FROM COMADRES CONNECT! NEWSLETTER - SUMMER EDITION
THE NORA AWARDS
Named
in honor of DR. NORA DE HOYOS COMSTOCK, The
Nora Awards recognizes Comadres who exemplify the virtues of Loyalty,
Generosity, Sisterhood and Kindness. Winners were nominated by their fellow
Comadres. The Friend of Las Comadres award recipient was chosen for its
continual support of Las Comadres over the past 21 years. Awards were presented during the Worldwide Comadrazo 2021.
WINNERS
COMADRES
OF THE YEAR – Yadhira González-Taylor
COMADRE
COMMUNITY SERVICE – Dr. Charley Ferrer
FRIEND
OF LAS COMADRES – Austin Community Foundation
SPOTLIGHT ON YADHIRA GONZALEZ-TAYLOR
By Jacqueline Quiňones
Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor admits to being “floored” at winning the Comadre of the
Year award. She joined Las Comadres after attending the 2014 Writers
Conference in Brooklyn. She was already a self-published children’s books
author, but this was her first conference. She met dozens of fellow
writers, including Esmeralda Santiago her idol. Yadhira was also inspired
by Las Comadres’ leader, Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock.
“Nora seemed to grab the entire room, the entire world, and give
them a hug,” says Yadhira. They stayed in touch after the conference, and soon
Yadhira was a member of Las Comadres. She started the Bronx Comadres
Network, which met on Saturdays at the local library, but is currently on
hiatus.
Yadhira found the Worldwide Comadrazo & 21st Anniversary
Celebration inspirational, especially since the keynote speaker was The
Honorable Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island’s Secretary of State and long-standing
Comadre. Secretary Gorbea’s speech about her struggle as a grassroots
underdog resonated with Yadhira, as she too is running for office -- Judge of the Civil Court
of the City of New York, Bronx County in the 2nd Municipal Court District. Yadhira
didn’t ever plan on being a lawyer. As a childhood abuse survivor, she
wanted to be a police officer, instead, she joined the army and afterward
became a prosecutor.
“Hearing Comadre Nellie’s story,” states
Yadhira, “energized me and made me feel like anything is possible.” She is
embracing her win as Comadre of the Year and looking forward to serving her
community… on the bench or not.
Learn more about Comadre of the Year Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor
at www.ygt4bronxjudge.com.
SPOTLIGHT ON DOCTOR CHARLEY
FERRER
COMADRE COMMUNITY
SERVICE AWARD WINNER
By Esperanza Beltran
Congratulations to Dr. Charley Ferrer who won a Nora
Award for Community Service! She is the woman behind the Cancer Tamer
Organization and a fellow New York Comadre.Through CancerTamer, Dr. Charley
provides endless support for women, and men, with breast cancer. There are many
ways in which her organization uses knowledge and creativity to help Breast
Cancer patients, past and present, a TV show, a crochet club, books,
theatre plays, and peer-to-peer counseling, just to name a few.
Dr.
Charley’s CancerTamer organization is different in that they help women be at
peace with their bodies, a message that is opposite to the mainstream. Where
women were accustomed to hearing messages of fighting and war-like attitudes,
Dr. Charley has come in and delivered a message of peace and understanding.
Thanks to Cancer Tamer, there is a new message of hope for her fellow New
Yorkers and beyond.
Of
the many awards she has received for her work, the Nora Award is the most
meaningful, she said, as she held up her rose-engraved glass.
Thank
you, Dr. Charley Ferrer, for your amazing work!
Learn
more about Dr. Charley and CancerTamer at www.cancertamer.org.
FRIEND OF LAS COMADRES AWARD RECIPIENT - AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
INTERVIEW
WITH JONATHAN BARONA
ACF
Donor Relations Officer
By Rosa Beato
How do you feel being the first company to be chosen for the Nora Award for Friend of Las Comadres?
Jonathan Barona: Very excited! I’ve known Nora for five years. I have been involved with Las Comadres long before that. Nora is so connected and involved with the community through its development and transformation. ACF was just excited to get nominated, but more importantly we continue supporting projects from Las Comadres in any way we can.
What is the Austin Community Foundation?
The Austin Community Foundation was established in 1977 as a place to connect with the community and engage in philanthropy. ACF works closely with county and state representatives, but its focused is on supporting the local community.
What services does ACF offer to the community?
ACF does philanthropy. We’ve created a fund that offers grants to local community non-profit organizations, who offer direct services or have a direct need.
How do you do Outreach?
The Foundation is well-established, well-connected, and respected. Many seek us out for funding. We share community information and resources via social media.
Do you do any collaboration with colleges and universities?
We manage about 130 scholarships funds, which is a major way for student to get funding. We also do grant making for organizations supporting education.
How has COVID affect the organization?
So much of what the ACF does is relationship based. We found that whenever there’s a crisis, the community steps up. The lack of face-to-face has been difficult, but our donors have stepped up.
What message do you have for the community?
Marketing is about people, it’s about relationship building. We encourage everyone to make personal connections, and to reach out to other communities, foundations, and local organizations.
Any recommendations and parting words for Las Comadres?
There’s no one way to get involved. There are lots of ways to make an impact and help the community. Find an area or skills that you are passionate about and give back to the community; support the community in that way. Figure out what you like. We are excited to see what’s next and where you grow. Las Comadres’ power is the relationship, mutual support and el cariňo that you have towards each other. That needs to be the key element of Las Comadres even as you continue to grow. Having those relationships and love is what is inspiring about Las Comadres. What really is impactful is that you are building those relationships amongst Latinas.
For about the Nora Awards or about Las Comadres,
Visit us at www.lascomadres.com.
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