Sunday, August 3, 2025
LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTs AND BOOK NEWS FOR AUGUST 2025
Sunday, July 6, 2025
CELEBRATING OUR COMADRES ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS -- JULY 2025
Behind every great woman... is another great woman. -- Kate Hodges
Comadres Lead the Way!
Join us in celebrating our Comadres Accomplishments and Book News.
This list is for promotional purposes only and not intended as an endorsement of any kind.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) -- Happy to share that her most recent exhibition in Turkey received a wonderful response from the local audience and the international media, including this article in Proceso Magazine.
Gloria Cisneros Lenoir (Austin, TX) – is a level 2 practitioner of Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique. This is very exciting work and she has seen miracles happen. She has not set up a website but you can find her on this site: https://members.qhhtofficial.
Lynette Correa-Velez (Chicago, IL) -- was selected to be 1/10 TEDx speakers for BoricuaTalks based in Chicago, IL. On June 27, Lynette presented her TEDx talk titled “Lessons Rooted in Mami’s Legacy” at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC) sharing her Mom’s career & life journey & how it influenced Lynette’s newest role as an A.I. tech start-up Mamipreneur & Founder/CEO of www.PagameProject.com.
-----Lynette is also proud to share that her 9-year old son, Arturo, competed at the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Track & Field tryouts in Rockford, IL in June 2025. He brought home 2 Gold medals (400m & shotput), 1 Silver medal (100m), & 1 Bronze medal (200m). You can follow his pre-Junior Olympic journey at Instagram: ArtSonic2016.
Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez (Houston, TX) -- announced her retirement as owner/sole proprietor of Casa Ramirez FOLKART, a beloved cultural retail establishment in Houston. Established in 1985 by her late husband, Macario Ramirez, who died in 2020, Chrissie will close the business on March 31, 2026, at the end of the current lease. The Ramirez were long-time Las Comadres supporters.
Patty Gonzales (Fresno, TX) -- For her 60th birthday she hiked the highest mountain in Texas, Guadalupe Peak with an elevation of 8,751 ft. It's a big deal when you live in flat land Houston.
Lisa Liang (L.A., CA) – She screened her film, Alien Citizen, and held a Q&A and writing workshop with students at USC on April 24.
Carmen Peña (New York, NY) -- Co-founded "Wrapped in God’s Love™" LLC (2024), a faith-centered lifestyle brand focused on spreading God’s love through apparel, books, and coaching. Also, founded & recently launched "LatinaRise.org" (2025), a faith-based platform supporting Latina leaders globally. (Book pending; see below.) And, Carmen also co-founded The Love Movement (2025), dedicated to emotional and mental health, suicide prevention, and spiritual growth. Follow her on Instagram@carmen.pena.
Donna San Miguel (Temecula, CA) -- Graduated with a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego.
Jennesse Torres (New York, NY) -- started a job with the Office of Legal Affairs for the City of New York!
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COMADRE AUTHORS
Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS on their latest publications.
Danza de Cuatro Brazos by Sylvia Heller (Nueva York Poetry) – a dance poetry book. Sylvia is from New York, NY.
HOW TO STOP FOR GOOD by Carmen Peña (New York, NY) -- a guide to lasting transformation and healing — available in both English and Spanish.
La huerta de los nómadas by Sylvia Heller (Ediciones Loynaz) – honors the fertility goddesses of the world, mother earth and the path toward the simplicity of a garden.
Latina Rise™: Step into Your Divine Destiny with Faith, Love, and Purpose by Carmen Peña (New York, NY) -- a book created to empower Latinas to rise in leadership, faith, and purpose. Will be published this year in English first, Spanish following. See the launch of corresponding organization above.
QUANTAM GRATITUDE: A WOMAN’S 5-MINUTE DAILY JOURNAL FOR MANIFESTING LOVE, ABUNDANCE, HARMONY AND UNEXPECTED JOYS by Ana Parra Vivas (Houston, TX) – published in March, this project is especially meaningful to Ana—it’s designed to help women cultivate peace, clarity, and manifestation through the simple yet powerful practice of daily gratitude. If you're interested in weekly inspiration on mindset, inner peace, and manifesting with intention, you’re warmly invited to join my newsletter Manifest Mondays: https://www.anaparravivas.
Warriors for Social Justice: Maria Jimenez of Houston and Mexican American Activists by Linda J. Quintanilla (University of North Texas Press) – pub March 2025. Linda is from Austin, TX.
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Congratulations to all !
Comadres Lead the Way !
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS -- DECEMBER 2024 / JANUARY 2025
Welcome 2025! We open the new year with a heartfelt Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments, and to Comadre Authors on their new books.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin (Pasadena, CA) -- Received the coveted PEN Nomination for her poem, The Many Faces of La Llorona, published in the Altadena Poetry Anthology Review 2024. I also read Spanish translations from her book, Mi Amor (September 2024) at Los Libros in Lincoln Heights. I recited Nopal, Muse, Medicine and Sustenance from my thrice winning International Latino Book awarded Chicana On Fire (December 2024) at the Xicana Exhibit, El Camino College. AND! She exhibited portraits (August-December 2024) at The CASA 0101 Art Gallery and an altar dedicated to recently deceased Gloria Molina, First Latina elected to the CA assembly.
Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – Was a guest at art conferences and
exhibitions in Italy and France last year. Her solo exhibition "Faces
& Façades" at the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum in Manhattan
(https://morrisjumel.org/
Julieta Corpus (Weslaco, TX) – Her book, Of Love And Departures/ De Amor Y Despedidas, is a bilingual poetry book available through Amazon. It is a collection of poems in English and in Spanish about love and loss and grief written during and after the death of her late husband Arturo Saldana, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014 and passed away in March 2016.
Yanelba Ferreira (Bronx, NY) – Happy to announce her recent acting roles! (1.) Performed as Jury Foreperson (co-star role) in Law & Order, Season 23, Episode 4 which aired on February 8, 2024. (2.) Performed as Rosa Castillo (supporting role) in the short film “Hello Brooklyn!” directed by Dustin Prestige, premiered at Stuart Cinema in Brooklyn, NY on October 8, 2024 and is also available for viewing on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_wlJzVUmTU0. (3.) Performed as Mami (supporting role) in the short film “Niña Linda” directed by Ashley Morales, premiered at Rider University on December 8, 2024. Film is currently not available for viewing online as it is being submitted to film festivals.
Lourdes Ortiz (North Attleboro & Massachusetts) -- Graduates with an MBA in May 2025. She has three small children – 6, 4 and 1. She works a full-time job; cares for her three kids; and stays up many late nights, sometimes ‘til 3am, studying. Lourdes is very happy and very proud of herself. [We are too!]
Mirtha Perez (Cedar Park, TX) -- The week before Christmas, Mirtha and her daughter went to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to kick off her gymnastics season with Acrotex Cedar Park. She competed in the Puerto Rico Classic and got 1st in Bars, 3rd in Beam and 3rd All Around. She qualified for the Laurie Hernandez Champions Challenge the next day where she got 5th place All Around, and Laurie was there to give some pep talks to the gymnasts. It was an amazing experience for both!
Susana Sandoval (Denver /Chicago/Los Angeles) – Won a Scholarship for her annual grantsmanship training (recertification).
Leonor Vargas (Austin, TX) -- This year, Wisdom En Familias LLC, was honored to collaborate with the Community Advancement Network to design and lead outreach for the bilingual mobile Mental Health Outreach Toolkit (Pathways to Mental Health Healing). This initiative was created to uplift and serve Spanish-speaking communities, addressing the urgent need for accessible mental health resources. With the steadfast support of our incredible partners—Southwest Key Programs, NAMI, our advisory group, and funders—we worked passionately to empower individuals and families. Through this effort, Wisdom En Familias delivered 53 presentations and reached 725 participants, offering knowledge, tools, and hope for healing. (From Leonor: Mil gracias to everyone who contributed to this transformative work. Together, we are fostering stronger, healthier communities. Here’s to building on this important mission in 2025 and beyond!)
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COMADRE AUTHORS
Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS for their latest publications.
NOVEMBER 2024
Nimia Maria Ramos Beauchamp (Bayamon, PR) – Nimia and Kimia Shahrokhi, known for a series of coloring books as Drs. Kimia & Nimia, have new book available, AyurPermaVerse Coloring Book, based on Ayurveda, Permaculture, Botany principles for children from 5-14 but all ages can color!
DECEMBER 2024
Anjanette Delgado (Florida) -- published a book this month with a small independent publisher in Puerto Rico. It's called El sexilio, mostly in Spanish, and talks about us women and how sometimes we are forced to exile because of the violence against the feminine.
JANUARY 2025
Dr. Melba Salazar-Lucio (San Antonio, TX) – her memoir, WHERE I AM FROM, will be published by Storyworth.
Las Comadres Para Las Americas (Austin, TX) – published COOKING WITH LAS COMADRES cookbook. 60 Comadres contributed 130+ recipes from main dishes to soups to pastelones to surrollitos to carne guisada to flan to sangria to coquito. This cookbook is a fundraiser for Las Comadres, all proceeds go to fund 2025 programs. Order your copy here.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS - AUG & SEPT
Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments, and to
Comadre Authors on their new books.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Cecilia Aragon (Seattle, WA) – Appeared on the CBS show MISSION UNSTOPPABLE, filmed in September 2024. Plus, Cecilia celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary in June! Cheers!
Ileana Araguti (Beaumont, CA) – The Spanish version of her novel SHATTERED PARADISE is now available, PARAISO DESTROZADO. Ileana is working on new novels and is looking for literary representation.
Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – Returned from exhibitions in Italy and France, and she invites Comadres to join her for the opening of her next solo show in NYC, "Faces & Façades," featuring a new series of paintings inspired by the women and architecture of Northern Manhattan. Please join her on October 19, 3-4:30pm, at the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum. Free and open to all, no Rsvp needed: https://morrisjumel.org/exhibitions/faces-facades/
Gloria Chin (New York, NY) – Launched Synergy Strategy Group, a Strategic Communications and Public Relations Consultancy focused on uplifting minority and women owned businesses, non-profits and entrepreneurs. With nearly 10 years of television news experience in the #1 media market and 17 years of public relations counsel to c-suite leaders, city leaders, and 2 U.S. Mayors, I am looking to put this experience to use for my community. Adelante!
Diana Diaz (Hackensack, NJ) – After an impressive 25-year tenure of a prominent Bankruptcy Law Firm, serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the last 10- years, Diana took a bold step forward and resigned to pursue her passion for helping others. Shortly after, she founded her own Legal Research Bankruptcy Consultant Firm, and she is pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney, laying the foundation for her future law firm. Reflecting on her journey, Diana realized that fear was once her greatest adversary, holding her back from seizing opportunities. However, she has now conquered that fear, emerging more confident and determined than ever to continue her mission of uplifting the Hispanic community. This journey is not just a professional milestone; it’s a profound personal transformation that inspires her to forge ahead and make a lasting difference.
Nylda Dieppa (Orlando, FL) – Her book, ALBORADA /DAWN: A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry has received an Honorable Mention award from the International Latino Book Awards in the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Poetry Book Award category. Nylda is proud to be in the company of Emanuel Xavier, one of three finalists in the same category and author of LOVE(LY) CHILD. She interviewed him for the Las Comadres Book Club recently.
Laura Esparza (Austin, TX) – After retiring in March 2024, Laura founded a new foundation called A3, devoted to raising and distributing funding to individual artists, musicians, performers and other arts related contractors who offer their work to the Austin public for free.
Eris Garriga (New York, NY) – Has a new Spanish language book coming soon, AGUADILLA EN IMAGENES Y VERSOS.
Ana Gonzalez, OP (Boston, MA) – Is rocking Graduate School at Boston College and on track to graduate with her MA in Theology and Ministry with an emphasis in Latino Pastoral Ministry.
Raquel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (Pharr, TX) – Won a Goodwill Scholarship from the Texas Association Court Administration (TACA) for continuing in Certification of Court Administration in the State of Texas for Certified Court Management.
Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) -- Her poem, Going to the Mammos, was published in Brownstone Poets 2024 Anthology.
Mirta Rinaldi (Forest Hills, NY) – The company she works for, League of Kitchens, is publishing a cookbook that showcases her recipes, along with the recipes of her peers. We are proud and excited to introduce this collaborative book that allows us to share a little bit of our culture and favorite family recipes. We will have a book tour through the end of the year with a big launch event at the Invisible Dog Art Gallery in Cobble Hill on November 13th, 7pm, here in NYC. All Comadres and friends are welcomed to celebrate our book and taste eight of our instructors’ food!
Madeline Vega (Austin, TX) – Was interviewed by the University of Texas Austin Electrical and Computer Engineering department for Hispanic Heritage Month: https://www.ece.utexas.edu/news/alumni-profile-madeline-vega
Desiree Zamorano (Altadena, CA) – Her book launch and profile appeared in Latinitas Magazine: https://latinitasmagazine.org/author-desiree-zamorano-releases-new-novel-dispossessed/
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COMADRE AUTHORS
Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS for their latest publications.
AUGUST
Ileana Araguti (Beaumont, CA) – The Spanish version of her novel SHATTERED PARADISE is now available, PARAISO DESTROZADO from New Trends Press.
Sarah Bonamino (San Antonio, TX) – her book THE BORDER BETWEEN US, fiction, was published by Blackstone Publishing. The book is also available in Spanish, LA FRONTERA ENTRE NOSOTROS.
Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) -- Her poem, Going to the Mammos, was published in Brownstone Poets 2024 Anthology.
SEPTEMBER
Desiree Zamorano (Los Angeles, CA) – her book, DISPOSSESSED, a historical fiction novel, was published by Running Wild Press.
OCTOBER
Julia Amante (Inland Empire, CA) – her romance book, CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU, was published by Wise Writer Publishing.
Nimia Maria Ramos Beauchamp (Bayamon, PR) – self-published a games and puzzle book, COMBO X-WORD PUZZLE ALTERNATIVE HEALTH 2024. Find out more here: www.APYArte.com.
NOVEMBER
Deborah Nevarez-Vivolo (Placerville, CA) – her poetry appears in the INLANDIA: A LITERARY JOURNEY, published by Inlandia Institute. Her flash fiction was published in last year’s WRITING FROM INLANDIA anthology.
Mirta Rinaldi (Forest Hills, NY) – her recipes appear in THE LEAGUE OF KITCHENS COOKBOOK from Harper Collins.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL.
www.lascomadres.com
Sunday, August 4, 2024
LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS & BOOK NEWS !
Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments, and to
Comadre Authors on
their new books.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) -- was awarded a grant for her exhibition “Faces and Facades”, to be presented at the Morris-Jumel Museum, opening on October 18, in New York City.
Martha Tavera (San Antonio, TX) – aka Priestess Pampamissayuq shares her knowledge of Ancient Shamanic Medicine through her therapies and Initiation workshops, as well as Drum Journey Workshops, in person and online, in English, también en Español.
COMADRE AUTHORS
AUGUST
Learn
more about Beatriz’ life’s journey and harrowing experience with a ruptured
brain aneurysm that nearly claimed her life here: LinkedIn-
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatriz-fritschler-mpa-09784b42/, Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/beatriz_healthjourney/
OCTOBER
It’s a bilingual children’s
book available in English and Spanish.
Visit Glenda’s websites here: https://wholeenchilada.co/ and https://www.instagram.com/missmamachef/
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NOTE: these listings are for congratulatory purposes only. We are not endorsing any products, services, or candidates for public office.
Congratulations to all our Comadres!