Monday, August 1, 2022

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS-- July 2022

 Join us in Congratulating these Comadres on their Accomplishments. 

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 COMADRES!  We celebrate You!

 

Excellence is never an accident. It is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.

 


Congratulations to all!

Cecilia Aragon (WA) published a new book -- Human-Centered Data Science: An Introduction (MIT Press, 2022).

Maritere (Mari) Bellas (CA) was a virtual guest for the nationally syndicated television show, Tamron Hall Show. Episode on parenting; https://tamronhallshow.com/videos/mom-tales-a-candid-conversation-about-modern-motherhood/

Norma Cantu (TX) presented the Keynote address at the 12th Congreso de Literatura Chicana in Barcelona on June 21, 2022.  Norma also received the Galardón Luis Leal for outstanding accomplishments in Chicanx Literature at the same event.

Lynnette Correa-Velez (IL) has a new role as the Co-President/#CriticalCareerCoach of "Velez Diversity Consulting" (VDC) which is a virtual, anti-racism, DEI, & talent consulting & coaching firm for individuals, groups, and organizations within the U.S. and abroad.

Nylda Dieppa (FL) signed a contract with Orange Blossom Publishing for an enhanced second edition of her award-winning book, Alborada, a Poetic Memoir Across Cultures, due out in May 2023. She is currently negotiating a contract for a second poetry book to be published at the end of 2023.

Miranda Franco (IL) graduated in May with a Masters in Child Development from Erikson Institute and a Master of Jurisprudence in Children's Law and Policy from Loyola University Chicago.

Alejandra Hamlet (TX) became Managing Partner of Levior Energy – Austin after two years as Sales & Marketing Manager.

Veronika Herrera (NY) celebrates six years leading the East Harlem Teaching Residency.

Anne Saint Juste (MA) traveled to Haiti—one of the unsafe countries in the world—from July 12-20 to work with the workers in the nonprofit "Compassionate Care Center.” There are teachers and other staff in the school. They have 55 students in the school and are planning to accept more this year depending on the help of supporters.

Tish Leon (CA) retired so she has no work/school accomplishments. However, she has life accomplishments. Starting with moving back home to San Diego from Orange County after 40 years!  Here is the latest list of her accomplishments in her own words:
--I bought a mobile home and have planted many succulents, fruit trees, 2 rose bushes and many plumerias, plus I trained my cat to stay within the boundaries of our home.

--I will be getting new double pane windows installed and my home painted in August/September.

--I volunteer at the Old Globe theater as an usher and get to see the plays for free.
--I get to spend quality time with my siblings and I'm blessed that we all get along!
--I joined a group called Lakeside Race Amity which we hope "To dismantle the remnants of white supremacy in Lakeside by providing a visible counterbalance to racism, bigotry, and prejudice."
--I was asked to be an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce and I have the freedom to say "no" with no guilt, when I don't feel like helping.
--I also joined the Lakeside Women's Club, and they do many nice and fun things for the community. Again with no major commitments.
--I am excited that I am able to start a new chapter of my life and a chance to reinvent myself.

--I made a promise to myself that I will not over commit and gave myself permission to say no without feeling any guilt and time to nurture my soul!

Lucinda Mayo (Mexico) finished translations for the book, Connected Recipes and Stories for Tomorrow: Narratives on Other Kinds of Togetherness in Contemporary Life. It’s a multicultural culinary/social history resulting from collaboration between the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and LaGuardia Community College (CUNY).

Yolanda Nava (CA) is best-selling, award-winning journalist and author.  Her book, Through the Dark, an inspirational memoir is a finalist in three categories in the upcoming International Latino Book Awards: Best Autobiographical/Memoir; Most Inspirational Non-fiction; and Most Self-transformational Non-fiction. This year’s event will take place in Los Angeles on August 19-20, with authors writing in English, Spanish, and Portuguese; gathering from cities across the Americas and abroad, to hear with eager ears, which of the Gold, Silver, or Bronze medallions we will receive. The suspense Is overwhelming!

Yolanda Nixon (TX) was appointed as The Hispanic Employment Program Manager (HEPM) for the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Dallas, TX office in April. Currently, she is a Human Resources Specialist in the Human Resources Branch of the Mission Support Division. Yolanda joined EPA Region 6 in June 2000 as a Human Resources Specialist. Her 26 years of federal experience have been in the Human Resources field covering staffing, recruitment, resume writing, benefits, pay setting, Worker's Compensation, human resources systems, and so many other areas. She’s currently the Recruitment Officer, Schedule A employment coordinator, and Memorandum of Understanding coordinator among her other duties. Her goal in human resources and as the HEPM is to provide the best service to all employees in a fair and consistent manner.  In June 2022, Yolanda celebrated 22 years with the EPA, Region 6 Office.

Dolores Perez (TX) celebrated nine years as a Disaster Relief Volunteer with the South Texas American Red Cross Chapter. They help families recover from disasters like home fires, floods, hurricanes, etc. They are always looking for volunteers! For more information: www.redcross.org (click on the volunteer tab) 

Patricia Perez (CA) will be receiving the Sunrise Honor Award by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for her commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Evelyn Seyer (MA) finally participated in commencement this year! She graduated in 2020 with a certificate in Fashion Design!

Mary Theresa (Terry) Vasquez (TX).  Her book, From the Texas Cotton Fields to the United States Tax Court, the Life Journey of Juan F. Vasquez, is a 2022 International Latino Book Awards Finalist in non-fiction-best biography in the English language and earned an Honorable Mention for the category: the Victor Villasenor Latino focused non-fiction book awards for the English language. The Awards ceremony is on August 19-20, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.


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

 

 

Sunday, July 31, 2022

LAS COMADRES SPEAKER SERIES: Wed, Aug 31-- Hurdles in the Dark: Building the Next Generation of Diverse and Creative Entrepreneurs, Q&A with Elvira K. Gonzalez


Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it. --Oprah Winfrey

 

Greetings.  Please join us on Wednesday, August 31, at 7pm ET for a Q&A with Author, Founder, Activist, Athlete and Former Professional Track & Field Coach Elvira K. Gonzalez.  We're going to talk about growing up in Texas, trips to Mexico, breaking records of indoor track and field, writing and helping others to also find their voice.


Hurdles in the Dark:  Building the Next Generation of Diverse and Creative Entrepreneurs

Q&A with Elvira K. Gonzalez

Author, Founder, Activist, Athlete and Former Professional Track & Field Coach. 

Elvira Gonzalez grew up in Laredo Texas, a city that features prominently in her debut Young Adult Non-Fiction book, Hurdles in the Dark.  Elvira landed a six-figure, pre-empt deal with Roaring Brook Press of MacMillan Publishers for Spring 2023 publication.  She is the founder of Writers Inkubator, a literary online learning platform helping various writers find representation and landing book deals.  The company has partnered with InsideOUT Writers, a non-profit organization that conducts writing classes inside juvenile halls and prisons.  

Elvira is a former Track & Field coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coaching at UPenn, she trained a two-time Olympic hurdler for the 2017 IAFF World Championships in London, England and was the horizontal and vertical jumps private coach for The Armory, the premier indoor track & field in the United States. She is a member of the leadership committee When We Band Togethers' newest facility The Dave Schultz Sports & Wellness Center for Humanity in Lesvos, Greece, named after the greatest Olympic U.S wrestler. Elvira resides in New York City and Los Angeles. Visit her at https://elvirakgonzalez.com/.

 

Register here for her talk:  https://forms.gle/LEMsrsa8TP1mF5xW9

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

 

 

The Comadres & Friends Book Club Announces August 2022 Books

“When love meets suffering, the heart is trying to be compassionate.” – favorite quote of Silvia Vasquez-Lavado 

The Comadres & Friends Book Club is pleased to announce its books for August 2022. We know you will enjoy these selections. The first is a page turning, pulse racing memoir of the first Peruvian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The second is this tempestuous and passionate romance about a rum heiress from Santo Domingo and the Scottish Earl who proposes a marriage of convenience that might save them both. 

BOOK OF THE MONTH: IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAIN: A MEMOIR OF COURAGE
 Author: Silvia Vasquez-Lavado 

 A Latina hero in the elite macho tech world of Silicon Valley, privately, she was hanging by a thread. Deep in the throes of alcoholism, hiding her sexuality from her family, and repressing the abuse she’d suffered as a child, she started climbing. Something about the brute force required for the ascent―the risk and spirit and sheer size of the mountains and death’s close proximity―woke her up. She then took her biggest pain as a survivor to the biggest mountain: Everest. 








CONVERSATIONS WITH BOOK: A CARIBBEAN HEIRESS IN PARIS 
Author: Adriana Herrera 

From their first tempestuous meeting, Luz Alana is conflicted. Why is this titled—and infuriatingly charming—Scottish man so determined to help her? For Evan, every day with Luz Alana makes him yearn for more than her ardent kisses or the marriage of convenience that might save them both. But Luz Alana sailed for Paris prepared to build her business and her future; what she wasn’t prepared for was love finding her. 









Visit our website for full book summaries and author bios: https://latinolit.com/august-2022-silvia-vasquez-lavado-adriana-herrera/ 

SAVE THE DATE! Monday, August 29, for our monthly Book Club Teleconference with live interviews with Silvia Vasquez-Lavado and Adriana Herrera. and if you sign up now, you may win a free book. Register here: https://latinolit.com/join-teleconference/ 

And don’t forget our Summer Reading List! 15 books in different genres by your favorite Latino authors. Check out the full list here: https://latinolit.com/summer-reading-list-2022/ 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Wednesday, August 17 ---Special Summer Reading by authors from our Summer Reading List. Details to follow. 


 Happy Reading, and always Read Latino Lit.

   
  

Thursday, June 30, 2022

LAS COMADRES Celebrates Member Accomplishments for June 2022


 Success doesn't come to you.  YOU Go to It!


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Join us in Congratulating these Comadres on their Accomplishments. 

 

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COMADRES!  We celebrate You!

 

Debra Antis (NY) wrote her second book, Daughter of the Boricua.

 

Malynn Abigail “Aby” Catalan (CA) ran the last Students Run LA series Race (5k) with her High School Seniors earlier this month.  She was also named Employee of the Month at the North Valley Orthopedic Institute.

 

Martha Cotera (TX) will receive the Tortuga Award from Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS) at the annual conference and institute in Ft. Collins Colorado. The award is granted to a scholar for her commitment to interdisciplinary Chicana, Latina, Afro-Latina, Native American and Indigenous feminist scholarship, cultural productions, and activism (belief in the scholar-activist model).  Her friend, Dr. Brenda Sendejo nominated her, and together with Martha’s daughter Maria Eugenia and surrogate daughter Linda Garcia Merchant they worked hard on her nomination.  Martha is honored and wants to share this Award with Las Comadres and ELLAS. 

 

Lilli DeCair (n/a) is a Health Educator.  She started a YouTube channel to help others learn stress management tools. She also offers her entire Reiki course free. Lilli has 35+ videos on her channel.

 

Gabriela Duncan (CA) completed her Masters in Project Management at the University of Southern California.

 

Anna Giraldo-Kerr (MA) joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as an Organizational Development Consultant to partner with MIT leaders in fostering an inclusive culture at the Institute.

 

Dr. María Alma González Pérez (TX) is proud to announce that she was featured in the June issue of Texas’ statewide magazine, Texas Co- Op Power. Here is the link to the article: https://texascooppower.com/speaking-to-children/

 

Selena Hernandez (CO) wrote a children's book, I Like Pink! A Story about Self- Acceptance.  

 

Adela Kowalski-Garza (TX) ran and was elected the Democratic candidate for the 484th District court. She is now the Judge-elect and will be sworn into office this November. In the meantime, Adela is still working as an Assistant District Attorney in charge of felony and capital offenses and continues to teach part time at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. (She’s been teaching since 2003!)

 

Phoenix Lara (CA) started a new job as Director of People and Organizational Culture in San Francisco.

 

Thelma Reyna (CA) is proud to announce that the anthology she edited, Doctor Poets & Other Healers, was named a finalist in the Poetry Anthology Category of the International Latino Book Awards. She is excited at being a contender for the gold medal.

 

Hilda Rivas (TX) completed her master’s in social work at the Texas State University, and she got a new job as a planner with Travis County Health and Human Resources.

 

Lily Roman (CA) got married! After a 16-year trial period, two kids and a pandemic, Lily and Rudy tied the knot. Lily Banos is now Lily Roman.

 

Terry Saucedo (CA) Is proud to announce that she has been promoted to Warehouse Trainer.

 

Magalis Troncoso (n/a) got a new job!

 

Cristina Wilson (TX) just learned that she will be awarded the HWNT Estrella de Fe Award on July 1st.

 

Edna C. Zalenski (NJ) wrote her third book, Amor, Cafe y Politica.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to all!

 

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

 

Monday, June 20, 2022

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB RELEASES 8TH ANNUAL SUMMER READING LIST

PRESS RELEASE

 

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS

NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB

 

** Connecting Readers All Over The World

Through Latino Literature **

 

8th ANNUAL

SUMMER READING LIST

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             JUNE 21, 2022 

CONTACT:  Maria Ferrer, Project Manager  

mferrer.lcbookclub@gmail.com

 

 

New York, NY—Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club is pleased to announce the release of its eighth annual Summer Reading List on this the first day of the summer.

 This year’s Summer Reading List has 15 books in honor of the Book Club’s Quinceaňero!  The list includes a classical novel celebrating its golden anniversary; a love letter to women of color from a Latinx rebel; a compelling memoir about embracing gay Latinx identity; a cookbook with 600+ scrumptious recipes; a children's book on how to make the world a better place; and a couple of anthologies on migration, survival, and uprootedness.

 “We are so proud to be celebrating our 15th Anniversary as a Book Club,” says Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Founding Director. “I am looking forward to someone asking me what book(s) I'm reading this summer.  I have my list handy to share – 15 Latina/o authors for everyone’s reading pleasure!”

We encourage readers of all ages to purchase our Summer Reading List selections and add them to their TBR piles, give copies to family and friends, order copies at your neighborhood library, and enjoy Reading Latino Lit.

 

2022 Summer Reading List


1.      *Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales (Random House)children's book

2.      *Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya (Penguin Classics)classic, fiction

3.      Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt (Knopf Books)—fiction, YA

4.      For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez (Seal Press)—nonfiction

5.      High-Risk Homosexual by Edgar Gomez (Soft Skull)—memoir

6.      Home in Florida: Latinx Writers and the Literature of Uprootedness edited by Anjanette Delgado (University of Florida Press)—nonfiction, anthology

7.      *Just Help!: How to Build a Better World by Sonia Sotomayor (Philomel Books)—children's books

8.      Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore (Feiwel & Friends)—fiction, YA

9.      The Latin American Cookbook by Virgilio Martinez (Phaidon Press)—nonfiction, cookbook

10.  Luther, Wyoming by Tomas Alamilla and Mario Acevedo (Five Star Publishing)—fiction, western

11.  More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez (William Morrow)—fiction, thriller

12.  My Book of the Dead by Ana Castillo (High Road Books)—poetry

13.  Somewhere We Are Human edited by Reyna Grande and Sonia Guiňansaca (HarperVia)—nonfiction, anthology

14.  You Sound Like a White Girl by Julissa Arce (Flatiron Books)—nonfiction, anthology

15.  Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine (One World)fiction

 

* This book is also available in Spanish 


Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club started in 2007 and is currently in 15 cities, with more cities to follow.  All books are in English, written by Latino authors. Membership is free and open to all readers.  Each month, Las Comadres & Friends Book Club features a Book of the Month selection and one or two additional “Conversations with” books.  At the end of the month, there is a LIVE zoom teleconference with the author(s), plus a simultaneous TwitterChat on @ReadLatinoLit. Registration is free and open to all readers.  

 For more information on Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club, to register for the monthly teleconference or to submit your book for consideration, visit www.latinolit.com.

 For more information on the 2022 Summer Reading List, email Maria Ferrer, Project Manager, at mferrer.lcbookclub@gmail.com.

 

 Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club

www.latinolit.com

www.readlatinolit.blogspot.com

Twitter: @ReadLatinoLit

Hashtags:  #ReadLatinoLit, #LasComadres, #LCBC

  

Leadership Team

Maria C. Ferrer, Project Manager

Tess Tobin, Submissions Coordinator

Dora M. Abreu, Social Media Coordinator

Karen D. Gonzales, Assistant Coordinator

 and

Dr. Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Founding Director

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Sunday, June 5, 2022

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 19th .  

 

 


Inside the Asterisk: *Building Community with News that Represents

Q&A with Amanda Zamora

Co-founder and Publisher of The 19th

  

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 Celebrates Member Accomplishments for May 2022

 Define success on your own terms. – Anne Sweeny

 

 


 

Join us in Congratulating these Comadres on their Accomplishments. 

 

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COMADRES!  We celebrate You!

 

 

Raysa Amador (NY) is going to be a grandmother in June, and she’s recovering from Covid-19.

 

Daniela Ariza (TX) finally finished her translation training at Austin Community College, and she can call herself Spanish to English and English to Spanish Professional Translator.  

 

Gabriela Duncan (CA) completed her Master's degree in Project Management at the University of Southern California.

 

Amelia Folkes (TX) got a new job as Director of Public Relations at Raise Your Hand Texas.

 

Karen Gonzalez (CO)’s story The Mystery of La Llorona and Mr. Lloron won second place in the Sandra Seton Michel Middle School Book or Story category. This is part of the 2022 Biennial Competition in Letters sponsored by the National League of American Pen Women.

 

Dora Herrera (CA) is proud to have been selected as one of 50 nationwide Tory Burch Fellows for 2022! The year-long Fellows Program for women entrepreneurs helps founders grow and scale through workshops with expert instructors, a rich peer-to-peer network, a business education grant, and access to capital. #ToryBurchFellows  PLUS!  On April 3, together with other local restaurateurs & brewers, they helped raise over $650K for the Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena. It’s the 5th year of this wonderful Masters of Taste event!

 

Christy Martinez-Garcia (TX) was elected to Lubbock City Council District 1 with 66% of the vote! She was sworn in on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, and took part in her first City Council Meeting on May 24!

 

Emma Navarro (TX) was hired as a funeral home attendant for one of the busiest and most beautiful funeral homes in Austin, Cook-Walden Funeral Home Pflugerville. She will be helping with all aspects of greeting funeral attendees, receiving flowers for the descendants, keeping funeral rooms in tiptop shape and making sure everyone attending is comfortable. She’s proud of her work for Cook-Walden, who pride themselves on their attention to detail.

 

Maritza Ramos Pratt (FL) is a new member of the National Association of Professional and Business Women in Orlando, FL.

 

Rosemary Rivera (NYC) is happy to announce that her debut picture book Myra and the Drawing Drama will hit bookstores (in English and Spanish) September 2022 and it has also been adapted into a musical that premiers in October 2022!

 

Veronica Rodriguez (CA) completed her B.S. from Cal State U: Dominguez Hills in Business Management, one year after her daughter completed her B.A. in Anthropology from UC-Riverside. SIGUE ADELANTE!

 

Shirley Yanis (NYC) started a new job on May 24!

 

 

 

Congratulations to all!

 

 


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This Accomplishments List will be published monthly and distributed to all Comadres.  To share your accomplishments for next month, register here:  https://forms.gle/gXjeZMreitTT6XDt7

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