Dr. Angelica Perez-Litwin Grooms Latina Leaders with the ELLA Institute
For Angelica Perez-Litwin, PhD, founder and CEO of ELLA Leadership Institute, there are no obstacles—only opportunities. “I don’t label my experiences as failures or obstacles. I have things that have worked out more than others,” said Dr. Perez-Litwin during our recent phone interview. “But I always make things work.” And that she does. She’s the force [...]
Takeaways from Hispanicize 2013 Social Media Conference
If it’s tough to recap even a two or three day social media conference, imagine trying to do it with a five day event, filled with back to back speakers’ panels, lunches, mixers, red carpet events, movie premiers, art festivals and all-night celebrations. That’s what Hispanicize 2013 was, and then some! The beachside location—The Eden [...]
Mamiverse Interviews Elisa Lees Muñoz, New Executive Director of IWMF
On January 31, the International Women’s Media Foundation named Elisa Lees Muñoz as Executive Director. According to the IWMF press release, “Lees Muñoz brings more than 20 years of experience with human rights and media development organizations that promote the rule of law, press freedom and the engagement, training and leadership of women in the [...]
8 Character Traits to Learn from Black Women in American History
It takes a woman of strength to forge through uncertain times. Black History Month reminds us to look back at some of the pioneering African-American women who changed history, and the individual character traits they demonstrated—from which we can all learn a lesson or two. INSIGHT Elizabeth Freeman (1742-1829) was a good listener; amidst [...]
Complex, Abiding Love: Sonia Sotomayor & Her Mother
It’s often said that for both men and women, the most complicated relationship we’ll after have is with our mother. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor appears to be no exception to this rule, as her new autobiography, My Beloved World, suggests. When Sotomayor was nominated by Barack Obama to be the nation’s first Hispanic and [...]
Dolores Prida Memorial Poem: ¡Ay Dolores!
This poem was written for the Memorial Service this weekend for Dolores Prida, the Dear Abby of Latinas, whose critically acclaimed advice columns, plays, books and Op-Ed pieces span a generation. Prida died suddenly this weekend of unknown causes following a party she attended which included Latina leaders like U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The tribute will also include [...]
Sonia Sotomayor Opens Up About Her Bronx Upbringing
Just call her “Sonia from The Bronx.” The first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor is also called Madam Justice, but she says she prefers the link to her humble roots. Sotomayor, 58, spoke about her upbringing in The Bronx, New York, her “terrifying” first day in the nation’s highest court, her battle with diabetes [...]
Claudia Duncan Dreams of Pushing Paper
On a Saturday morning, Claudia Duncan wakes up at 5:30am, makes coffee, turns on the radio, and starts pushing paper. For many of us, that may sound like a mundane start to the day. But for Duncan, by manipulating paper—whether it’s an elegantly-bound journal or a simple invoice—she’s assembling a dream. Duncan is the founder [...]
Denisse Montalvan’s The Orphaned Earring Pays it Forward
If you’ve ever lost one of your favorite earrings, but couldn’t bear to throw the match away, Denisse Montalvan has a solution for you. The 33-year old LA-based public relations professional founded a nonprofit called The Orphaned Earring that creates and sells one-of-a-kind bracelets using beads and stones from earrings that have been “orphaned”. However, [...]
Never Give Up on a Dream!
I transferred to The City College of New York as an undergraduate student in the spring of 2003. It was my third college transfer. I lost about half of my credits. I was 27 years old. I was in a committed relationship. And I was working full-time and going to school part-time at night. When [...]
