Draw positive things to you…

I’ve been thinking about how when we improve our lives, good things tend to come to us.  And when one thing comes, other good things tend to follow.

I was speaking with a dear friend of mine this past week and he was telling me about when he changed a few things in his life, how his opportunities changed dramatically.  He just started an amazing new job and is really excited about this new position which is way beyond what he expected or hoped for.

Likewise, in the process of speaking to women about this interview project, I’ve had the great fortune to meet some *fascinating* women that I might not have otherwise had the fortune to meet.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you surround yourself with positive people, experiences, attitudes and input, more will be drawn to you.  If you improve one thing, other good things follow.

This is not to suggest that nothing will ever go wrong and you’ll be surrounded in a pink cloud of bliss (but wouldn’t it be great if you were?), but rather, it will improve your possibilities overall.  I know I have found this to be true in my own life (and trust me,
things have not always been easy).

So, this week, look for one more positive thing you can add to your life and cling to it.  And then wait and see what happens…  Keep your eyes open for the positive charge!

Living in alignment…

In this week’s interview with María Reinat-Pumarejo it was striking how she’s integrated her political views — her core belief system — into every area of her life.

Regardless of your own political stance (whatever it may be), it was inspiring to see a woman who has so wholly integrated her core beliefs into her life, her work and career, her family decisions, and her health.

What a goal to strive for — to truly live your beliefs and your vision every day and in every thing you do.

It was also clear how her political views, as is true for many of us as Latinas, were so deeply inspired not only by her individual personal experiences but also by her *culture*.

What I truly wish for each of us is that we do more with these women’s words than just hear them; rather, I hope you will learn to integrate these lessons into your own life and decide how the wisdom these women share can help you live a happier, healthier, fuller life.

Onward and upward!

María I. Reinat-Pumarejo

María I. Reinat-Pumarejo is co-director of ilé: Institute for Latino Empowerment, an organization committed to anti-oppression organizing in Puerto Rico and the US, which she co-founded in 1992. She has been organizing against racism and other forms of oppression since the early 1980s. Her passion, conviction, and vision are matched by her skill and knowledge in areas that include: history, cultural studies, counseling psychology, spirituality, healing arts, transformative education, and organizational development.

María is also a Core Trainer with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, based in New Orleans, LA, and is an influential member of their national multi-racial network of anti-racism organizers. She works closely with women’s organizations in Puerto Rico, the US, and internationally to support and join the leadership of other women of color. She is a member of the East Asia-US-Puerto Rico Women’s Network Against Militarism’s steering committee, and speaks frequently to denounce the globalization of the “culture of imposition” in local, national, and international forums.

María worked as Youth Program Coordinator of the Peace Development Fund, a progressive national foundation, where she supported efforts across the US to teach young people about dismantling racism, sexism, ageism, and militarism, and to promote youth empowerment. She also worked in a number of key roles at Casa Latina, a Latino community organization in Northampton, MA. Her commitment to end militarism and colonialism has included civil disobedience actions to oppose the US Navy’s presence in Vieques, leading on two occasions to her arrest and incarceration. She was nominated in 2005 for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of 1000 Women for Peace.

Travels of life…

This past week I’ve traveled across the country for both business and personal reasons and the process of travel has made me reflect on how we travel and what it means.

If we travel by car, for example, we generally travel across shorter distances (in a certain amount of time), but you get a sense of the topography and you get to look out the window, enjoy the ride and maybe even get out and talk to people who live in the places through which you travel.

On the other hand, if you travel by plane, you can generally cover longer distances faster, you may be in a cramped space, and can look out the window, but maybe not get as much of a sense of the places through which you travel, nor an idea of the people who reside in the places you travel past.

Neither is better, but as a metaphor for life, both methods of travel have their time and place.  At times, travel by car is more pleasant, enlightening and reflective.  At other times, plane travel is more efficient, reasonable and comfortable.  Both are necessary.

How do you travel through life?  Which way do you enjoy more, and why?  Do you enjoy the process and get to enjoy the scenery?  Or do you prefer to move more quickly and cross greater distances?

I hope you’re enjoying our journeys this year as we meander through the stories and places that each of the women tell us about.

I look forward to meeting you along the path…

For the love of writing…

I was so moved this week while listening to Sylvia’s story as she spoke about the writing of The Book of Latina Women.  I hope you were able to join us, but if you were not, I want to share a few things she said.

Sylvia spoke about the woman on the cover of her book, who is reaching her arms up and open to the sun.  She said she felt like that woman during the time she was writing the book.  Sylvia said she felt like a vessel and the stories were flowing into her and through her.

Sylvia spoke about how writing the book changed her life.  It took her in different directions, and also validated her commitment to, and love of, being a writer.

As we move "officially" from Winter (a time of reflection, introspection and rest) into Spring (first day of Spring was this week), I hope that you will be filled with motivation, growth and inspiration to move toward your dreams — whatever they may be.

Also realize that you can take your energy and insight from other women — find a woman who motivates you and use that story as a touchstone in your own growth.

Sylvia Mendoza

Journalist Sylvia Mendoza, a self-described “Navy brat” grew up moving every few years to different cities and even lived on islands like Hawaii and Guam. Although she now speaks Spanish (and Spanish was her first language), there were years in between where she lost the language because of a lack of context (mostly peers) with whom to speak the language.

Join me as I discuss with her this common occurrence – where U.S. Latinos no longer speak Spanish and are sometimes criticized because of their lack of these language skills.

Sylvi’s tenth grade English and Speech teacher believed in Sylvia and her talents. She was Sylvia’s first mentor and the first person outside her family who respected her dreams and urged her to go forward. Her mentor’s encouragement ensured that Sylvia would pursue a writing career.

Sylvia majored in print journalism at the University of Southern California’s Journalism program. She learned the most from the internships she had at the LA Times, the Herald Examiner, the Pasadena Star News, the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Again she found an incredible mentor [in one of her professors?]. He taught magazine writing, supported her writing endeavors and believed she had a style much like DH Lawrence.

Throughout her experience, Sylvia learned she loved writing “people” stories—profiles and features that were really “feel good” stories. She didn’t want to write hard news, cover politics and wars or so many injustices. Sylvia decided she wanted to write about the people affected by these. And so began her career of freelance writing. And what a career it’s been!

Sylvia is the author of The Book of Latina Women: 150 Vidas (Lives) of Passion, Strength and Success, an important historic perspective on Latino women who have made significant contributions in the arts, politics, science, and history. The book was selected for the 2007 California Collection for High Schools by the California Readers Association.

Recognized as a 2006 “Woman of Distinction” at California State University, San Marcos for her contributions in promoting awareness of gender issues, she is a featured speaker for the National Women’s History Project. She appeared on C-Span’s Book-TV, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Book Expo America, The Essence of Latinas Tour (sponsored by Catalina Magazine), & Latino Book & Family Festival.

I’ll be discussing with Sylvia how her writing led into her speaking engagements.

An advocate for the promotion of diversity, literacy, and women’s empowerment through education, Sylvia recently completed certification in Women’s Studies at San Diego State University.

Her workshops and lectures target women’s/girls associations, multicultural studies programs, writers & students and business conferences. She is a contracted workshop presenter for the Young Writers’ Conference held at elementary and middle schools in Southern California, aimed at teaching the love of writing to students.

Sylvia is the parenting columnist for Siempre Mujer magazine. Other articles have appeared in publications such as Hispanic, Uptown, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Writers’ Journal, San Diego Writers’ Monthly, Decor & Style, Living Better, Kids’ Wall Street News, and Hispanic Outlook. Awards for Journalistic Excellence include 2005 First Place for General Non-Fiction from the National Federation of Press Women for The Book of Latina Women.

I’ll be asking Sylvia about the ups and downs of freelance writing and how she obtains her assignments.

Her novel, Serenade, won a prestigious Latino Literary Hall of Fame Award. A fiction project earned Editor’s Choice Award at the San Diego State Writers’ Conference.

As not only a journalist, but a novelist as well, I’ll be asking Sylvia about her methods for writing. What works for her, and what can we learn from her strategies?

Sylvia is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and National Women’s History Project.

She is the current president of the Southern California Media Professionals and on the Board of Directors of the San Diego chapter of the National Latina Business Women Association.

Her diverse professional achievements include teaching English as a Second Language & helping to launch a full-service, all-woman-run bilingual public relations agency in Puerto Rico.

The mother of three teenagers, Sylvia volunteers at San Diego Juvenile Hall as a book club facilitator for young women living there. With the belief that every person has a story to tell, she teaches writing for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State San Marcos.

Make sure and check out Sylvia’s website at www.sylvia-mendoza.com, to learn more about Sylvia, review and order copies of her books and learn more about her various involvements.

Holidays & Cultures…

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and one of the things we’re told is to wear green, and maybe that St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.

It’s interesting, since this holiday, like many others we "celebrate" in the U.S., is something about which most Americans (including myself) only know a very little and for which we have only a superficial overview and not much deep knowledge.

I mention this, because it’s a piece of history and culture, and yet it’s a day to drink green beer and wear green and celebrate being Irish — kinda sounds like Cinco de Mayo, doesn’t it (except take out the green and add Mexican).

I think it’s great that we’re celebrating a bit of culture, and that we have even a little bit of knowledge, and at the same time I long for a little more educated populace — one which knows more about different cultures, and values and prizes those different histories and contributions with more depth and understanding.  And I say this for *all* cultures, not just Latino cultures — for which there are many.

So, while you’re celebrating this holiday in whatever way you see fit, you might want to ask your Irish friends more about their culture — and maybe people will want to know about ours when different days come around, like Cinco de Mayo, the Puerto Rican Day parade, etc.

Your turning point moments…

Something Dr. Quiñonez said in the call on Wednesday struck me as particularly relevant to these calls.  What she said was that your turning point moments in your life are unique to you — they are applicable to the space you find yourself in.

That is so true, isn’t it?  And at the same time, we can learn so much from others’ turning point moments.  I hope you will really reflect and find what those turning point moments are for you and also find out what you can take away from hearing other women’s "turning points," as we’ve been doing every week.

Also, look to the women around you — what have their turning points been?  It is so interesting to hear women’s stories; we learn from each one.

Have a great weekend!

Naomi Helena Quiñonez

Naomi Helena Quiñonez, Chicana poet and educator, is an American studies scholar and a Latina cultural advocate. Author of three collections of poetry and editor of award winning publications, Quiñonez lectures throughout the U.S. in the areas of ethnic, gender and cultural Studies and is a featured speaker and poet for readings and festivals throughout the country and Latin America.

Naomi was born and raised in East Los Angeles, a place from which she draws much inspiration for her work. Her parents were originally from El Paso, Texas; her grandparents migrated from Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.

***I’ll be talking to Naomi about her influences and what led her to be a poet.

She received her PhD from Claremont Graduate University in History and she also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Among her achievements are the American Book Award, the Rockefeller Fellowship and the California Arts Council Award. She is featured in Notable Hispanic Women and the Dictionary of Literary Biography. Her poems and essays have appeared in noteworthy collections such as the Colorado Review, the Library of Poetry Anthology and the Encyclopedia of Latinas in the U.S.

Quiñonez is a recognized American poet whose two collections, Hummingbird Dream/Sueño de Colibri and The Smoking Mirror have received critical acclaim. Her forthcoming collection of poetry is entitled Exiled Moon.

She co-edited a groundbreaking literary anthology Invocation L.A: Urban Multicultural Poetry which won the American Book Award and she also co edited a highly regarded critical anthology Decolonial Voices: Chicana and Chicano Studies in t 21st Century.

Quiñonez has also edited journals and magazines such as Caminos Magazine and Chiseme Arte Revista. Her next critical book Hijas de la Malinche is a history of Mexican origin women in the United States and the development of Chicana literature. Quiñonez’ creative and critical works are referenced in numerous articles, essays, journals and thesis throughout the world.

***As a writer, what serves as Naomi’s inspiration and what can we learn from her?

Quiñonez, who has distinguished herself among a cadre of Chicano Poets informed by the social change movements of the 1970s such as Lorna Dee Cervantes and Gary Soto, is also part of a larger genre of U.S. ethnic writers and she has appeared in programs with Quincy Troupe, Leslie Marmon Silko, David Mura and Octavia Butler to name a few. Her work has also appeared in multicultural anthologies such as From Totems to Hip Hop, edited by Ishmael Reed.

An invited writer and speaker in the U.S, Latin America and Europe she has been featured in many cultural, civic and scholarly programs including the Latin American Women’s Conference in Madrid Spain and the Latino Cultural Symposium in Nicaragua. Quiñonez has also presented at the Huntington Library’s Women Writers Series, the Miami Book Festival, the San Antonio Book Festival, the La Jolla Artists on the Cutting Edge Writers Series, the Nuyorican Café in New York, the Los Angeles Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum, the Northern Arizona Book Festival and the Los Angeles Museum of Culture and Art (LACMA) to name a few.

***Who comes to these conferences and festivals and how and when does she decide to share her poetry in a live setting?

Quiñonez holds an impressive record of published creative work and is included in numerous anthologies and journals some of which include Under the Fifth Sun, Aztlan and Vietnam, Chicana Creativity and Criticism, Renaming Ecstasy, In Her Own Words, Aztlan and Vietnam, Paper Dance, After Aztlan and The Southern California Anthology.

Profoundly influenced by the social movements of the 1960s and 1970s which generated the Chicano, Women’s and Ethnic studies movements, Quiñonez has devoted herself to social justice issues affecting Latina/os and native people. She founded and coordinated the Ethnic Pride Program and the Student Community Learning Center at San Jose State University which trained volunteers to develop and make multicultural presentations in public schools.

Quiñonez also worked as a community organizer in Watsonville, California where she helped to found a social advocacy program for migrant families. As a result of her work she was appointed to the Mexican American Advisory Commission for the State of Department of Education and served as a member of the Migrant Education Council. As an administrative assistant to a Watsonville county supervisor, she helped to organize numerous public forums to address race, class and gender discrimination.

As the managing editor of Caminos Magazine, a Spanish language publication, she wrote many articles about cultural and social justice issues.

After receiving her Masters degree, she took a position as director of the California Literacy Campaign in Los Angeles where she established a community advisory board and convened the city’s first Latino literacy conference. Guided by a strong conviction that culture and art create awareness and appreciation of our multiethnic, multicultural society, Quiñonez participated in and coordinated numerous art and literary readings in collaborations with other artists.

She co-founded the United Latinos in the Arts Organization which produced the Los Angeles Poets and Playwrights Festival and she received a Los Angeles Arts Council Award to produce Mestizo Voices a multicultural literary performance intended to heal the community after the Rodney King unrest. She also served as director of the West Virginia Cultures Institute in Charleston where she convened the first Multicultural Issues Conference in the city and collaborated with teachers and the community to develop multicultural curriculum.

***From her varied background, what has she taken with her, how has she maintained her artistic spirit, and how does her activism intertwine with her artistry?

Currently Quiñonez is a lecturer at the San Francisco State University College of Ethnic Studies where she teaches courses in Latino history and Latina feminist studies. She is a guest writer for the Tecolote newspaper and recently produced and organized a major literary event that featured, Lorna Dee Cervantes, Cherrie Moraga, Sharon Dubagio, Francisco Alarcon and Alfred Arteaga.

Quiñonez is committed to the improvement of social conditions for Latina women and directs much of her research and activity towards that goal. She lives in San Francisco with her husband John Saenz, who is also a writer and educator.

Little boosts in our lives…

This past weekend was the weekend of "Daylight Savings Time" — where we "spring ahead" one hour (or at least some of us in some parts of the U.S. did so).

I don’t know about you all, but this jump left me feeling a little bit disoriented for part of Sunday (for example, one of the appointments I had scheduled for Sunday afternoon I rescheduled).

Out of this experience I thought, how often do we get a little "push" in our lives, a little boost ahead, and instead of enjoying advancing forward, we stand around scratching our heads and thinking, "what happened?"  Or, even worse, spend time focused on what we’ve "lost"?

So on Sunday, I decided to listen to some inspiring music, and get myself more grounded.  I decided to be more grateful for what I have in my life and re-orient myself.  So my hope for you as we "spring" into Spring is that we can all be grateful for the little boosts in our lives and use them to help us in whatever way we need at the time.

Have a great week!

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