LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES: Q&A WITH AMANDA ZAMORA, CO-FOUNDER & PUBLISHER OF THE 19TH

 

My hope for the next generation, including women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ journalists, is that they have to fight less within their own news organizations to be seen and heard, to be compensated fairly and to be valued as whole people. – Amanda Zamora

Join us on Wednesday, June 29, 7pm ET and meet Amanda Zamora, Co-founder and Publisher of The 19^th .  

 

 

Inside the Asterisk: *Building Community with News that Represents

Q&A with Amanda Zamora

Co-founder and Publisher of The 19^th

  

Amanda Zamora is co-founder and publisher of The 19th, an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy. She has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of digital journalism, working as a reporter, digital producer and editor, product manager, audience strategist and fundraiser. As publisher of The 19th, Amanda leads editorial, product and business operations in pursuit of the nonprofit’s mission to empower women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community with the information, resources and community they need to be equal participants in our democracy.

 

Before helping launch The 19th in 2020, Zamora led double-digit audience gains and a 65% increase in membership revenue as chief audience officer at The Texas Tribune. Prior to the Tribune, Zamora was ProPublica’s senior engagement editor, where she helped produce Pulitzer Prize-winning projects and established the industry touchstone for crowdsourced journalism. Before that, she worked nearly eight years at The Washington Post, and managed one of the first social media teams at a major U.S. newspaper. 

 

A native of Houston, Texas, Zamora graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002 with a journalism degree. 

 

 

Register here for her talk:  https://forms.gle/XiSqiBZ6j1VfXtYF9 

For Speaker Series calendar, visit us here:  https://lascomadres.com/lco/speaker-series/

 

 

LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES: ROSI AMADOR, MY LIFE IN SONG -- WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22

 

LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES

DECEMBER 2021

Rosi Amador will discuss “My Life in Song,”  and her roles as Company Director for Sol y Canto; Founder of MusicAmador (a music agency); President of the Latin Music Division of the Roots Agency; and founder of Amador Bilingual Voice-Overs (ABVO).  

 

Rosi Amador got her love of Latin American rhythms and musical styles from her performer parents. Her Nuyorican mom was a dancer, singer and actress who appeared with Bob Hope, Dean Martin and Cantínflas [Mario Moreno]; her father began in radio in Bueno Aires and later became an actor who toured all over Latin America.  Rosi and her musical artist husband founded Sol y Canto in 1994 and continue to tour nationally.  In 1998, Rosi founded her Latin music agency, MusicAmador, and was later President of the Latin Music Division of the Roots Agency; both agencies represented major Latin American music and dance ensembles in the U.S. and Canada. She and her husband also founded their bilingual voice-over company, Amador Bilingual Voice-Overs, which provides Spanish and English narration to companies like National Geographic, Comcast, New York Stock Exchange, Barefoot Books and many more.  Learn more about Rosi at https://amadorbilingualvoiceovers.com/rosi-amador/.

 

 

The HOLIDAY CONCERT will follow Rosi’s discussion.

 

COMADRES CONNECT! NEWSLETTER -- SUMMER 2021 EDITION

Las Comadres Para Las Americas

Happy 21st Anniversary, Comadres!

Never settle for ‘just enough’ when ‘awesome’ is around the corner.

– Jay Maymi, THRIVEOLOGY

IN GRATITUDE
Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock

21 Years! It has been a wild ride! We have done so many things, learned so much from each other, and built lasting friendships. Las Comadres is not the story of one person. We are mucho mas than the sum of our parts. You are Las Comadres and our coordinators, and I have been the glue. Without your unflagging support as members of this vast social network, without your patience as we built it, we would not be here celebrating!

There are so many of you that I must thank for contributing to the success of Las Comadres that it would fill pages (actually your names up to the year 2012 appear in the Acknowledgments in our book, COUNT ON ME: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships, published by Simon and Schuster in English in 2012/Spanish in 2013). There are many names to add to the list after publication. And with the addition of new leadership for Las Comadres, especially the energetic and vibrant, Maria Ferrer, with her new ganas, together we will change the face of Latinx/as in this nation and around the world. The stories and memories will fill books and bring us closer together and make us stronger.

The next twenty years are a new chapter in our journey to securing our place as indelible contributors to the US American experience. It will not be an easy chapter, but it must be written and spoken by us—you, our Latinx/a/o communities, and me. Each and every one of you has a special role to play and we are here to help, as always.

From Nora’s letter in the 2021 WWC & 21st Anniversary Commemorative Book.



CALENDAR

June 21 – Summer Reading List released
June 28 – Las Comadres & Friends Book Club Teleconference
June 30 – Las Comadres Speaker Series: Climate Justice

July 26 – Las Comadres & Friends Book Club Teleconference
July 28 – Las Comadres Speaker Series: Democracy & the Informed Citizen

August 25 – Las Comadres Speaker Series: Mental Health in the Latino Community
August 30 -- Las Comadres & Friends Book Club Teleconference



LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES

Free monthly Speaker Series. For full descriptions, visit: http://lascomadres.com/lco/speaker-series

Check your time zone: 4pm PT / 5pm MT/ 6pm CT/ 7pm ET







Wednesday, June 30
Environmental & Climate Justice
Speaker: Elizabeth Yeampierre

Wednesday, July 28
Democracy and the Informed Citizen: If Not YOU, Who?
Speakers: Dr. Nora Comstock & Olga Campos Benz

Wednesday, August 25
Mental Health in the Latino Community
Speaker: Dr. Ana Nogales



Worldwide Comadrazo Highlights

Las Comadres throws a Worldwide Comadrazo every two years, and we were not going to let the pandemic stop our tradition, plus 2021 marks Las Comadres 21st Anniversary. Thank goodness for zoom. The WWC went virtual and it was amazing. Great speakers, informative breakouts, and we launched The Nora Awards. And surprise, surprise! We never expected for our sign off that day to turn into a Sing-A-Long with Comadre Marialy Gonzalez and “The Comadres Song.” This Summer issue is dedicated to Comadres Everywhere. We look forward to our next WWC Live in April, 2023 in Austin, TX. Mark your calendars!


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Honorable Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island Secretary of State and Comadre was our Keynote Speaker. She stressed the importance of Fierce Friendships and networking.

Comadre Nellie is running for Rhode Island Governor this Fall. Good luck to her!



TESTIMONIALS

The 2021 Worldwide Comadrazo was my first one to attend, coincidentally it was also the first ever virtual WWC. For someone who is pretty low-key, I suppose this was a good way to test the waters and ease the overwhelming feeling of seeing hundreds of women, albeit amazing as they are. After this delicious probadita, I am so ready for our next WWC in which I look forward to an in person, hugs and kisses, meeting of women. -- Esperanza

I like how the Worldwide Comadrazo brings all of our little groups together and we can see how great we are on a larger scale. Comadres are women empowering women and building fierce friendships along the way! – Karen

Thank you for making this virtual Worldwide Comadrazo. Because of the pandemic, I have had the opportunity to attend several national and international events that I would NOT have been able to attend otherwise because of the cost involved with hotel, transportation etc...Sure the experience is NOT the same but it’s better than nothing. – Laura

I love sharing stories, advice, and ideas—and having fun—with women whose lives, in many ways, parallel mine. Being so far away from the sisters I grew up with, this makes me feel en familia. Like a warm abrazo. – Anabel



BREAKOUT GROUPS REVIEWS

Stephanie Elizondo Griest is amazing. Her writing workshop was so inspirational, and she gave us lots of great ideas on how to start to write.

I liked Julia Abrantes’ presentation on Latino books and supporting authors. I loved her passion.

Fierce Friendships was a favorite. Sol Córdova did a great job! Frientimacy—my favorite new word.

Loved learning more about the American Latino Museum. Can’t wait to visit one day. Thanks Lily Gil Valletta.

Laura López Cano always. I learned a lot in just a few minutes.

My favorite workshop was Karen Valentin’s on Parenting. She knows kids!

I loved the Civic Engagement workshop with Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock and Dora Tovar. Engaging and knowledgeable speakers.

Enjoyed Sylvia Klinger’s workshop on Nutrition. She spoke of nutrition from a Latino perspective—Great!



SPEAKERS

Many thanks to the all the speakers at the Worldwide Comadrazo, including:


Julia Abrantes, www.latinolit.com

Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock, www.lascomadres.com

Sol Córdova, www.mindsoltherapy.com

Lili Gil Valletta, https://americanlatinomuseum.org/

The Honorable Nellie Gorbea, https://nelliegorbea.com

Stephanie Elizondo Griest, www.stephanieelizondogriest.com

Dr. Sylvia Klinger, www.hispanicnutrition.com

Laura López Cano, www.instagram.com/laura.lopez.cano

Dora Tovar, www.tovarpr.com

Karen Valentin, www.karenvalentinauthor.com



WWC COMMITTEE

Many Thanks to the WWC Committee: Maria Ferrer, Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Laura Esparza, Monica Peňa, Rosa Beato, Nydia Marsella, Tess Tobin, Tania Sole and Dr. Charley Ferrer. Thanks as well to Comadre Yvonne Tapia for the WWC 2021 Logo.

LINKS TO OTHER ARTICLES

Spotlight on the 2021 Nora Award Winners
Interviews with Yadhira, Charley & Austin Community Foundation
Link: https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2021/06/spotlight-2021-nora-award-winners.html


Summer Fling: The Versatility of Plantains by Eris Garriga & recipe
Plus, Summer Tips and Agua de Pepino
Link: https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2021/06/summer-fling-2021.html


Summer Reading List – Hot off the Press! 21 Books for your reading pleasure!
Read Latino Lit with these book selections. There is something for everyone.
Link:  https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2021/06/7th-annual-summer-reading-list.html 


Spotlight on Sponsors & Donors of the 2021 Worldwide Comadrazo & 21st Anniversary Celebration
Link:  https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2021/06/spotlight-on-2021-wwc-sponsors-donors.html

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Quarterly Newsletter for and by Las Comadres Para Las Americas.

Editor: Maria Ferrer

Contributing Writers:
Rosa Beato
Esperanza Beltran
Jacqueline Quiňones
Eris Garriga


Email us at info@lascomadres.com.

©LasComadresParaLasAmericas 2021

COMADRES CONNECT!

LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES - JUNE

 

 LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS

Elizabeth Yeampierre on Environmental / Climate Justice

Wednesday, June 30  *  4pm PT/ 5pm MT/ 6pm CT/ 7pm ET & Puerto Rico

“Confronting climate change will mean changing society.” – Elizabeth Yeampierre

 

Climate change is a crisis of injustice, to both people and the planet. Climate justice encompasses not only environmental or physical changes in nature, but also ethical and political issues. Solutions exist and Grassroots Activists are being heard.  Our speaker has been recognized as a Climate Warrior and one of the World’s Most Influential People in Climate Policy --  Elizabeth Yeampierre.

JOIN US on Wednesday, June 30, for an interactive and enlightening presentation. 

Check your time zone:  4pm PT; 5pm MT; 6pm CT; 7pm ET & Puerto Rico.

 

Registration is required.  Once you’ve registered you will receive the zoom link.

REGISTER HERE:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqceGspzMiHdDJ0K2LNnQov0OCDPA-vetE

 

BIO:   Elizabeth Yeampierre is Executive Director of UPROSE and Co-Chair of the national Climate Justice Alliance.  She is a long-time advocate and trailblazer for community organizing around just, sustainable development, environmental justice, and community-led climate adaptation and community resiliency in Sunset Park, NY. Ms. Yeampierre has been a featured speaker at local, national, and international forums, including Sage Paris 2015, 2016 GRI Amsterdam, White House Forum on Environmental Justice, Yale, Harvard, Cooper Union, Columbia, and universities, colleges, and conferences all over the country and spoke at the opening climate rally for Pope Francis at the National Mall, The Battle for Paradise at Cooper Union with Naomi Klein. Her work is featured in several books, in addition, being featured in Latina Magazine, VOGUE, Vanity Fair, The Guardian, Grist, American Prospect, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post, Democracy Now, The Intercept, and a variety of media outlets throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe. In 2014, Ms. Yeampierre was part of the People’s Climate March Mobilization leadership – a march of over 400,000 people across New York City. She played a major role in ensuring the frontline was made up of young people of color and successfully proposed adopting the Jemez principles for democratic organizing, which have since become the roadmap to building just relationships in the climate justice movement. Elizabeth was featured in the NY Times as a visionary paving the path to Climate Justice. In 2018, she was awarded Frederick Douglass Abolitionist Award FD200. In 2020, she was named by Apolitical as Climate 100: The World’s Most Influential People in Climate Policy, and spoke at Oxford University, and the Ethos Conference in Brazil. In 2021, Elizabeth appeared in numerous news outlets such as Rolling Stone and Self Magazine and appeared on national panels for The Business Insider. Learn more about Elizabeth and UPROSE at www.uprose.org.

 

Here are some articles on Climate Justice for your perusal: 

https://e360.yale.edu/features/unequal-impact-the-deep-links-between-inequality-and-climate-change

https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/1/17/22236287/brooklyn-wind-turbine-assembly-hub

https://truthout.org/articles/right-wing-disinformation-campaigns-are-targeting-state-climate-initiatives/

https://www.ejnet.org/ej/jemez.pdf

 

COMADRES CONNECT!

 

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 – RAISING BILINGUAL & MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN

LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES
Wednesday, May 26
Time: 7pm EST / 6pm CT/ 5pm MT / 4pm PT  

Registration required. Zoom link will be sent via email to all Comadres.
Not a member yet? Join Las Comadres for your invitation


Raising Bilingual and Multicultural Children

Speaker: MARITERE R. BELLAS  

Parenting Topic Expert & Advocate for Bilingualism & Multiculturalism

Maritere R. Bellas is an award-winning author, parenting topic expert, speaker, writer, podcast host, IGLive host, and social media influencer. She published a parenting column for 12 years in La Opinion newspaper in Los Angeles, while contributing to major national magazines including Ser Padres, Healthy Kids En Espaňol, Huffington Post, HipLatina, People en Espanol, El Nuevo Dia, and Latina Style. Her books include RAISING BILINGUAL CHILDREN and ARROZ CON POLLO AND APPLE PIE: Raising Bicultural Children. During the pandemic, Maritere hosts a twice-weekly IGLives to offer parents information, tools, resources and tips as they navigate their families’ new normal. 

Facebook & LinkedIn: @MaritereRodriguezBellas
Instagram: @Latinaboomermom
Twitter: @mariterrebellas
Website: www.MaritereRodriguezBellas.com

#LasComadres 

#LCSpeakerSeries 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 --- PERINATAL HEALTH WITH DR. LOURDES J. RODRIGUEZ

 

Join us on Wednesday, May 5, at 6pm Central, (4pm Pacific, 5pm Mountain, 7pm Eastern and Puerto Rico) for a discussion on Perinatal Health with Dr. Lourdes J. Rodriguez, PhD, Senior Program Officer at St. David’s Foundation.

It has been widely publicized that Texas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States and, by extension, the developed world. Equally worrisome, maternal morbidity – causes of disease associated with pregnancy – have been on the rise in Texas for the past 20 years. Join us for a conversation about the contributing factors and what actions we can take to improve maternal outcomes for all women.

St. David's Foundation focuses its work in central Texas: A nationwide nonprofit doing work in Central Texas (defined as: Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis or Williamson Counties), that benefits residents of those counties, may apply for our funding.

As Comadres, we can harness our strengths to reverse these trends and contribute towards full term births and healthy pregnancies.

***** Zoom details:  Your MUST register in advance. *****


When: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

(4pm Pacific, 5pm Mountain, 7pm Eastern and Puerto Rico)  

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUod-iprzspHNzMIBYi93ZMGYuwv-9tZHf7



After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Add this info to your calendar, as soon as you receive it so that you don't have to search for it on the day of!

OUR PRESENTER:  Comadre Dr. Lourdes J. Rodríguez serves as Senior Program Officer at St. David’s Foundation overseeing the Women’s Health portfolio of work. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2020, Lourdes served as Associate Professor and Director of Community-Driven Initiatives at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Lourdes also worked as Program Officer at the New York State Health Foundation, and from 2004–2012, she co-directed the Urbanism and the Built Environment track in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.  As a public health practitioner, and in both academic and philanthropic roles, she collaborates, develops and evaluates initiatives to improve health with people most impacted by health inequities.  Lourdes has a Doctorate in Public Health from Columbia University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Biotechnology from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.  Dr. Rodríguez is a member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Roundtable on Population Health Improvement and currently holds an appointment as an Adjunct Faculty with the UTHealth School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus. 

      

 

Learn more about the St. David’s Foundation and its programs by visiting their website:  www.stdavidsfoundation.org

LAS COMADRES PARA LAS AMERICAS
Speaker Series 2021
E:   info@lascomadres.com

W:  www.lascomadres.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 - LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES WITH DR. ISAURA GONZALEZ

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 31.
Check your time zone: 7pm EST / 6pm CT/ 5pm MT / 4pm PT / 8pm Puerto Rico

Establishing Powerful Networks and Collaborations Among Latinas 

 

Dr. Isaura González

Founder and CEO of Latina Mastermind 

Dr. Isaura González is dedicated to empowering Latinas by teaching them to stand in their own power as they establish affluence and influence in their respective fields. Dr. González is a practicing Licenses Psychologist specializing in Clinical Psychology and a Board Certified Coach. 

LinkedIn: @isauragonzalez

SPEAKER SERIES (FEBRUARY) -- ALIGN WITH THE LOVE YOU DESIRE BY LISA VELAZQUEZ

Friday, February 12, 6pm EST via zoom
(3pm PT; 4pm MT; 5pm CT. Check your time zone.)

SPEAKER: LISA VELAZQUEZ

TOPIC: ALIGN WITH THE LOVE YOU DESIRE


Be our GALentine!

GALentine's Day is a day to honor the women and Comadres in your life who make up your support system. Celebrate with us, and help us welcome our speaker Lisa Velazquez, founder of Lisa Talks Love.

Lisa is the Founder and Ladypreneur behind 

Lisa Talks Love, a holistic love-style coaching company for professional women. She will talk about self-love, female friendships, and of course, romance.

Lisa helps passionate women break through and heal unhealthy dating and relationship patterns to reignite their self-love and align with the love they desire. She has an intuitive gift for getting to the heart of the matter of what’s blocking you on your love journey. Lisa attended Columbia University for a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sexuality Educator, and Certified Facilitator for Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy. As a serial entrepreneur, Love Coach, and Speaker, Lisa’s passion for self-love, women’s entrepreneurship, and building wealth from the inside out has led her to design love coaching programs and a membership to cultivate a community of women around the world who live well, date wise and love sexy.

Visit Lisa at https://lisatalkslove.com/.

Facebook: @lisatalkslove

Twitter: @lisatalkslove

Instagram: @lisatalkslove

For more information on the Las Comadres Speaker Series, visit http://lascomadres.com/lco/speaker-series.

Zoom details will be sent via email to all Comadres.

SPEAKER SERIES (JANUARY) -- NEW YEAR, NEW OUTLOOK FOR LATINAS IN AMERICA BY SYLVIA ACEVEDO

  

 

***   LAS COMADRES SPEAK  ***

 

Las Comadres Para Las Americas is launching a Speaker Series on Wednesday, January 27, at 7pm EST (4pm PT; 5pm MT; 6pm CTS) via zoom.

 

The inaugural speaker is Comadre Sylvia Acevedo.  Corporate Board Director, C-Suite Executive, Community Leader, Author, Rocket Scientist, and Comadre.

 

TOPIC:    NEW YEAR, NEW OUTLOOK FOR LATINAS IN AMERICA 

 

 

 

Sylvia Acevedo is a devout believer in the power of transformation to change and improve lives, communities, organizations – and the world. She is a recognized leader whose innovation and growth strategies have been hallmarks of her career.  Author of PATH TO THE STARS: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, which details Sylvia’s personal journey from the dirt streets of Las Cruses, New Mexico to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the top executive tiers of Apple, Dell, IBM, Qualcomm and other U.S. technology leaders.  Most recently, Sylvia served as CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA.  She was also Chair of President Obama’s White House initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanics in early childhood leadership, and driver of the Administration’s Early Childhood Dual Language Education Policy.  Sylvia is a national speaker on cybersecurity, workforce and leadership.

 

  

Zoom link will be emailed to Las Comadres.  Watch your inbox.

For more information on the Las Comadres Speaker Series, visit http://lascomadres.com/lco/speaker-series.

***   This event is for Comadres and special guests.   ***

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! HAPPY 2021 !

Dear Comadres,

Happy New Year!

Hallelujah! We have finally shut the door on 2020. Yes, we are still working from home, and we are social distancing, and wearing masks, but 2021 is full of promise.

New for Las Comadres will be a Speaker Series via zoom. We will have a monthly keynote speaker each month on different topics, and Comadres everywhere are invited to join us and listen in. Our inaugural speaker will be Sylvia Acevedo on Wednesday, January 27. She will speak about "New Year, New Outlook For Latinas In America."  We will record her session and post to our new YouTube Channel.

Our websites will be updated this year, which we are very excited about. We'll let you know when to visit them: Las Comadres (www.lascomadres.com) and Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club (www.latinolit.com).

There will also be a quarterly newsletter. Tentative publication date will be in the Spring. We will have a contest to name the newsletter. Start thinking of names. The newsletter will highlight Comadres, their accomplishments and their history. Some Comadres have been with us for 20+ years. (Thank you, Comadres!)

Plus! Las Comadres celebrates its 21st Anniversary this year. And pandemic or no pandemic, we are having our Worldwide Comadrazo in April. We will be virtual this year. There will be a special keynote speaker, breakout rooms, a speech from our founder Nora De Hoyos Comstock, and we are introducing The Nora Awards for a Comadre of the Year, Comadre Community Service, and a Friend of Las Comadres (for a corporation).

There will be other surprises during the year, but we'll start with these.

So wear your masks, use your hand sanitizers, and keep social distancing.

Wishing you all the very best for 2021!

Maria 

Maria Ferrer
Director of Programs
Las Comadres Para Las Americas

"Winners are not People who never Fail, but People who never Quit."