LAS COMADRES PARA LAS AMERICAS CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MARCH 2024

 

Congratulations to the following Comadres on their Accomplishments.   

Dr. Esmeralda Adame (TX) -- was honored by the Hispanic Women Network of Texas with a Hispanic Women Making History Award.

Andrea Arroyo (NY) -- is thrilled to share that one of her artworks is featured in a publication highlighting the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, developed by the United Nations Human Rights Office and launched at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The artwork is part of her series #ArtAsSolidarity, which is published widely, including in her book "ImagiNATIONS: Art as Solidarity."

Moni Avila (TX) -- Celebrated her 2nd anniversary at Metro Health.  Moni was selected and is a semi-finalist for the next cohort of Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing and has been nominated for a 2024 Healthy Communities Fellowship.

Rose Costas Dietrich (TX) -- Celebrated five years working as a caregiver for Visiting Angels. Rose has helped take care of many elderly clients including veterans in there home.

Estella Gonzalez (AZ) -- is pleased to announce that The Texas Institute of Letters has recognized her  novel, HUIZACHE WOMEN, as a finalist for the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction.

Mireya Perez-Bustillo (NY) -- was a Guest Poet at Green Pavilion Women's History Month on 3/13/24, and she was also invited for Published Writers at Voices, a publication of the LP2 Program of the CUNY Graduate Center event on 4/17/24.

Ana Veciana-Suarez (FL) -- Her historical novel, DULCINEA, was an Amazon besteller for week of March 6, 2024.



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This Accomplishments List is published monthly and distributed to all Comadres.  

 These listings are for congratulatory purposes only. We are not endorsing any products, services, or candidates for public office.  

 

Congratulations to all our Comadres!

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR DECEMBER 2023

 

Congratulations to the following Comadres on their accomplishments!

  

Maritere R. Bellas (CA) -- as of Jan 2024, her bilingual children’s book, I have a secret/ Tengo un secreto, now three years old last December, will be available in hardcover format!  Grateful to 1010 Publishing!

Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez (NY) -- Published new book titled Modern Marianismo: Its Relevance and the Connection to Impostor Syndrome and Perfectionism", which is available for pre-sale on her website: drbonilla-rodriguez.godaddysites.com/shop.  She also won the Latino Diamante, Comunidad Diamante Award from ExpoFE USA.

 Lynette Correa-Velez (IL) -- completed her year-one work anniversary as the Founding Director of Tech Launchpad at Kennedy-King College which is 1/7 City (Community) Colleges of Chicago!

 Eris Garriga (NY) – was named one of 2024’s Honorary Madrinas for El Museo del Barrio’s Three Kings Day Parade.  Eris offers Puerto Rican cookbooks in English and Spanish, homestyle cooking and vegetarian.  Visit her at eriskitchen.net.

 Pearl Garza Fracchia (TX) -- was elected Vice Chair of the Texas Health Resources Community Leadership Council for 2024. One area of the Council’s mission is to provide grants to nonprofits in the area of mental health to ensure a healthy future for North Texans.

Angélica Hendrix (CA) -- became a state board licensed marriage and family therapist and opened a private practice, which is thriving, thankfully.

 Mireya Perez-Bustillo (NY) – was an invited poet at Alternative New Year’s Spoken Word and Performance Extravaganza on January 1 at Westbeth, Greenwich Village.

 Rima Taylor (TN) – got a promotion and ran her first marathon ever!

  

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 This Accomplishments List is published monthly.  

 To read last month's Comadres Accomplishments, visit us here: 

https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2023/12/las-comadres-celebrates-accomplishments.html

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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!

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ITS MEMBERS - NOVEMBER 2023

 

Success starts with every challenge, not from the comfort zone. – Rishika Jain

  

 

Congratulations to the following Comadres on their accomplishments!

 

 

Andrea Arroyo (NY) – is happy to share that she was an invited Guest at The Guadalajara International Book Fair -the most important publishing gathering in Ibero-America. She participated in various panels and presentations, and presented her book #ImagiNATIONSartAsSolidarity.

 

Dr. Charley Ferrer (FL) – won not one, not two, but three awards from the Veterans Administration Creative Arts Festival. First award was for photography; second award was for her play, Breast Cancer Diaries, which won a Regional Creative Writing award; and the third was for a video production of a scene from her play.

 

Mira Ginsburg (TX) – designed and built her home in Austin, Casa Mauro.  It’s been an ongoing project for the past six years.  It was a vacant lot and looked like a jungle sitting on a slow rolling hill.  They finally received their Certificate of Occupancy and moved in as of June 2019. During final phase of construction, Mira cared for her husband during his battle with cancer and then her brother. Luckily, her men are both cancer free now – a MAJOR accomplishment, Praise God.  She would love to host the Austin Comadres in the new year.  AND she is proud to say that her son just graduated from University of Texas!

 

Karen Gonzales (CO) --  is pleased to announce that she self-published a children’s chapter book this past November,  The Mystery of La Llorona and Mister Llorón, and it is now available on Amazon.    

 

Monica Guzmán (TX) -- successfully completed and graduated as a member of the LBJ Women's Campaign School 2023 Class!  

 

Adelina Longoria (TX) – is proud to announce that she received the Austin Latinas Unidas Noche Poderosa Award, Leadership Category!

 

Hadassa Muñoz Rivera (CA) – published a book this past November, The Alchemy of Words & Thoughts, and it is available on Amazon.  Her is a video book review:  https://youtu.be/78DslgTYBVc?si=XtIN-EeUI6lXeo6_

 

Guillermina Gina Nunez-Mchiri (CA) –has been invited to serve on the Committee of Scholars to be a thought leader in the development of the first Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.

 

Mireya Perez-Bustillo (NY) – is happy to announce that her poem, “Bubbling,” was published in The Brownstone Poets 2023 Anthology.

 

Alicia Rascon (TX) – is happy to report that she completed the Leadership El Paso training program.  

 

 

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 This Accomplishments List is published monthly and distributed to all Comadres.  

 

To read last month's Comadres Accomplishments, visit us here:  https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2023/11/las-comadres-celebrates-its-members.html

 

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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!

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR OCTOBER 2023

 

 Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. 

It is the Courage to continue that counts. – Winston S. Churchill

 

 

Congratulations to the following Comadres on their accomplishments.

 

Julia Abrantes (NC) – Happy to announce that she started a new job as Office Manager at a Raleigh accounting firm on October 17.

 

Amina Susi Ali (NY) – Her short story, Autumn, was published in the Fall 2023 issue of LatineLit journal. Here is the link: https://www.latinelit.com/2023fall/autumn

 

Andrea Arroyo (NY) – Is thrilled to share that she received the Gold Medal for Best Art Book at the International Latino Book Awards!! Signed copies of the book are available through her website: https://www.andreaarroyo.com/solidarity.  On November 1, Andrea had a showing at Flatiron Plaza for a new art piece inspired by the "Day of the Dead" tradition. This article is about her upcoming Dia de Muertos piece, published by the School of Visual Arts: https://bit.ly/SVA_DiaMuertos.   

 

Elizabeth Avilés (TX) – Celebrated three years as a Certified Nurse Midwife with her prenatal & homebirth practice, Baby Catcher, PLLC.

 

Norma Ella Cantú (TX) – Has a new book, CHICANA PORTRAITS: CRITICAL BIOGRAPHIES OF 12 CHICANA WRITERS (U of AZ Press, 2023).  It includes bios of Montserrat Fontes, Gloria E. Anzaldúa, Caren Tafolla, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros and more. Check out the book here:   https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/chicana-portraits

                              

Gladys I. Cruz (NY) – Was elected President of AASA, the Superintendents Association, in June.

 

Nylda Dieppa (FL) – Was elected vice-president of the Orlando chapter of the Florida State Poets Association. Two of her poems won honorable mentions at the FSPA yearly contest and others were received with great acclaim when she read at the 2023 FSPA conference.

 

Rosalinda Diaz (NY) – Happy to announce the publication of her new book, Decolonizing Paradise: A Radical Ethnography of Environmental Stewardship in the Caribbean, from Peter Lang Publishers, January 2024.

 

Pearl Garza Fracchia (TX) – Was elected to the UTSW Simmons Cancer Center's Community Advisory Board Chair this past September.

 

Bobbie Garza-Hernandez (TX) – is the proud Recipient of the 2023 Women's Hall of Fame of San Marcos, TX.

 

Estela González (VT) – Her novel ARRIBADA received a silver medal at the International Latino Book Awards in the Novel of Drama or Adventure category!

 

Teresa Lara (CA) – Completed her Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Certification through e-Cornell this month! It was an intensive and interactive 6-week program learning and sharing space with professionals across industries (academia, corporate, military, philanthropy).  Teresa very much enjoyed this Masterclass on Equity, Performance, and Engagement! 

 

Karina H. Martinez (TX) – Was accepted to participate as a Fashion Designer in the November 10-12 Austin Fashion Week. She will be showing her collection on Sunday, November 12. This is a paid event and will be at the Domain.

 

Beatriz Mendoza Cortissoz (FL) – Successfully participated in the first Feria Internacional del Libro de Indiana at the IUPUI University campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, bringing Spanish language books and Latino culture to the modern languages department students and professors of such a distinguished university as well as to the Hispanic population in Indianapolis. The event was organized by the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española.

 

Dr. Guillermina Gina Nunez-Mchiri (CA) – Was a recipient of MANA-Imperial Valley's Las Primeras Award; an award given to three Latinas who have demonstrated important 'firsts' in their field with a national impact.

 

Mireya Perez-Bustillo (NY) – Proud to announce she had four poems published in the on-line Journal Voices, a publication of the Graduate Center – CUNY.   

 

Carol Portillo, PhD – Happy to be back in high tech. She is working at AMD as part of the Global Marketing team helping create and drive the governance, advocacy, and training for the AMD Global Brand. 

 

Nimia Ramos (PR) – Has finished writing her first book! Nimia is waiting for the illustrator to do a few finishing touches and looking for a volunteer editor! Stay tuned as she'll soon have a fun free crossword health related puzzle on her website!  APYArte Inc. has a logo! Please check it out! www.APYArte.com

 

Jo Reyes-Boitel (TX) – Her new book, THE MATCHSTICK LITANIES, is a poetic memoir out now from San Antonio-based Next Page Press. The book focuses on the author's upbringing in a mixed Latinx household faced with issues of addiction, migration, and intimate partner violence and the attempts to find a new path toward healing. For more information: https://nextpage-press.com/the-matchstick-litanies-by-jo-reyes-boitel.html.

 

Rachel V. Reyes (FL) – Her new book, Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal (#3 Caribbean Kitchen Mystery) published on November 7.  It is set in Puerto Rico. This humorous and contemporary mystery deals with some of the island's historic issues that are still problems today. The novel is also available in audiobook with the amazing Frankie Corzo as the voice actor. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729812/barbacoa-bomba-and-betrayal-by-raquel-v-reyes/

       AND!  Book 2 in the series, Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking, won a Gold International Latino Book Award in the mystery category. The judges lauded the inclusion of Spanish in the story. The series follows food anthropologist turned cooking show star, Miriam Quiñones as she juggles family, career, and solving mysteries.

 

Christy Yannis (NY) – Congratulations to Christy on wrapping her zombie horror short film, Public Housing Z! It is a fascinating and timely film, especially given the current housing crisis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Christy was particularly interested in focusing on Ana, a young girl who must fight to survive in an abandoned building after her family and neighbors become ill. Many people might be able to relate to Ana's experience of feeling isolated and vulnerable in a world that has been turned upside down. Christy was also eager to see how the film explores the themes of social injustice, survival, and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Be sure to follow @geeketteschat on Instagram for updates on the film.

 

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This Accomplishments List is published monthly.

 

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!

 

Visit Las Comadres here:  https://lascomadres.com/lco/

 Join Las Comadres here:  https://lascomadres.com/lco/join-las-comadres/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR JULY 2023

 

Success is not final. Failure is not fatal.  It is the courage to continue that counts.– Winston S. Churchill

 

 

 

Congratulations to the following Comadres on their accomplishments!

 

 

Jori Carrington (NY) – Has been promoted to Manager of People & Culture at her job.

 

Gladys I. Cruz (NY) – Is pleased to announce that she has been installed as President of AASA the Superintendents Association.

 

Maria Vilma Duran (TX) – Was featured on LATINA Style, Inc. Magazine's “Latina Empowerment in Sports” edition. She shared about her career in sports and outlook on women and Latinas advancing in the industry. Read the full article: https://magazine.latinastyle.com/latina-empowerment-in-sports/

 

Bobby Garza-Hernandez (TX) --  Celebrates the 21st Anniversary of her business, Pink Consulting, a public relations firm specializing in community outreach and engagement.  Visit her at www.pinkpr.biz.

Celeste Leon (CA) -- Her novel, LUCK IS JUST THE BEGINNING, was the book of the Month in Las Comadres and Friends National Book Club, and was released in late 2015 by Floricanto Press. Sadly, the founder passed away and the press closed after 40 years, and her book was out of print. So after much deliberation, Celeste re-published it herself with a new Author's Note. It was a formidable task (hundreds of hours) and a labor of love. LUCK IS JUST THE BEGINNING is now available at your favorite book outlets.

 

Marissa Marquez (TX) – On June 17, Marissa was promoted to the labor & employment legal counsel role at Houston Methodist Hospital.

 

Gina Nuez-Mchiri (CA) -- This August 2023, Dr. Núñez-Mchiri completed her first year as Dean of San Diego State University-Imperial Valley. She is delighted to be back in California serving in this leadership position in a majority Latinx campus on the U.S.-Mexico Border.  (The San Diego State University is celebrating its 125^th Anniversary this year.)

 

Angela Rodriguez Mooney (TX) – Is thrilled to share that she’ll be joining the faculty at Texas Woman's University as an Assistant Professor of Spanish this August.

 

Zulmara Maria Teixeira de Lima (CA) – This July, Zulmara celebrated 10 years of Daily Abrazos...an ABRAZO from your divine self-reminding you just how incredible you are.

 

 

 

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This Accomplishments List is published monthly and distributed to all Comadres.  

 

  

To read last month's Comadres Accomplishments, visit us here:   https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2023/07/las-comadres-celebrates-its-members.html

 

 

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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!

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS -- MAY 2023

 

 

Work hard in silence.  Let Your Success be your noise.

 

Congratulations to all Comadres!    We have some anniversaries, retirements, awards, new positions, new books, appearances, exhibitions, etc. 

 Andrea Arroyo (NY) – She is thrilled to share that "Goddesses at the Palace," a large-scale, site-specific art installation will be on view at the Historic United Palace in Manhattan, the project is presented as part of her Creatives Rebuild New York AEP Fellowship. Unveiling June 29, on view through July 10, 2023. Free and open to the public. More info: https://bit.ly/GoddessesAtThePalaceEB

 

Idamarie Collazo (IN) – After an intensive year, she finally graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis with her Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions! She is proud to be among the 8% of Latinas who earn a master’s degree. More recently, she accepted a full-time position as an outpatient therapist. As a Latina (Mexican & Puerto Rican) single mom, the road has been met with a great deal of challenges and blessings. “I am my ancestors wildest dreams!”

 

Lynette Correa-Velez (IL) – Lynette and her husband celebrated 10 years together and 8 years married this past 5/15/2023.

 

Nylda Dieppa (FL) – Nylda’s second, enhanced edition of her award-winning book "Alborada: A Poetic Memoir Across Cultures" was published on May 3, 2023. With the new title "Alborada (Dawn): A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry, it includes fourteen new poems to inspire the joys of spiritual and emotional healing. It has been received with wonderful reviews and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through Ingram Sparks. More info is available at www.nyldadieppa.com.

 

Sonia Diaz (CA) – Sonia is happy to report that on May 15, 2023, she began consulting work!

 

Brianna Dimas (TX) – Brianna was recently accepted into the competitive New Bridge Program fellowship which takes 10 cohort members each year to Berlin and Brussels. This program is focused on economic development and transatlantic relations.

 

Anika Fajardo (MN) – Anika be in conversation with Erika Sanchez with Hennepin County Library's Talk of the Stacks author program July 12 at 6:30p (Central). The event is virtual, free: https://www.supporthclib.org/erika-sanchez

 

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (NY) – Vanessa co-wrote a poetic play titled “Live Big Girl: A Chair That Fits” where Fat is deconstructed and reimagined. It speaks on how larger bodies navigate the world. We are currently in the preparation process and will soon to debut at Lehman College in The Bronx on October 14 and 15 of 2023. Support! Info to come at https://livebiggirl.wixsite.com/livebiggirl

 

Grace Flores-Hughes (VA) – Her latest book, The Opaque Conspiracy, launched on May 30th. Copies of the book are available through Amazon.com.

 

Dra. Lizabeth Garza-Garcia (TX) – Liz is the new Director of Secondary Emergent Bilinguals for Fort Worth ISD.

 

Karen Gonzales (CO) – Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors was honored to host a Meet & Greet with Author Reyna Grande on May 27th at the Denver Woman's Press Club. Author Juana Bordas member of both offered the space. Reyna was keynote speaker at Writing Heights Writers Conference in Fort Collins, CO and accepted the invitation to meet with our Denver community too. Reyna was interviewed about her book A Ballad of Love and Glory by Paul Lane, host of KUHS Weekend Boost internet streaming radio show. View pic at: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=719854753477255&set=pcb.719854896810574

 

Liz González (CA) – Liz’ creative nonfiction and poetry were featured in Hispanic Theological Initiative's Open Plaza.  See it here: https://www.htiopenplaza.org/content/ode-to-olg-san-bernardino

 

Patty Gonzales (TX) – Patty is celebrating her retirement as a Bilingual Teacher on May 26. After 25 years that went by fast, she’s excited about her new journey.

 

Paulina Rael Jaramillo (CA) – Her book, Life Resumed, won the finalist award in the Reader's Favorite Book Award international contest.

 

Elvira Ledezma (IL) – Elvira graduated from DePaul University with a Master’s in ECE and a bilingual endorsement!

 

Laura Lopez Cano (TX) – Laura was honored and grateful for being named a Woman of Distinction by TAMACC (Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce).  Presentation will occur on June 16 in Austin.

 

Raquel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (TX) – Rachel was named STCC Chairman of Paralegal Advisory Board 2023.

 

Claudia Nascimento (FL) – Claudia has obtained Life & Annuities license and is officially a Licensed Financial Consultant!

 

Venus V. Pineyro de Hoyos (TX) – Venus was also named a Woman of Distinction by TAMACC (Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce).  Presentation will occur on June 16 in Austin.

 

Elsa Prado (IL) – On May 22, 2023, she received a Community Service Award at Horizon Science Academy. It was presented at the First Responder’s & Community Members Breakfast.

 

LeAnne Salazar Montoya, PhD (NM) –  LeAnne was the 2023 Keynote speaker for the 30th anniversary Hispanic Educators Association of Nevada (HEAN) Class of ‘23 Baccalaureate for the cities more than 2k Hispanic/Latino graduates in Clark County (5th Largest school district in the nation).  Check out the program here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_I3keRVUavvde5vM2Up23wl-PCTVmY4J/view

 

Barbara Salcido (VA) – Retired January 2023 after 30 years and 10 months of Federal service.

 

Esmeralda Santiago (NY) – In May, Esmeralda finished recording the English version audiobook for her next novel, LAS MADRES. She’s filled with admiration for audio artists who do this professionally. It's harder work than it seems, and it's satisfying, at the end of hours of talking into a mic, to utter the last sentence and leave the dark sound booth into the light. Later this month, she’ll be narrating the Spanish version so that both languages of the novel will be available, author-read, when the book launches, August 8.  (NOTE:  Esmeralda’s book, LAS MADRES, will be an October Book of the Month for Las Comadres & Friends Book Club.)

 

Aileen Roberta Schlef (DC) – Her water colors were featured in the June 9-10 waterfront Art Show: Art of the Ages in Washington DC.

 

Marisa Schor (GA) – Got a new job as a Clinical Dietitian in Wellstar - Kennestone hospital. Started May 8, 2023!

 

Vicky H. Sepulveda (TX) – Vicky has completed her Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Certificate; six-years Grow with Google Digital Coach.

 

Ada Vilageliu Diaz (DC) – Ada is happy to share that she just became president of College English Association Middle-Atlantic Group (CEAMAG).

 

Becky Villareal (TX) – Becky is happy to report that her books, Gianna the Great, Hallito Gianna, and Gianna the Treasure Hunter are being relaunched by Anaiah Press.

 

 

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NOTE:  these listings are for congratulatory purposes only. We are not endorsing any products, services, or candidates for public office.  

 

To read last month's Comadres Accomplishments, visit us here: https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2023/05/las-comadres-celebrates-its-members.html

  

Congratulations to our Comadres!