Community Partners - Mil Gracias!

Proyecto Latina wants to take a moment to thank some amazing community partners that have supported us along the way. Our newest community partner includes the Chicago Foundation for Women's Latina Leadership Council. All of these organizations are impacting our communities. We encourage you to go to their websites and support the wonderful work they do year round.
If you interested in becoming a community partner shoot us an email for details info@proyectolatina.org

Latina Teens At High Risk For Suicide

A new report that has just come out from Washington University in New York city reports that Latina teens have a high risk of suicide. Some of the characteristics that lead these at risk teens from depression include: mother/daughter conflicts, immigrants and low-income families. According to the 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of high school students 14% of Latina students attempt suicide.

Here is a link to a CNN article about Latina teens and suicide.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/10/20/lia.latina.suicides/index.html

If you or a someone you know is depressed or talking about suicide get help immediately. Here are some online resources. Feel free to post other resources in the comment section. The more resource sharing we do the more educated we can become on this matter that is impacting the Latina community.

Center for Mental Health Services

http://www.mentalhealth.org

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Depression.com

Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago

Community Counseling Services of Chicago

Note: The above photo is courtesy of Health Spa Blog

Proyecto Latina - Featuring Teatro Americano

This month Proyecto Latina is thrilled to present the ladies of Teatro Americano. They will be performing sections of the 2010 production of Meet Juan(ito) Doe.

Proyecto Latina Reading series

Monday, October 19 @7PM-FREE

Radio Arte

1401 W. 18th Street

Chicago, IL

http://www.mapquest.com

Street Parking

18th Street Bus/ 60 Blue Island Bus/Pink line 18th St. stop

“I had the opportunity to meet Alejandra and Zulema about five-years ago when they were still in high school and I’m excited to say that these ladies are ones to watch. The ladies of this production are the next generation of Latinas in the arts”. –Diana Pando

Meet the ladies of Meet Juan(ito) Doe:

Alejandra Garcia

codename: Skinny Brown

Is a an actress, collaborator, and writer with Teatro Americano. She is a creator and actress in the ensemble's SALUD teatronovelas Fronteras del Amor and Los Aires de Mañana. She is looking forward to performing in Meet Juan(ito) Doe in 2010. This past summer, she traveled to the mountain town Tamaula in Guanajuato, Mexico supported by a MacArthur International Connections Grant to use theatre for community development. A graduate of Big Picture High School and frequent volunteer with Latinos Progresando, Alejandra is dedicated to the progress of Chicago's Latinos. She is eager to begin pursuing a career in the arts and dance in 2010.

Veronika Miranda

codename: Osa Picosa

Miranda is many things: actress, artist, photographer, writer, partygirl, etc. Graduating from Queen of Peace High School, she is a good bad girl from Chicago's Southside. A member of Teatro Americano's youth and young adult ensemble, she is an original collaborator and performer of Fronteras del Amor and looking forward to Meet Juan(ito) Doe. In Summer 2009, she traveled with Teatro Americano to rural Mexico supported by a MacArthur Chicago International Connections grant to use theater for community development and create new work. She currently works at a factory alongside her gente and enjoys very much her cigarette breaks. She is extremely grateful for coffee, family, friends, and Ricardo Gamboa (of course).

Zulema Ortiz

codename: Juice-ema

Migrating from Mexico, Zulema found new home in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. She is an actress, collaborator, and writer with Teatro Americano's youth and young adult ensemble. Dedicated to the progress of her community beyond the stage, Zulema has been active in organizing around issues of immigration. A former undocumented student, Zulema is intimate with the difficulties confronting immigrant youth and their pursuit of higher education and is currently active in DREAM Act advocacy. She is also a Teatro Americano educator at Rosario Castellanos Elementary. She is a graduate of Big Picture High School and 2009 winner of the Sor Juana Award. She can be seen in Teatro Americano's Fronteras del Amor and later next year in Meet Juan(ito) Doe.

Special THANK YOU to our community partner Radio Arte 90.5FM

Jenny Priego: Adelita Pata de Perro @ Pilsen Open Studios 2009

Jennifer Priego will exhibit select pieces from her ongoing project Adelita Pata de Perro at this years Pilsen Open Studios, you can find her at Antena throughout the weekend.

WHAT: 18th St. Pilsen Open Studios 2009
WHEN: Sat. & Sun. Oct. 17-18, 2009. Noon - 8pm
WHERE: ANTENA, 1765 S. Laflin St.

We spoke to Jenny about a year ago, listen to what she had to say about Adelita Pata de Perro and her art process.


Jenny Priego (12:29)


Jenny Priego is visual and performance artist who draws inspiration from her existence as a feminine being and random beauty. She uses several forms of media to interpret her self exploration, such as technology, her body, voice, and formal fine art technique. Her latest and ongoing project is "Adelita Pata de Perro" a photographic journal of Adelita, a character that was inspired by the women who fought in the Mexican Revolution. Priego's Adelita is a hyper-ethnic woman wandering the world on an ever changing journey, and on her voyage of discovery she encounters symbols of power, femininity, sex, and cultural imagery. She finds herself in different situations and places that take her from Paris, to Rome and sugar cane mills in Mexico. Priego studied at Columbia College and currently works as a Stewardess.

Interview by Irasema Gonzalez

Meet the Latina Leadership Council Co-Chairs

This month I had the opportunity to interview the co-chairs of the Chicago Foundation For Women's Latina Leadership Council. These ladies are on the move impacting our community. This Friday, October 16^th they will be having an evening of theatre and reception for their annual fall event to raise funds for Latina women and girls. Above is a photo of Silvia Rivera on the left, center Dolores Huerta and Lilliana De Santiago. Here is what they had to say about philanthropy, leadership and the work the Latina Leadership Council is doing:

Diana Pando: What is the Latina Leadership Council and how is it impacting Latina women and girls in Chicago?

Lilliana De Santiago: The LLC is a network of women committed to improving the lives of Latina women and girls in the Chicago area. Each woman who joins the council is a volunteer and comes from a variety of professional backgrounds. Our work within the LLC is to raise awareness of the issues impacting the Latina community and find the resources to support those organizations that are doing great work to address them. Our main goal is to raise funds by encouraging our peers, family and colleagues to participate actively in philanthropy.

Diana Pando: How did both you and Silvia get interested in philanthropy?

Lilliana De Santiago: I became interested in philanthropy through my desire to have a much more global and at substantial impact on the communities and causes that I am passionate about. I volunteer as often as I can, but that can often be limited by life. I find that by giving and educating others about causes and encouraging them to give is incredibly fulfilling and I am often able to do much more with those dollars than I can at times with my own hands.

Silvia Rivera: My parents were ones who never hesitated in giving, if it wasn't financially, it was by offering their home, food, or helping hand. I think that the example they set for me, is one that most Latinos live by. We are philanthropists by culture. As a young adult these cultural values were strengthened through my involvement with the National Museum of Mexican Art. Working for a Latino-led cultural institution inculcated in me the importance of supporting and strengthening the cornerstones of our community.

Diana Pando: How has being on the Latina Leadership Council impacted both you?

Lilliana De Santiago: Being on the LLC has helped me to connect with a strong network of passionate Latina women and also has given me confidence in my own personal strength. It is a truly a blessing to be among women who have so much life and passion. These women make things happen in their lives, but are humble and caring and will go out of their way to help their community. It has been a very positive experience.

Silvia Rivera: I have made it a life's mission to connect with those women that inspire me and to inspire others. There is an indescribable sense of pride that I feel whenever I am surrounded by the women of the Latina Leadership Council. These are women that have triumphed over a variety of life's challenges, and are a constant reminder that wise Latinas are all around us.

Diana Pando: How is the money you raise at your benefit be used? Who are past recipients?

Lilliana De Santiago: The LLC takes the funds that it raises and conducts yearly grant making efforts to support community organizations. Our past grantees have included:

Mujeres Latina en Accion,Pilsen Alliance,Centro Romero,Centro San Bonifacio,

Teatro Luna

Diana Pando: What have you learned about yourself and others from being on the council?

Lilliana De Santiago: There are many things that I have learned as a member of the council and my involvement with the foundation. My sense of commitment to a cause has grown as well as my sense of social reasonability. I truly feel that I am making a difference working with and committing myself to the LLC.

Silvia Rivera: Being on the council has strengthened my belief that Latina’s should be the driver's of this generations political, cultural, and social agendas. There is no doubt in my mind that Latina’s have the talent and the know-how needed to change our society for the better.

Diana Pando: Who are the other women on the council?

Lilliana De Santiago: The Latina Leadership Council includes: Carla Agostinelli,Michelle Garcia,Nora Garcia, Lynae Maciel and Dr. Yolanda Cardenas

Diana Pando: What trends are you seeing with Latinas in Philanthropy in the middle of this economic downturn?

Lilliana De Santiago: The trends that I see are working collaboratively with the arts and/or leadership events. The arts are an amazing venue where culture, opinions, passions, and current events are voiced in a multitude of ways that can relate to the masses. The LLC has partnered with the arts for their annual fundraiser for the last 3 years and they have proven to be highly successful. The goals with our events are to expose people the many elements of the Latino cultures, entertain them and educate them to the issues of Latina women. We have been fortunate enough to accomplish that and be recognized as an organization that does that on a yearly basis. We hope to continue that trend.

Silvia Rivera: Now, more than ever, we have to be united in supplementing the losses community organizations have experienced due to the economic downturn. Cut backs have negatively affected Latina agencies, many of which are being forced to decrease the services they provide. The good news is that our ability to partner with arts organizations, has proven to be a wonderful formula in reaching out to a diverse cadre of financial contributors. It is true that when times are tough, the comadres come through.

Diana Pando: What plans do you and Silvia, the new co-chair, have for the Latina Leadership Council in the coming months?

Lilliana De Santiago: Grow bigger, better, and wiser. We continue to look for amazing women who are willing to make a commitment to service, education, and philanthropy. We also will be working on a fundraising strategic plan to map out our philanthropic goals and events for the next year or two. We have an amazing group of women with a million great ideas and we nee to harness those ideas and see how we can make them realities.

Silvia Rivera: I hope that we increase the visibility of the Latina Leadership Council amongst organizations that might benefit from our fundraising efforts. Likewise, I hope that we can continue on our upward fundraising momentum.

About the benefit performance

Chicago Foundation for Women's Latina Leadership Council is proud to announce a special one-night benefit performance of The House on Mango Street at the Steppenwolf Theatre. This is generously cosponsored by Steppenwolf Theatre. Profits from the event will go toward the Council's Maria Mangual Unidas Fund, which awards grants to nonprofit programs in the Chicago area working with the Latina community. Join us for a pre-show reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres, where you can meet council members and learn how you can get involved.

About The House on Mango Street

Based on the novel by celebrated Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros and adapted by Tanya Saracho, The House on Mango Street is the touching and humorous story of a young girl growing up in one of Chicago's culturally diverse neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of a new life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this classic coming-of-age story about those defining experiences that shape our beliefs and help us discover who we are.

Tickets: $40. Buy through Chicago Foundation for Women's website: https://www.cfw.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1113

Got questions about this event? Call Marisol Ybarra: 312-577-2801

mybarra@cfw.org

Rastros y Crónicas

Since 1993, more then 500 women have been killed in Ciudad Juárez in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. For some time now, Mexican and Mexican American artists have been sensitive to the subject of Women of Juarez and have worked on diverse projects to share their perspective on this disturbing situation. The thought provoking pieces throughout the exhibition serve as a chronicle of the struggles of Mexican women and the grievous deaths in Ciudad Juárez. By generating awareness, the artwork supports the cause of the victims’ families who search for justice and truth. The artists of Rastros y Crónicas compel the viewer to comprehend and sympathize with what the victims endured and what the living continue to face.

In the next few weeks Proyecto Latina will be featuring interviews with some of the artists and women organizing this event in the meantime check out the exhibit.

Opening Reception October 16, 2009, 6-8 pm
Exhibition runs through February 14, 2010

National Museum of Mexican Art

1852 W 19th St

Chicago, IL 60608-2706

(312) 738-1503

Artists include: Adriana Yadira Gallego,Ana Teresa Fernández,Amalia Benavides,Ambra Polidori,Azul Luna,Carla Rippey,Cecilia Alvarez,Celia Alvarez Muñoz,Consuelo Jiménez Underwood,Ester Hernández,Esperanza Gama,Favianna Rodríguez,Judithe Hernández,Karen Musgrave,Linda Vallejo,Mónica Huitrón Flores,Patricia Acosta,Pilar Acevedo, Rocío Caballero,Rosario Guajardo,Sandra Vista,Stephanie Manriquez,Susan Plum,Verónica Cardoso Nagel,Victoria Delgadillo

The above image is courtesy of the Artist
Rocio Caballero
Broken Dreams/ Los sueños rotos, 2009
mixed media on canvas
39 1/2" X 47 1/4th

Esther Cepeda: 600 is the sweet spot

Esther Cepeda encourages the Latina journalism student to develop her multi-media skills and to be bold. Esther leads by example; she writes and self-syndicates her column at 600words. In 2006 she became the first Latino metro columnist when she joined the Chicago Sun-Times, about the opportunity she says, "Its great to have a seat at the table."

Listen to more from our interview with Esther below:


Esther Cepeda 1 of 2 (7:06)


Esther Cepeda 2 of 2 (7:06)



Interview by Diana Pando

Legendary Song Bird Mercedes Sosa Passes at 74

Proyecto Latina is taking a moment to send our condolences and remember Mercedes Sosa, a woman with a powerful voice and message, who passed today in a hospital in Argentina. Ms. Sosa had a singing career that spanned five decades and winner of several Latin Grammy Awards. She is considered the voice of consciousness in Latin America blending traditional folk rhythms with politically charged lyrics about the poor and disenfranchised. Her music career came to a stand off in the 1970’s when the right-wing nationalists of Argentina noticed and began harassing her by banning her music from Argentine radio and television.

Ms. Sosa used her artistic talent to move the people at her sold out concerts by transforming them into rallies against government brutality. With increasing threats from the government and prohibited from performing and making a living she was forced to exiled herself to Europe. Upon her return to Argentina the last remnants of the dictatorship were crumbling and her popularity soared as thousands attended her concerts. After more than five decades this woman’s voice echoes on even louder.

La Llorona: The Weeping Woman

When La Llorona isn't wailing and looking for her chamacos in the river she sometimes appears on TV like the Got Milk commercial that ran a few years ago. This pre-columbian legend has traveled across time through oral tradition of storytelling. The legend has it that she drowned her children in the river and spends countless nights wailing trying desperately to find them. I've often wondered if she had postpartum depression.

The story also has it that at some point she even appeared in the city of Tenochtitlan at night as a woman dressed in white, accompanied by deadly omens which foretold the conquest of Mexico. One night, her voice was heard, weeping loudly: Oh, my poor children, their destruction has arrived, for we must soon depart! Other times the voice would cry in desperation: My children, where shall I take you? Where could I hide you? This was interpreted as an omen for the fall of the Aztec Empire.

No need to start crying over history's spilled milk or looking for La Llorona by the Chicago River. She will actually be at the Chicago Cultural Center in spirit anyway.

La Llorona: The Weeping Woman
FOCO / Intersections
October 7, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Along with the Virgin of Guadalupe and La Malinche, La Llorona forms part of the female triad rooted in Mexican culture. La Llorona is a thriving oral legacy that can be traced to a folk legend that originated during the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. The weeping woman who searches for her lost children is a phantom who is heard but never seen. The phenomenon is reflected in song, literature, film and popular culture, and La Llorona's story continues to be re-envisioned and revised by contemporary artistic interpretations.

And about that commercial we told you about:

Ana Castillo: Fueling a literary tradition

Chicana writer Ana Castillo wants to fuel the tradition of reading and writing in the Latino community, through the memoir writing workshops she teaches. Ana says she hopes that she can help establish posterity of culture and most importantly the family stories of the participants. Literature, Ana reminds us, comes from all walks of life--writing is not just for the privileged. Our Proyecto Latina contributor, Yolanda Cardenas also asks about spirituality's place in writing, listen to their complete conversation below.

Ana Castillo: Spirituality's place in writing? (4:17)


Ana Castillo: Can you teach someone to write? (5:48)




Ana Castillo's memoir writing workshops are cross-cultural and generational and open to everyone over 18 years-old. Details available here.

Interview by Yolanda Cardenas