LAS COMADRES PARA LAS AMERICAS
is proud to announce the launch of its quarterly newsletter.
COMADRES CONNECT! ... SPRING EDITION
LAURA LOPEZ CANO
Written by Esperanza Beltran
Relaxed Atmosphere & Lots of Trust
It was an invitation from a friend that brought Laura López Cano to one of the first Comadrazos in Austin, Texas. There she met Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Las Comadres Founder, whom she later found out had been navigating in the same professional circles as herself, but neither of them knew about the other until then. The Comadrazo was such a beautiful example of what Las Comadres does: bring women together to connect.
At the Comadrazos, women are allowed to get together without pressure, says Laura. You can talk about the kids, the weather and recipes in a relaxed atmosphere where professional titles don’t matter.
She learned a lot about trust too. Women opened their homes to women they did not know, and women went to the homes of strangers. There was trust on both sides, and trust was easy when they all desire the same thing, to connect. Las Comadres biggest accomplishment, says Laura, is to have created this community of women before the rise of social media.
When she was commissioned by Nora to create the logo for Las Comadres, Laura made sure to convey, through her artwork, the vision that Nora had for the organization – a community of women connecting with each other. The word Comadrazo comes from the combination of the words Comadre + Abrazo, which is why she painted the now famous logo of women hugging each other. (The original logo had four women, we now have five.) Another interesting touch that Laura made sure to include was the variety in skin tones, hair colors and textures. Las Latinas somos as unique and varied as the world, and it was important for Laura to emphasize that in the painting of the Las Comadres logo.
Laura López Cano is a long-time Comadre and artist living in Texas. She will be holding an Art workshop during the Worldwide Comadrazo on April 17.
FRIENDS, COMADRES & A WEDDING
By Jacqueline Quiňones
Edith Reyes and Julia Abrantes have been friends for 20 years. They are also Comadres in more ways than one.
Edith and Julia met while they both lived in New York City. Edith moved to San Antonio, where she joined Las Comadres. When Julia was looking for a book club, Edith recommended the New York City "branch" of the Las Comadres & Friends Book Club, and soon Julia too was a Comadre and helping run the book club. Eighteen years later, the two are still Best Friends and still Comadres in their respective states – Edith in Texas; Julia in Georgia.
They have not seen each other in person in the past four years, but they speak practically every day. They have always been there for each other’s ups and downs, and especially last year when Edith had to cancel her wedding due to Covid-19. However, life goes on, and the wedding is back on.
The two Comadres are excited about seeing each other at the wedding not only because they are reuniting, but also because Julia will be officiating the wedding!
For Julia it is the biggest honor of her life. Edith said it was not a difficult decision to make, because she knows that Julia will make the wedding ceremony special and spiritual just as she wants it even during this pandemic.
Written by Esperanza Beltran
Relaxed Atmosphere & Lots of Trust
It was an invitation from a friend that brought Laura López Cano to one of the first Comadrazos in Austin, Texas. There she met Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Las Comadres Founder, whom she later found out had been navigating in the same professional circles as herself, but neither of them knew about the other until then. The Comadrazo was such a beautiful example of what Las Comadres does: bring women together to connect.
At the Comadrazos, women are allowed to get together without pressure, says Laura. You can talk about the kids, the weather and recipes in a relaxed atmosphere where professional titles don’t matter.
She learned a lot about trust too. Women opened their homes to women they did not know, and women went to the homes of strangers. There was trust on both sides, and trust was easy when they all desire the same thing, to connect. Las Comadres biggest accomplishment, says Laura, is to have created this community of women before the rise of social media.
When she was commissioned by Nora to create the logo for Las Comadres, Laura made sure to convey, through her artwork, the vision that Nora had for the organization – a community of women connecting with each other. The word Comadrazo comes from the combination of the words Comadre + Abrazo, which is why she painted the now famous logo of women hugging each other. (The original logo had four women, we now have five.) Another interesting touch that Laura made sure to include was the variety in skin tones, hair colors and textures. Las Latinas somos as unique and varied as the world, and it was important for Laura to emphasize that in the painting of the Las Comadres logo.
Laura López Cano is a long-time Comadre and artist living in Texas. She will be holding an Art workshop during the Worldwide Comadrazo on April 17.
By Jacqueline Quiňones
Edith Reyes and Julia Abrantes have been friends for 20 years. They are also Comadres in more ways than one.
Edith and Julia met while they both lived in New York City. Edith moved to San Antonio, where she joined Las Comadres. When Julia was looking for a book club, Edith recommended the New York City "branch" of the Las Comadres & Friends Book Club, and soon Julia too was a Comadre and helping run the book club. Eighteen years later, the two are still Best Friends and still Comadres in their respective states – Edith in Texas; Julia in Georgia.
They have not seen each other in person in the past four years, but they speak practically every day. They have always been there for each other’s ups and downs, and especially last year when Edith had to cancel her wedding due to Covid-19. However, life goes on, and the wedding is back on.
The two Comadres are excited about seeing each other at the wedding not only because they are reuniting, but also because Julia will be officiating the wedding!
For Julia it is the biggest honor of her life. Edith said it was not a difficult decision to make, because she knows that Julia will make the wedding ceremony special and spiritual just as she wants it even during this pandemic.
On Saturday, February 27, despite a pandemic and mandatory social distancing, Julia Abrantes officiated at the wedding of Edith Reyes and Edward Vela. Mr. & Mrs. & Comadres forever.
WORLDWIDE COMADRAZO & 21st ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Sisterhood & Fierce Friendships
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 17
1pm EST / 12pm CT / 11am MT / 10am PT
Las Comadres turns 21 this year and we are celebrating with a virtual Worldwide Comadrazo & Anniversary Celebration. There will be speakers, breakouts, a film, a sing-a-long and raffle prizes! Check out the agenda here: http://lascomadres.com/lco/2021-worldwide-comadrazo/agenda
Plus, we are introducing The Nora Awards for Comadres who exemplify the virtues of Loyalty, Generosity, Sisterhood & Kindness.
We are collecting Testimonials and photos from past meetings, book clubs, and Worldwide Comadrazos. Email us by March 20 copies of your photos and your testimonial about being a Comadre to info@lascomadres.com.
Buy the official WWC t-shirt, send us a selfie & you can be part of the slideshow. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignsbyJori
Registration opened March 8. We’ll see you there!
EVENT CALENDAR
March 18 (Thurs) – Las Comadres University: Fundraising
March 29 (Mon) – Book Club Teleconference / Podcast
March 31 (Wed) – Las Comadres Speaker Series
April 17 (Sat) – Worldwide Comadrazo & 21st Anniversary Celebration
April 26 (Mon) – Book Club Teleconference / Podcast
April 28 (Wed) – Las Comadres Speaker Series
May 24 (Mon) – Book Club Teleconference / Podcast
May 26 (Wed) – Las Comadres Speaker Series
LAS COMADRES UNIVERSITY
March 18 (Thursday)
Basic Components of Fundraising:
Programs for Nonprofits and Higher Education Institutions
Dr. Celeste Guzmán Mendoza
Fee = $65. Register here: http://lascomadres.com/lco/comadre-university/fundraising
LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES
Las Comadres has a monthly virtual Speaker Series. It’s FREE to all Comadres. For full descriptions, visit: http://lascomadres.com/lco/speaker-series
March 31 (Wednesday)
Establishing Powerful Networks and Collaborations Among Latinas
Dr. Isaura González
Founder & CEO Latina Mastermind
April 28 (Wednesday)
Women & Finance:
Dr. Celeste Guzmán Mendoza
Fee = $65. Register here: http://lascomadres.com/lco/comadre-university/fundraising
LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES
Las Comadres has a monthly virtual Speaker Series. It’s FREE to all Comadres. For full descriptions, visit: http://lascomadres.com/lco/speaker-series
March 31 (Wednesday)
Establishing Powerful Networks and Collaborations Among Latinas
Dr. Isaura González
Founder & CEO Latina Mastermind
April 28 (Wednesday)
Women & Finance:
Create Financial Independence
Monica Escobar Rangel &
Monica Escobar Rangel &
Monica Martinez-Hess
Financial Services Professionals
Financial Services Professionals
New York Life
May 26 (Wednesday)
Raising Bilingual and Multicultural Children
Maritere R. Bellas
Parenting Topic Expert & Advocate for Bilingualism & Multiculturalism
LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB
MARCH BOOKS
Meet the Authors on Monday, March 29
Book of the Month: THE CIPHER
May 26 (Wednesday)
Raising Bilingual and Multicultural Children
Maritere R. Bellas
Parenting Topic Expert & Advocate for Bilingualism & Multiculturalism
LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB
MARCH BOOKS
Meet the Authors on Monday, March 29
Book of the Month: THE CIPHER
by Isabella Maldonado (Amazon Publishing)
Conversations with Book: SPIRIT RUN
by Noe Alvarez (Catapult)
APRIL BOOKS
Meet the Authors on Monday, April 26
Conversations with Book: SPIRIT RUN
by Noe Alvarez (Catapult)
APRIL BOOKS
Meet the Authors on Monday, April 26
Book of the Month: FRACTURES by Carlos Andrės Gómez (U of Wisconsin Press)
Conversations with Book: THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU by Michael Zapata (HarperCollins)
Bonus Book: A SLED FOR GABO by Emma Otheguy (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
For Free Registration to monthly Teleconference /Podcast, visit here: http://lascomadres.com/latinolit/join-teleconference
Find a book club near you in your time zone, visit here: https://readlatinolit.blogspot.com/2020/12/las-comadres-friends-book-club-by-time.html
Shop our Book Club Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/shop/lascomadresbookclub
NEWSLETTER STAFF
Comadres Connect! Quarterly Newsletter for and by Las Comadres Para Las Americas.
Editor: Maria Ferrer
Contributing Writers: Esperanza Beltran
Jacqueline Quiňones
Proofreader: Rosa Beato
If you would like to be interviewed for the newsletter, email us at info@lascomadres.com.
Conversations with Book: THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU by Michael Zapata (HarperCollins)
Bonus Book: A SLED FOR GABO by Emma Otheguy (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
For Free Registration to monthly Teleconference /Podcast, visit here: http://lascomadres.com/latinolit/join-teleconference
Find a book club near you in your time zone, visit here: https://readlatinolit.blogspot.com/2020/12/las-comadres-friends-book-club-by-time.html
Shop our Book Club Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/shop/lascomadresbookclub
NEWSLETTER STAFF
Comadres Connect! Quarterly Newsletter for and by Las Comadres Para Las Americas.
Editor: Maria Ferrer
Contributing Writers: Esperanza Beltran
Jacqueline Quiňones
Proofreader: Rosa Beato
If you would like to be interviewed for the newsletter, email us at info@lascomadres.com.
