Aida Cuadrado (l) and Raquel Moreno (r) dancers from Grupo Variedad Folklorico performed at the 19th Annual
Dia de la Mujer conference along with many other performers. Exhibitors and workshop presenters also delivered an educational
experience.
TNCP Photo
By Nadine Defensor
EAST LANSING, MI — Hundreds of Latina women attended the 19th Annual Dia de la Mujer Conference at the Michigan State University (MSU) Kellogg Center on March 17.
Dia de La Mujer, means Day of the Woman. The annual conference highlights the accomplishments of Latina women in the community.
According to the event’s website, it began in 1994 with a goal to empower, motivate, inspire and connect support Latinas and all women on their advancement in society.
Since then, the conference has grown into a multi-faceted series or workshops that focuses on issues such as education, health, political, relationships, culture, personal development and self-empowerment.
Juan A. Flores, coordinator of the conference, remembers volunteering during his undergraduate years at MSU and had no idea how much of an impact it made of those who attended.
In a message to the attendees, Flores stated, “This year’s theme [Empowered Women Moving Forward] recognizes that each and every Mujer Latina has the ability to create the future they want. All it takes is confidence and persistence to move forward.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Maria Elena Rodriguez, an activist and author from Detroit. Her focus is not giving up on your dreams and letting things get you down. She is an entrepreneur, has been the President of Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, has been in broadcasting and public relations and is currently the President of Maria Elena and Company.
There were also plenty of workshop presenters like Joseph Torres, who advocates in Washington D.C. to ensure that our nation’s media and telecommunications policies serve the public interest. Joseph writes frequently on media and internet issues and is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media. The book examines the history of minorities in mass media.
During his workshop he is discussed racial bias in the news and the gatekeepers, owners and power brokers of media conglomerates. He discussed why only seven percent of licensed radio stations are owned by minorities and three percent of full-power commercial stations are minority owned.
Some of the other workshop topics included domestic violence, creating inclusive communities, health, employment, self-esteem issues and creating the opportunity to explore a more enriching life.
Patricia Moreno, head of this year’s planning committee, said that she’s been attending the conference since she was fifteen. Her mother, Felicates Moreno, was an organizer in the past, and saw this as an opportunity to follow her mother’s footsteps.
Moreno said that this year’s conference was filled with a lot of community energy. It moved, touched and inspired many of its participants.
She adds that her favorite part was talking to Maria Zavala, the woman who inspired and founded the conference.
Zavala’s tireless commitment to improve her community and her strength and tenacity as a Latina is recognized through the Maria Zavala Award. This annual honor is given to a Latina/o who demonstrated the same contribution that Zavala did in her community.
Many organizations participated at the event as well, including the Hispanic Women in Network, or WIN, an organization that promotes the leadership development of Latina Women on a local, state and national level.
Andrea Rodriguez is the founding WIN member and has been a participating in Dia de La Mujer since its beginnings 19 years ago. She said WIN has been a collaborator at Dia de La Mujer conferences to promote WIN Latina Summit since the founding in 2010.
Rodriguez explained that WIN participates at this event since it makes sense to support and help strengthen what already exists. She hopes that other organizations should take advantage of participating in the future to allow the possibility of reaching hundreds of Latina women throughout the state.
Moreno invites everyone to participate for next year’s Dia de la Mujer as there is a great conversation that happens. She adds that it is a good opportunity to learn something new, and a great platform for self-expression. Even though everyone is welcome to attend, she extends the invitation to high school girls to get involved in the conference as it makes a difference in their lives and their future.
The 20th Annual Dia de la Mujer Conference will be held on March 30, 2013. For more information log on to
This was printed in the April 8, 2012 – April 21, 2012 Edition
