E Newsletter

July/August 2007 E-Newsletter

This summer, girls have an opportunity to learn what life could be like as a movie star, a news anchor, a photographer, a radio dj, a magazine writer, a poet, a graphic designer and more in Latinitas’s inaugural Media Divas Summer Camp. An intense 2-week-long day camp program, Camp Latinitas provides girls in grades 4 through 8th a chance to express themselves creatively through media arts projects.

Camp Latinitas is led by a team of women educators, role models and mentors experienced in guiding girls in hands-on lessons, interactive presentations, team challenges, and fun games that address girl issues and encourage self-esteem, expression, confidence and empowerment.

Together with a host of inspiring guest speakers, Latinitas introduces Austin girls to movie-making, magazine publishing, radio deejaying, video documentary, news writing for youth and performance poetry. Through a series of multimedia arts and life-skills workshops, girls will discover practical and creative solutions to the most important of everyday challenges.

Sessions take place at the not yet opened Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) located at 600 River Street, Mon.-Fri., 9am to 5pm.

Session 1: July 16-July 27
Session 2: July 30-August 10.

Camp cost is $300 per session, including lunch. Need-base scholarships available. Contact Latinitas at 512.294.2300 or latinitascamp@ yahoo.com.

in this issue

1. Latinitas Hosts First Summer Camp at Austin's New MACC
2. Bienvenidos New Board Member: Geri Wilson
3. Radio Chica - Saturday Camp 7/28
4. Kayak-A-Thon 2007
5. Fotos de mi Alma Recap
6. Austin Energy Awards Latinitas
7. Latinitas Joins First Austin Girl Empowerment Fest

Achieving her bachelor’s degree from Antioch University West in Los Angeles , CA in Child Development and Psychology, Geri Luna Wilson is well-equipped as the newest board member at one of Austin ’s only non-profits focused entirely on empowering Latina youth.

With 25 years of experience in including curriculum development, staff training, career counseling, and special events coordinating, Wilson has the enthusiasm and the mettle to help Latinitas reach its organizational goals for 2007 and beyond. And, she is just, well...really nice.

"Geri has a warmth you feel immediately. For the work we do in Latinitas, that kind of personality is crucial." says Alicia Rascon, Latinitas Co-Founder.

An early education specialist at the Child’s Way Creative Learning Center , a former administrator for the National Latino Children’s Institute and six years as a human resource director and five years in Yuba-Sutter County Child Abuse Council, Yuba City , CA , Wilson has worked hands-on with the needs and challenges of Latina youth. A mother of two and a commited member of Austin ’s Las Comadres Network, Wilson has been a role model to many already.

"Through volunteering, mentoring, sharing our experiences, our wisdom, and our wealth of knowledge about life, struggles, the richness of our culture and its preservation, restores our sense of family and nurtures its cohesion. As a women of age, sharing these life-earned gifts is what I feel I owe to our (younger) Latinas, and I'm proud and honored to give." says Wilson.

Geri Luna Wilson will be leading Latinitas Consejeras group organizing quarterly meetings and rallying this group of advisors behind expansion and printing plans for 2007-2008.

Latina youth are the fastest growing population in the U.S. today, and the fastest growing radio audience says Arbitron ratings. Already radio stations are seeking authentic Latina voices to rule the airwaves. Grooming the next generation of Latina radio divas is Latinitas Radio Chica Saturday camp taking place on July 28th from 10:30am to 12:30pm at St. John's Library (7500 Blessing Ave).

See if you've got what it takes to be the next "Mimi in the Morning" and learn radio interviewing and commentary. Girls in grades 4 through 8th welcome.

Web Divas - August 25
Photo Stars - September 22
Zany Zines - October 27

For more information, visit www.latinitasmagazine.org or email latinitasmag@ yahoo.com.

Town Lake was the place to be for Latinitas girls and volunteers on June 2nd.

Enjoying a morning of free kayaking provided generously by the Texas Rowing Center, Latinitas benefitted from hundreds of dollars worth of free kayaking time.

Rowing enthusiast and Latinitas Board President Federico Subervi organized this event with the help of Matt Knifton, owner of the Texas Rowing Center, for the girls' enjoyment and education.

"Outdoor adventures can be an integral part of developing a positive self-concept by way of taking on and succeeding when dealing with new challenges." explains Subervi.

Knifton agrees, "the value of water sports [helps] develop healthy minds and bodies."

Education value aside, the kayaking trip also brings the girls and volunteers together for a morning of sharing and having fun. Some viewed this trip as a reward for the hard work put into the organization throughout the year.

"It was very relaxing and it gave us a break from the hard work we did in Latinitas." adds Denise Riojas, Club Latinitas participant.

Plans for another outing are tentatively scheduled for the Fall.

Latinitas 2nd Annual Fotos de Mi Alma silent auction proved again to be one of the agency's most fun, creative and diverse fundraising events of the year.

Increasing proceeds by twenty percent thanks to a fantastic raffle featuring gift packages from The Crossings, The Driskill Hotel's 1886 Cafe and Bakery, BettySport, Uchi Restaurant, The Belmont, Ben White Florist and Ace Cleaners.

Latinitas thanks all the photojournalists and artists who donated to this Fotos event:

Terry Arzola, Callie Bailey, Veronica Barrio, Luis Bonet, Meghan Butler, Rebecca Davis, Sarah Garza, Victoria Garza, Roberto "Bear" Guerra, David Hartstein, Os Hernandez, Javier Jara, Alberto Jimenez, Jeremy Kaller Meredith Kolu, Emily Manahan O’Brien, Linda Medina, Laura Monroy, Carol Moya, Jillian Murphy, Lesley Nawlin, JoAnna Ordonez, Raquel Pacheco, Maria Patino, Roxanne Pena, Fern Ramirez, Alicia Rascon, Amanda Riojas, Yvonne Robles,

Sarah K. Rodriguez, Martin Quiroga, Lori Utley, Christina Velasquez, Edward Velasquez, Alicia Arteaga Wilson, Cheryl Wilson and Matthew Young.

Anyone interested in donating photography for next year contact Laura at 512.322.9947 or by emailing laura@latinitasmaga zine.org.

In support of Latinitas after school programming at Martin Middle School in the Holly Plant district of Central East Austin, Latinitas has been awarded a City of Austin/Austin Energy grant to support that program's continued growth and development.

This is Latinitas third grant from the City of Austin/Austin Energy and we are grateful for this agency's commmitment to empowering Latina youth.

On June 9th the Austin community held its first Girl Empowerment Festival where both young and older women united to celebrate girl power and challenge the stereotypes placed on women and Latinas at UT’s School of Social Work . Hosted by Arte Sana (Art Heals), 115 young girls and women engaged in bilingual workshops that addressed teen dating violence, abuse, sexual assault, pregnancy prevention, harassment, sexuality, cultural identity, alcohol abuse, yoga, beauty and self-image.

A study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. According to a 2002 study by U T , the majority of rape victims are under the age of 18. What is most striking is that more than half of sexual assaults go unreported.

Latinitas provided the Wired For Safety, Web Design and Video Talk Show workshops, which focused on protecting oneself against inappropriate emails, harassing comments and cyber bullies. During the Video Talk Show workshop girls created their own "Dr. Phil" type show where they confronted issues such as low self-esteem, body image, relationships and the media’s focus on ideals of beauty. Mothers and other adult attendees of this workshop shared their insights and gave the girls advice on embracing their own inner beauty and self worth.

The festival was organized by Laura Zárate and Elizabeth Crecente. Zarate’s Arte Sana is a nonprofit agency for underserved survivors of gender and racial violence that promotes healing and empowerment through the arts and community education. Crecente founded Jennifer’s Hope which raises awareness about teen violence, named after her daughter who was killed by a former boyfriend.

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Latinitas, Inc. is an Austin-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic girls in media and technology. We accomplish this by publishing a bilingual webzine for Hispanic girls, hosting innovative media workshops in the community, and facilitating an after-school program for junior reporters.