on a past grantee so LGH giving history stays visible. LGH also holds a monthly mixer on the third Thursday, open to anyone who wants to learn about collective giving. The next one is Thursday, November 19, in Houston's East End.
COMADRES BOOK NEWS
Maritere Bellas (Los Angeles, CA) – Her bilingual children's book, Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English/Tío Ricky no habla inglés, received a 2026 Honorable Mention Award from the Latino Book Awards, in the Most Inspirational Children's Book category.
Dahlma Llanos Figueroa (New York, NY) – is excited to be published by a Puerto Rico island press. Dahlma says: “It’s one thing to be published in the diaspora where I live. It’s quite another to be recognized on my home island.” Her story will be included in the upcoming anthology, STORIES OF RETURN/ CUENTOS DEL RETORNO: BILINGUAL DIMENSIONS OF PUERTO RICAN MIGRATIONS, edited by Carmen Haydee Rivera (University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras).
Susana Mueller (Brandon, FL) – received the 2026 Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Fiction Book Award (Bronze.) Susana also leads and manages the LISTEN Project at her local library, recording legacy stories of the area.
Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) – Her poem Bogota Checkpoints was published in the Brownstone Poets Anthology, 2026.
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Congratulations to all !
NOTE: This list is for promotional purposes only and
not intended as an endorsement of any kind.
#ComadresLeadTheWay
#Accomplishments
