We share powerful Latina stories to inspire and motivate, to incite movement and excitement, and to open minds and hearts. Stories speak to each of us in ways that are unique and important.

Laura spoke at an after school program to girls in grades 5 through 9, and their families. She talked about her own story, and why it’s important to learn from others the possibilities of what can be accomplished.

In a strange coincidence, I was also speaking this week, but at a college and to groups of students. I spoke about what a new Latino majority in the next few years means for California, and how the stories of the women I’ve spoken with can lead us to important leadership lessons, not just for Latinos but for the rest of the state. Along the same lines, I’ll be speaking next week in Michigan again about storytelling and its role in leadership.

As children, we learn from stories — bible stories, perhaps, or myths and legends, and certainly the stories of our families and our own personal histories. I remember, for example, my son asking over and over for me to tell him the story of his birth.

As we learn from stories that are related to us, we also learn from listening to stories of others we meet and get to know, and from sharing our own stories. With the telling of our own stories, we get a chance to reshape and reflect on that story.

As we hear others’ stories, we get to think about from whose perspective the story is told, and what other perspectives there might be.

What do YOU learn from sharing your own story, and listening to the stories of others? Are you paying attention to the point of view, the color and scope of the story, and what that story means both for the storyteller and the audience?

This month, as we reflect on the idea of LEARNING, think about the stories you tell over and over, and what they mean. Also consider why others tell their stories, and what you can learn from them.

Here’s to sharing all our wonderful, amazing and inspiring stories…

That’s a trick question. You see, the person who used to claim that honor died in August 2009. Most likely, none of us in the United States knew him, and, in fact, most people in his own country—Kenya—didn’t know him either. His village, however, was well aware of his student status at the local school, and they admired his love of learning.

Guinness World Record-Holder

The oldest officially recognized pupil was 90 years old. His name was Kimani Nganga Maruge, a great-grandfather who had never had the opportunity to attend school in his poverty-stricken village…until he reached the age of 84. At that time, Kenya instituted free schooling in primary schools, according to BBC News, and Kimani was anxious to learn how to read and do math, so he could read the Bible and keep track of his small pension. He became the oldest person ever to enroll in a primary school.

He did so at Kapkenduywa, where he maintained a stellar attendance record as he worked toward his dream of being a veterinarian someday. Nothing could keep Kimani away from learning. Not the fire that destroyed his home, causing him to be relocated to the city. Not the violence that sometimes shattered the peace of his homeland. Not the cancer that was discovered months before his death.

Kimani believed that, “It’s never too late.” Never too late to achieve a dream. Never too late to challenge yourself beyond your comfort zone to force you to stretch yourself and learn marvelous new things. Never too late to commit yourself to the pursuit of learning, as Kimani did through home studying when he was stricken with his fatal illness. He was two years away from completing elementary school when he died.

Meet Another 90-Something Who Won’t Quit

She’s not a Latina, but she’s powerful, and she represents what we can all become as we age: a vibrant, lifelong learner whose life is never dull because learning never stops. Meet 94-year-old Dr. Marion Downs, who learned skiing at the age of 51, tennis at the age of 68, and skydiving at the age of 90, according to Marion, who is the author of Shut Up and Live!

She exercises her brain as well as her body, and the zest in her long life is a testament to the power of learning forever and ever, whether it’s through her crossword puzzles, playing bridge, or not saying no to new experiences. Though we may not be as intrepid as she is with physical activities, may we all share Marion’s determination to keep learning today and as the years pass!

Various Reasons for Continued Learning

Lifelong learning—currently referred to as “LLL”—is the consistent, dedicated pursuit of knowledge throughout our lives, no matter the field or intensity of the learning.

We engage in LLL for various reasons: to update our professional job skills; to pursue higher education for career advancement; to switch careers and go into a totally different field, as the current economy is forcing many people to do; to keep our minds sharp, so as to ward off dementia and other physical weaknesses that come with aging.

My favorite reasons for LLL, however, are inherent curiosity about life and people, linked to the best reason of all for learning: It is a source of joy and personal fulfillment.

Our global, interconnected society has imbued our lives with so much diversity in all arenas: social, economic, political, artistic. What we used to know for daily living purposes changes rapidly. On a simple level, think about warnings doctors have given us through the years about our diet: caffeine is bad, but now it’s good; alcohol is bad, but wine in moderation is now good; chocolate is bad, but dark chocolate is now good for the heart.
Doctors contradict one another as more and more knowledge, through research and new technologies, floods our airwaves, bookstores, TV news, newspapers, and—an immense driver of the need for LLL—the internet! Simply to know what foods and drinks to consume and what to avoid requires that we constantly learn about new revelations.

The Bottom Line: LLL Enhances the Quality of Life

If even for helping us understand what’s best for our health, LLL has been linked to a higher quality of life by many experts. In addition, according to “The Top 10 Benefits of Lifelong Learning” (based on scientific research since the 1990’s), LLL helps us fully develop our raw talents; opens our minds to better understanding of different ideas; makes us desire further learning; strengthens our wisdom and perspectives on life; stimulate us to be more aware of and involved in our communities; helps us adapt to change, find meaning in our lives, and feel self-fulfilled.

Clearly, lifelong learning enriches our lives and consequently helps us to enrich the lives of others.

My dog has been in my life for over 11 years. He’s actually not even “my” dog, but my son’s dog, and they are like brothers. When they were much younger and my son was trying to ignore him, Lucky would nip at his pants legs to get him to play. Likewise, when when my son wanted to harass his “little brother” he would carry him around the house upside down.

Now, my son is away at college, and has been gone for the majority of the past 4 years, and yet, Lucky is equally excited when my son is home to visit.

Lucky is the sweet spirit who greets me at the door every evening when I get home, the one who nudges my hand if he wants to be petted, and who will sit next to me when I cry, even if he doesn’t understand why. He’s the one who sees me work for hours on end in front of my computer, and who jumps and yelps every time I put on my workout clothes with the hope that he will be taken for a walk.

He *never* loses the enthusiasm and approaches each walk as if it were the very first time he was out on a leash!

While I “know” the love, joy and energy this being has brought into my life, many times I’ve found we do not appreciate what we have until there is the possibility of its loss. I’ve been grateful for everything my dog has brought me, and at various moments this past week I didn’t know if he would be around anymore.

The past Wednesday, Lucky lost much of his motor function, started drooling out of one side of his mouth, was unable to focus his eyes, and was tilting his head sharply to one side. He was unable to walk, and I feared he may have had a stroke. I took him to the hospital, and amid tears, had to think about what it would mean if his time had come and I had to let him go.

I was fearful to call my son at college and tell him what was going on, I was sad at the prospect of losing my dog, and at the same time, I know that when it’s our time, the best thing others can do for us is to release us to the Universe.

So, throughout this past week, I’ve learned (and been reminded of!) many important lessons.

I learned that it’s those little moments that make our lives so rich and full. I learned that the simple presence of good, supportive energy can mean the world. I learned that saying you’re willing to let someone go is different than being forced to face the possibility up close and personal.

I learned that we change our lives and our schedules when emergencies come up, no matter what else we have on our plates. I learned that sometimes just being present with someone who is going through a tough time is the most you can do.

I learned that sometimes we don’t understand what’s happening to us, but we keep going forward anyway. I learned that when we have the support of our loved ones around us, it makes all the difference in the world. And I learned that when all is said and done, there are many things in our lives we cannot control. We can only influence our reactions to them.

I learned all these lessons from observing my own feelings, watching how my dog reacted to the situation, looking at what I needed and what Lucky needed, throughout this ordeal. And I also learned from how people reacted to me and the situation. Thankfully, my dog is back home now, and I am hopeful for his full recovery. We’ll see what happens over the next week…

Not all of us have pets, and not all of us have lost an important person in our lives, but all of us go through events in our lives that open our eyes and allow for learning to take place. I hope that for you, as you have the varied experiences (both good and bad), you take the opportunity to see what it says about you, who you are, who you want to be, and what you can learn about those in your life.

As we delve into the concept of learning, our money blogger Aurora Medina asks you to consider how much you spend toward the goal of true learning…

If you keep track of your monthly expenses and you separate those expenses into categories, I would love to know how much money you are allocating investing in yourself.

I am not talking about make up, hair or fashion. I am talking about investing in things that help you grow as a woman — retreats, workshops, classes, and conferences that help you open your mind and allow your spirit to shine.

We have the fortune to live in a country where we can enjoy prosperity and freedom. We are not in a third world country where survival issues are the undercurrent every day.

We are fortunate and blessed to be able to go higher in the hierarchy of needs designed by Maslow. Maslow’s is a theory in psychology depicted as a pyramid divided into five levels which depict the map for self-actualization.

Plenty of people out there refuse to pay a fair price for services that would help them to self-actualize, to be the best they can be. I see many women spending thousand of dollars in an outer image that portrays them as self-confident. I don’t think there is a problem with looking good on the outside, but we should put the same effort in looking and feeling good in the inside.

It pays to invest in yourself.  What can you do?  The journey is different for everybody.

Find a dream you left a long time ago, maybe learning how to paint, or a ceramics class. How about learning more about your unconscious mind or a drumming camp for women this summer? The sky is the limit!

Find something appealing for you and sign up. I guarantee you that you’ll increase your self-esteem and the money you use will be well invested.

Since I need to walk my talk I signed up for a week retreat next month with the Hoffman Institute. I am ready to move energy and make another wonderful transformation in my life.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself. ” –Harvey Fierstein

For the month of February, we talked about Following Your Passion. What do we do that moves us, inspires us, and allows us to be more than what we currently are? [Speaking of which, if you haven't already taken the Passion Survey, please do so. Take the Passion Survey here!]

For the month of March, we’ll be exploring the concept that Learning is Key. This month, we’ll be talking about different kinds of learning, what we use to keep ourselves learning, and how we
*implement* learning into our daily practice.

Do you learn through reading books, observing those around you, trying new things, taking classes, or in a multitude of other ways? When we learn, we expand our minds (literally!). We create new pathways in our brains and learning actually keeps our minds young.

For Latinas, as our culture evolves and changes, we are constantly learning more about what it means to move as Latinos in our culture.

For me, I love to see the statistics of how we are creating new journeys to power within our communities, as well as what we need to work on. When I see these statistics, for me it is a “snapshot” of where we are right now, and a marker for where we still need to go.

At the same time, I learn about how people view these statistics, and use them to make meaning about who we are as a group — and what a varied group we are…

I also love to read books, take classes, and try new things. For me, I’m very much an experiential learner, but am always putting new bits of information into my head.

Our Powerful Latina interviewees spoke with us about how they, too, are always pushing themselves to the next level, which means learning new skills. These new skills may be workplace skills — such as communication, leadership, or delegation — or skills they implement into other parts of their lives — such as leading a volunteer organization, or becoming a better parent.

It jumped out at me when I was interviewing the women that they each make continual learning a part of their lives, and, in whatever way they choose to implement it, ensure they are not stagnant.

How do YOU learn? What do you like to learn, and what is a bit tough for you? Do you go into each day with the same expectations, or are you prepared to be surprised and see new things?

Learning can be in traditional settings (such as getting a graduate degree, or a certificate), or it can be in non-traditional settings (such as having an enlightening conversation with your abuela).

Whatever it may be, we’ll be discussing learning in its forms this month, and hear from women how they put it into practice!

Check out her webpage at: www.marcelalandres.com.

	The Last of Her Kind: A Novel by Sigrid Nunez (Picador) Incisive and absorbing portrayal of the troubled friendship between two Barnard College roommates, working class Georgette and wealthy Ann.
	We ARE Americans by William Perez (Stylus) Rousing and convincing call to action on behalf of undocumented students who struggle to obtain access to higher education.

MATILDA VERA: “PARENT OF THE YEAR” WITH A PASSION FOR CHANGE

Starting when she was 14 years old, Matilda—or Mati, as she likes to be called— hung out with the wrong crowd. She was one of eight children, the youngest girl, born to parents in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her mother had no education beyond the second grade and became a single mom at an early age.

Mati came to the United States at the age of four and didn’t care much for school. In fact, she dropped out at the 11th grade and was soon on the path to nowhere.

“Up til about the age of 35,” says Mati, “I was attracted to men who were in jail, men who got in trouble. I had to live and learn. Then I had a son, who is now five years old.”

Starting a New Life

In fact, her son, Antonio, who was a “miracle baby,” is the major reason Mati turned her life around for the better. After surviving his mother’s high-risk pregnancy, the little boy became Mati’s reason for living. She was a school bus driver for Murchison Elementary School, when she enrolled her boy at the age of three years in the Headstart Program at the Boyle Heights State Street Pre-School. She began volunteering in the program to be near her son, and she got hooked.

“Despite my job as a bus driver, I volunteered more than 40 hours a week at my son’s school,” she says. “I realized how important parents are in their kids’ educational success.”

Recognition and Honors for Mati

Mati went to weekly parent meetings, discussed budgets, and participated in decision making. She quickly caught the attention of other parents and school leaders, who gave her more and more responsibility. In June 2009, Mati was named the “Parent Advocate of the Year” by the Los Angeles County Board of Education (LACOE). Then, on February 3, 2010, Mati was honored by the California Headstart Association as the statewide “Parent of the Year” at a special ceremony in Long Beach.

“It was a great honor to me to receive this award,” she says. “The conventions I had attended, the leadership training the program gave us, it all made me realize how much our children need us in their school lives.”

And Mati is now a spokesperson for this philosophy. In her acceptance speech in Sacramento, she told the audience: “In education, we [parents] are the minority. Are we going to kill our children’s dreams? Or will we walk with them side by side to make their dreams come true?”

Growing Responsibilities as a Leader and Parent Volunteer

So Mati is more involved as a parent volunteer than ever before. She has now been a school bus driver for 12 years. She is a volunteer at the Foundation for Early Childhood Education (ECE) at the Headstart agency in El Monte, as well as at her son’s school in Boyle Heights. In addition, she serves on the LACOE Policy Council in Santa Fe Springs. She was elected to this position by the Foundation for ECE.

Mati has also been president of PTA, has headed committees, and always seeks ways to involve PTA’s more in Headstart programs. At LACOE, she led the Education and Transition Committee, which collected and donated 500 books to start a lending library for parents.

Looking Ahead

As if she needs more obligations, Mati plans to apply this month for the Board of Directors of the El Monte Headstart agency. They oversee operations in 26 school sites in Southern California and have greater influence in policy decisions. If elected, her term would be ongoing. Also, Mati plans to help facilitate the Parent Involvement Academy, which gathers in March to celebrate their 14th anniversary.

With her strong passion for giving parents a voice in school matters, and for supporting her son’s educational career, Matilda Vera is an outstanding role model not just for parents, but for young women and Latinas all over America. May her success continue!

SELENA

In her breakthrough role, Jennifer Lopez plays recording artist Selena Quintanilla-Perez in this 1997 biopic. Only two years earlier, the starlet had dominated the Latin pop music charts – the first woman to reign the male-dominated Tejano genre – and was poised for crossover stardom with her first English-language album.  Tragically, Selena was shot to death at the age of 23 but not without first touching millions of fans across the globe. Her brief but successful life is an example of the happiness one both can enjoy and bring to others simply by finding and pursuing one’s passions. Take out your media journal (and a fresh box of tissues), watch Selena and see what this amazing young woman can still teach us about living a life of full of passion.

1. Selena’s passion for music is not the only one in the film. What other passions does she have? How does she make her various passions converge?  If you have multiple passions, brainstorm ways that you might be able to combine them.

2. Sometimes it seems like certain passions are almost in our genes. Selena inherited her passion for music from her father Abraham, and yet she also she found ways to make her music distinctly her own. How did Selena accomplish this?  Do you share certain passions with members of your family?  In what ways, do you put your unique stamp on the family passions?

3. Sometimes others (like our parents) impose their passions on to us. We may share their interests yet know deep in our hearts that our passion lies elsewhere. Initially Abraham pushes his children to rehearse and perform, but Selena’s passion becomes authentically hers when she discovers the impact she has on an audience. How do you know that those imposed passions are not impositions at all? For example, do you have someone like Chris, who reminds you of how much something means to you in those moments when the sacrifices and expectations seem too much to bear? Make a list of people who can see your passions even when you doubt them. Check in with these folks if you ever need an objective but loving opinion as to whether something you’re doing or considering doing is truly your passion.

4. It can be argued that Selena’s true passion was touching people and that her talent for singing was how she chose to realize that passion. Make a list of the five things you love most to do. Do they have something in common? If so, perhaps that thing is your ultimate passion. Now think about those things that you’re not so crazy about but must do.  Are there ways that you can approach or execute those things so that they tap into your passion?

5. Selena describes how her passion feels in specific detail when she tells Chris, “… my dreams were the same as the dreams of all those people who were out there in the audience.  Like all their hopes were centered on me. And I just felt lucky.” Write about the moment when you realized an interest or hobby or cause became a passion.  What does it feel like? Where in your body does it live? Does it have a sound or color? The more familiar you are with what your passion feels like, the easier it will be for you to make choices that are aligned with it.

Be sure to follow Elisha, Sofia and Sister Outsider on Twitter at @elishamiranda, @sofiaquintero and @sisteroutsider. We are also on Facebook.  Drop us a note to let us know you learned about us from Power Latinas. 

How do we stay focused, motivated, and relaxed throughout it all?

Whenever we’re doing hard physical, mental or emotional work we need time to recharge, refresh and relax. And it may take time to figure out what is really going to give us energy and not drain us more.

I’ll give you some examples from my own life, as well as things that our Powerful Latina interviewees have suggested. One of my ways to “relax” is watching movies.

Sometimes this can be refreshing and energizing, and at other times the mood created by the movie throws me off my game. The trick is to find activities or actions that fill up the part of your tank you need to refill…

Another example is hanging out with friends. I love spending time with my girls, and yet at times, I just want to sit in the silence and meditate. What it takes to refresh you can vary depending on what is tiring you out, and what you need at the moment.

Sometimes a night out with my girlfriends fits the bill perfectly, and sometimes I need to simply be alone.

Powerful Latina interviewee Maria Rita Jaramillo, Senior Liaison, Community Outreach, Office of Governance and Policy, for the National Education Association (NEA), said she keeps an “atta-girl” scrapbook. So when she needs some motivation or inspiration she looks back at this scrapbook of nice notes she’s been sent, pictures that make her happy, or copies of awards she’s been given. What do YOU have in your house that you could compile to bring you joy and renewal when you need it? Put it in a scrapbook, or compile it in a drawer or shoe box. I have letters my son has written me over the years that never fail to touch me and make me cry (with tears of joy!).

Other interviewees spoke of taking time out to exercise, listen to music, get feedback from friends, or learn a new skill. Find whatever it is that *you* need at various times and then keep that list with you. I also, for example, have put together a CD of positive songs that I can listen to if I need some motivation or inspiration or simply a reminder of why my passion is so important.

Once we’re renewed, we can come back to our passions with vigor! It’s crucial to keep ourselves focused on the truly important things. For me, at least, it can be so easy to slip into the everyday and “forget” to self-reflect, to stay focused on my passions, and to use the tools I have at my disposal to have the best life ever.

In order to keep this focus, each of us needs to find what works for us — what activities, items, and practices can you put in place in your life — to make sure you can also stay focused on what’s important to you!

[If you haven't yet read Friday's article on passions we find outside of our careers, this is another idea of ways we can renew and refresh. Take a look at it here...]

And while I agree that you want to spend the majority of your time doing something that moves you, engages you, and is using your talents to their fullest purpose… Sometimes, it’s all about FUN!

Do you remember what you used to do as a little girl? For me, I loved to run down to the park (half a block away) and sit under the trees, swing in a swing or just “run around.” I loved to be active, connect with nature, and pretend.

I also loved to *dance*! Dancing, for me, has been a lifelong passion. I used to think it was what I wanted to do as a career.

However, I’ve been blessed to find out that it does not have to be my job, and I can still get an immense amount of enjoyment out of dancing.

I have taken dance classes, participated in dance concerts, gone out salsa dancing, and lately, even taken part in competitive ballroom dancing.

It’s clear to me that dancing is a part of my “ser” — a part of my being, and who I am.

And yet… I can get the needs I have met by just making sure I get out and move my bootie every once in a while. :) I have a dance “studio” set up in my garage, and I can dance there if nothing else. I can practice my arm placement, stretch my legs, and do spins, even if I’m all by myself.

What is that thing that moves you? Is it singing, writing, speaking with others, hiking, pretending or doing crafts? Is it traveling, learning new languages, reading a book of poetry, playing with your dog, drawing a picture, or teaching yoga?

Whatever it is that you love — make sure that you do it with some frequency! We often forget that what motivates us, and keeps us refreshed and resilient is simply listening to our spirit. And our spirit is very clear about what it needs and what it wants — because it’s what we love to do…

Finding your passion doesn’t have to be difficult or a long process.

It can be as simple as cooking a good meal for those you love, watching a funny movie, or spending some time shopping with a good girlfriend.

We all have things we want to do in our careers and professional lives, and at the same time, let’s not forget about what we do for pure pleasure.

Take some time to enjoy, mujer, and do that for you — and for those around you.

Wouldn’t we all be better off if we made sure that we fed our souls on at least a weekly basis? Find your passions, and go for it!

As Latinas, we tend to be so creative, so active, so talented — let’s get out there and show ‘em what we’re made of!!!