Latina Awareness Conference
The Women of the American GI Forum of the United States One Day Leadership Conference was held on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 in Overland Park, Kansas.
Reported by: Debbie Salazar
The Latina Awareness Conference and the 1st Annual Reconociendo La Mujer Awards Gala that took place on July 26, 2006 prior to our National Conference was very successful.
We had a day of workshops featuring topics on Motivation, Leadership Strategies, Maximizing your Talents and Skills, Health, Immigration, and Financial Aide with exhibits outside the meeting room. The facilitators Guillerma Morales and Yolanda Suarez (NVOP) did a wonderful job of keeping us on track with time. Speakers included:
- Albesa (Abby) Vela, President and Co-Owner of Universal Connections
- Rita Valenciano, President for Coalition of Hispanic Organizations
- Mary Lou Jaramillo, Executive Director for Hispanic Economic Development Corp.
- Graciella Couchonnal, PH.D Health Care Foundation
- Francisca Devora, Diabetes Outreach Coordinator for Southwest KS Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
- Cielo Fernandez, M.S. for Mattie Rhodes Foundation
- Maria Smith, Investigator for U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services
- Melinda K. Lewis, MSW Director of Policy Advocacy and Research-El Centro
- Katherine Coates, U.S. Department of Education.
At the Luncheon, we had the Mr. and Miss Scholastic Achievement Program contestants say their speeches and also invited members of the VSO Training Program to attend. These contestants were awarded at the 1st Annual Reconociendo La Mujer Awards Gala that evening.
Also awarded that evening were Elida Cardenas, AGIF and LULAC member, receiving the Anita Avila Community Service Award, Rosa Rosales, President of LULAC, receiving the Achievement Award, Latina Style Magazine, and accepting was Robert Bard, CEO, receiving the Chairwoman's Award. Also being awarded but unable to attend were Delia Garcia, KS House Representative, receiving the Public Service Award and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez receiving the Educational Award. The Nora Gonzales Leadership Award was presented to Janet Murguia, NCLR President at the Women's Luncheon on Friday where she was also the Keynote speaker. The Corporation Appreciation Award was given to Coors and presented to John Ortiz.
Albesa (Abby) Vela was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening with Tencha Wilcox singing the National Anthem for us. A presentation about Dr. Hector P. Garcia and the role he played with the women over the years as was a presentation in remembrance of Anita Avila. Irene Velasquez, Coordinator, continued with the Mr. and Miss Scholastic Achievement Program. The evening was very glamorous and fun filled for all. Robert Bard, of Latina Style Magazine has graciously offered to assist the women with the 2nd Annual Reconociendo La Mujer Awards Gala.
The women held a planning session at the Mid-Year Conference in March to work on this day of events and as a team effort were very pleased with the outcome. Our goal was to present an educational program and to recognize those in our communities that do an outstanding job for the women throughout the nation. I personally as National Chairwoman would like to say thank you to all the women that worked hard and spent endless hours along with positive energies to ensure that this would be a success. There isn't anything out there that we as a team cannot achieve. Awards were presented by Past National Chairwomen.
