Modern Latina 10th Anniversary Edition

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Publisher Publisher Linda Castillo Linda Castillo

Design & Layout Design & Layout Alina Eberly Alina Eberly Contributing Writers

Tamika Burgess Contributing Writers Christal Clonts-Cortanza Jasmin Colón Tamika Burgess Ana Davila Christal Clonts-­‐Cortanza Marcela Davison Aviles Jasmine Colón Angela Hedges Patti Jinich Ana Davila Maribel and Marisol Joven Marcela Davison Aviles Eydie Mendoza Delilah Montoya Angela Hedges Nicole Moreno-Deinzer Patti Jinech Rachel Ramirez-Garcia Maribel and Marisol Joven Anna Santillan Angela Zapien Eydie Mendoza Rosie “the Closer” Zepeda Delilah Montoya Nicole Moreno Photographers Jaymer Delapena Rachel Ramirez Garcia Eve Ayala Anna Santillan Stylist Angela Zapien Rosie “the Closer” Zepeda Teresita Marie

Hair and Makeup Liliana Paulina Murillo Photographers Jay Alvarez Jaymer Delapena Stay Connected to Modern Latina Eve Ayala www.modernlatina.com

facebook.com/modernlatina Stylist instagram.com/modernlatina twitter.com/modernlatinas Teresita Marie

Hair and Makeup Liliana Paulina Murillo

Editor’s Note I can’t believe that Modern Latina is celebrating its 10th Anniversary! I am often asked what motivated me to start Modern Latina and what keeps me energized to keep it going. I founded Modern Latina to share positive stories about our Latino community that I felt weren’t being told. Over the past decade, I have been so fortunate to interview so many inspirational and powerful Latino leaders who are making a positive difference. Discovering these compelling stories and sharing them with you is what keeps me going!

Modern Latina is more than an online publisher; it is a change agent. Our events create meaningful opportunities for Latinas to connect and give back to the community. This past year was a whirlwind leading up to Modern Latina’s 10th Anniversary Celebration- Fashion Fights Back, a runway event benefitting Latinas Contra Cancer. The event was a culmination of everything that Modern Latina represents – a celebration of our culture, our community, and raising awareness about an issue impacting Latinas – breast cancer.

Why the name Modern Latina? A “Modern Latina” is a Latina who juggles so many different roles and responsibilities in their lives. A “Modern Latina” is a mother, an entrepreneur, a student, an artist, and so much more that the list could go on and on. My hope is that Modern Latina features relatable stories and valuable resources for Latinas to live the life they want. The vision of Modern Latina is to create and curate content that engages, inspires, and connects an online community for Latinas.

That’s what this commemorative 10th anniversary issue is about: Empowering Latinas. As Modern Latinas, we are an impressive group of amazing, powerful and unstoppable women who are defying any preset notions. And what I have learned and seen through the years is that collectively, as Latinas, we are so much stronger. For that reason, I am so proud that this edition features articles written for Latinas by Latinas! I hope that you enjoy this special edition that was a labor of love and a decade in the making. I’d love to hear your amazing stories and ideas. Share them with me on editor@modernlatina.com.

Linda Castillo Founder and Editor-in-Chief

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DECEMBER 2015

Publisher Linda Castillo

Design & Layout Caring for Your Fall Make-Up Fashion Fights Alina Eberly Loved Ones with Trends Back

Alzheimer’s: by: Delilah Contributing recapWby Linda riters The Story of Montoya Castillo Tamika Burgess Gerardo Pg. 53 Pg. 20-33 Christal Clonts-­‐Cortanza

by The Mari Twins Jasmine Colón pg. 54-56 Ana Davila The Freedom in Timeless Beauty Marcela Davison Aviles Being Frida Products Angela by Hedges Angela Hedges by: Rachel Fit After Children Patti Jinech pg. 36-38 Ramirez-Garcia Maribel and Marisol Joven

by Angela Zapien Pg. 70 Eydie Mendoza pg. 64-66 Delilah Montoya Editorial: Nicole Moreno

Sexy Rachel Ramirez Garcia Sophistication Anna Santillan pg. 42-51 Angela Zapien Rosie “the Closer” Zepeda

Photographers Hot Holiday Heels THE STYLE OF HER SUCCESS Jaymer D elapena by: Linda Castillo

by Marcela Davison Aviles Eve Ayala Pg. 52 Pg. 16-19

Stylist Teresita Marie

Hair and Makeup 4| Liliana Paulina Murillo Jay Alvarez

Health

Beauty Fashion

TINA ALDATZ

SPECIAL EDITION

Culture Lifestyle Success Nine Katas & a Hope-Filled Heart: A Latina’s Trip to India

by Eydie Mendoza Pg. 34-35 Standing on my Own

by Tamika Burgess pg. 40-41

Modern Romance, Love & Online Dating

by Ana Davila Pg. 12-13

Stephanie Flores Discovers Her Humanitarian Calling

by Linda Castillo Pg. 6-9

Marbled Tres Leches Cake

by Chef Pati Jinich Pg. 10-11

Your Home Corner Office by: Nicole MorenoDeinzer Pg. 57

Inspire a Child’s Love for Reading

by Jasmine Colón Pg. 14-15

The Psychology & Art of Negotiation

by Rosie “The Closer” Zepeda pg. 60-61

How to Take Great Photos

by Anna Santillan Pg. 58-59

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STEPHANIE FLORES DISCOVERS HER HUMANITARIAN CALLING

by Linda Castillo Stephanie Flores has such beautiful memories growing up along the coast of Ecuador with her tight-knit family consisting of her mother, grandmother and aunt. As a child, she was the caretaker of her family and her many pets including a rooster, duck, dove, dog and cat. She was an empathetic little girl with animals and other people and wanted to be a veterinarian or doctor when she grew up.

Stephanie remembers once when a car hit a cat, she quickly began caring for it, making a little hospital bed and giving the cat medicine every day.

she established herself. It was a very challenging time for her because everything was new; a new language, new culture and the first time she was away from her family.

to join the Navy; she had a calling to fulfill the need to join the military. “The United States had given me so many opportunities, it was my way to give back,” she says proudly.

Later on after her arrival, Stephanie found a job at the New Jersey airport allowing her to send money to her family for medicine and bills. Deep down though Stephanie knew she was not reaching her full potential; she always had the dream to travel around the world and the desire to discover her inner passion.

When Stephanie graduated from high school, Ecuador was in an economic crisis and times were hard for her family. “It was hard for all families. My grandmother was sick. My mother got laid off. There were many times that we just had water and rice for dinner,” recalled Stephanie.

It was that inner drive and passion to see the world that sparked her interest to join the military. Specifically, Stephanie wanted to be a part of the search and rescue division within the Navy. However, because she was not yet a US citizen she was unable to go into that division and instead in October 2007 she joined the Navy as a machinist.

Everything about the military experience was so exhilarating for Stephanie from the thrill of starting boot camp to being in awe of stepping onto her first ship. “I was so excited and thrilled to be there (boot camp); everyone around me was crying, I didn’t understand why- this is voluntary. I was so excited to start. They weren’t used to being away from their family but I had been away from my family for a long time already. I was very independent; I was in a different situation in life,” she recalled about her first day of boot camp.

Leaving the motherland to find new opportunities to help her family Since her father was a United States citizen Stephanie had the opportunity to come to the United States. At the young age of 17, she made the decision to move to the United States in order to provide a better life for herself and her family back in Ecuador. Arriving in 2004, Stephanie was able to stay with her aunt for a few months until

Her family was fearful about her decision to join the military. It was at a heightened time after 9/11, the United States had many issues with other countries and her mother worried about Stephanie going off to war. “They didn’t think that the military was the lifestyle for me,” recalled Stephanie.

Stephanie did her best to put her family at ease about her decision

Serving in the military was a challenge and Stephanie rose to the occasion. She was trained to be a machinist and her first assignment was in the boiler room where she was the only female among ten men. She remembers dealing with sexism during her time serving in the military. Her immediate supervisor was sexist and would always assign the primary jobs to the males, leaving Stephanie with mundane tasks such as sweeping the “booth” (office).

“I wanted to take something apart and put together. I couldn’t really develop my knowledge and skills”

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explained Stephanie. She found an advocate in the chief of the shop who would ask to put her in other assignments but it was always short-lived because her immediate supervisor would again assign her to the simple tasks. “That was a challenge for me in the military. I only did one term. This was one of the things that kept me from staying in the military,” she said.

Stephanie recalls her entire time in the military where she was treated with respect but there were a lot of men who didn’t value military service of women the same as the military service of men. The same occurred even when women get out of service as a Veteran. “When you accomplished something it wasn’t celebrated in the same way a male accomplishment would be celebrated. They may even criticize you. That was challenging,” recalls Stephanie. In the end, Stephanie kept her values treating others with respect that in turn would treat her with respect.

Discovering her humanitarian calling

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Her first appointment in the Navy, a humanitarian mission to South America and Caribbean left a lasting impression on her and helped her discover her true calling. In Nicaragua, she volunteered as a translator for Operation Smile and Disease Education programs. These programs assisted doctors from the Canada, Air Force and Navy military who would perform life-changing reconstructive surgery on children with cleft lip or palate and would also educate individuals living in rural areas

about malaria. “Being able to use the Spanish-speaking skill as a tool to help them accomplish a mission was what I wanted to do,” stated Stephanie.

After that assignment was over, she continued to volunteer for community related projects including a volunteer

“Being able to use the Spanish-speaking skill as a tool to help them accomplish a mission was what I wanted to do” assignment in Haiti to help after the devastation from the hurricanes. “It was a week assignment to deliver nonperishable goods and medical supplies. People were so thankful and grateful for us to be there.

When we were on the small boats to go to the beach we would see pieces of houses and dead animals floating in the water.

Seeing this country being

completely demolished by this hurricane was a very touching experience which is why I want to work with people and help communities develop,” recalled Stephanie.

Stephanie has always had the can-do attitude, raising her hand for new opportunities to help others. While in the military, Stephanie received the Humanitarian Service Medal and a Letter of Commendation from the Admiral.

Stephanie’s experience in the Navy led her to discover her true passion. “If it wasn’t for my time in service, I wouldn’t have the GI Bill to pay for my school and carrying myself in a diverse environment. Military was the first time I was in one environment with people from so many different backgrounds.

The military provided me with leadership and preparation to work well with people from different races, religions and people of different backgrounds,” explained Stephanie.

“We want to connect them to the resources in the community”

Paving the way for future generations and building communities After her departure from the military, Stephanie’s community service continues as she is actively involved in programs that help at-risk youth. Currently, Stephanie volunteers at Stand Up for Kids and is leading the way to establish a new mentoring program for high school students expected to launch in January 2016. The mentors come from another program that Stephanie is actively involved in Enactus at her college Old Dominion University, a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better more sustainable world.

The concept of this joint initiative was Stephanie’s idea as she noted that partnerships and collaboration are very important to help the community. In addition to the high school mentor matching, the program will also have valuable workshops for essential life skills such as college preparation, leadership, self-esteem and communication.

“We want to match students with a mentor until they graduate from high school. They can have a friend, listening and supporting them on what they want to do.

Allow them to have the resources to reach their full potential. We want to connect them to the resources in the community,” explains Stephanie.

Stephanie now has taken on the

most important role in her life as a single mother to her young daughter while juggling school and community work. As an only child, Stephanie now has her citizenship and brought her mom to the United States. Her family is everything and she is so thankful she can spend time with them and continue to pursue her career goals. She is currently completing her last year at college and will receive a double major in Economics and International Business. Upon graduation, she will be going to Law School to study human rights law.

Stephanie’s life path would not be the same if it weren’t for her time in the military where she discovered her true calling to help people develop.

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MARBLED TRES LECHES CAKE Brought to you by Mexican Chef Pati Jinich from PBS’ Pati’s Mexican Table, this cake soaked in sweetened condensed milk from LA LECHERA® is perfect to truly spoil those closest to you!

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·

Preheat the oven to 350° F with a rack in the middle. Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan and line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper CAKE 9 large eggs, separated, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup hot water 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

SAUCE 1 can (14 ounces) NESTLÉ LA LECHERA Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 can (12 fluid ounces) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk 1 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

FROSTING 2 cups heavy cream 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1 tablet (90 grams) NESTLÉ ABUELITA Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate Drink, grated /thinly sliced to garnish

Preheat the oven to 350° F with a rack in the middle. Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan and line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper TO MAKE THE CAKE In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until they hold soft peaks, about 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and slowly add the sugar, beating until the whites hold stiff, shiny peaks. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

TO MAKE THE SAUCE In a large bowl, combine the three milks and vanilla and stir to blend well. Pour about 2/3 of the sauce over the cake. Don’t worry if it looks like there is too much sauce—the cake will absorb it. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Reserve the remaining vanilla sauce.

Pour the egg yolks into another large bowl and beat with a whisk or fork, until fluffy and pale yellow.

Add the vanilla and continue beating until fully incorporated. Gently fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg white mixture with a rubber spatula, taking care not to deflate the whites. Fold in the flour 1/4 cup at a time and mix well. The batter will look a bit streaky

When you are ready to finish the cake, remove the cake from the refrigerator and spoon the remaining sauce on top of the cake.

In a small bowl, combine the hot water with the cocoa powder. Pour half the cake batter into another bowl and fold in the cocoa-water mixture with a rubber spatula until thoroughly mixed.

TO MAKE THE FROSTING In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream and the confectioners’ sugar on medium speed until it holds well-formed peaks, about 6 minutes. Spread the whipped cream over the top and sides of the cake. Garnish with the grated Abuelita chocolate.

Spread the vanilla batter in the prepared pan. Pour the chocolate batter on top, in a straight line down the center. With a knife or spoon, make a whirling design from one side of the pan to the other. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the top of the cake has lightly browned and feel spongy to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Invert the cake onto a large plate or board and remove the pan and parchment paper. Cover the cake with an upside-down platter large enough to hold the cake and the vanilla sauce and invert again so the cake is right side up. Using a fork, poke holes all over the top of the cake, so it will absorb the sauce.

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MODERN ROMANCE, LOVE & ON For Veronica, online dating is great, she works a lot, is in her 30’s and going out every weekend to the bar scene is not necessarily ideal. So this provides a platform for her to meet people more conveniently and meet people she may not otherwise ever cross paths with.

She feels overall her experience has been successful. Some may not consider that to be true because she is not married nor does she have a boyfriend. But to her, what she does have is much more than either of those: happiness, confidence, knows her self-worth and standards.

In our conversation she pointed out that she has gone through three phases during her online dating history to get to this point.

I share her story below to put out a different perspective of being single and dating online in 2015.

As Modern Latina has evolved over the past 10 years to be a staple in the Latina Dialogue, dating too has evolved and taken on a form of its own though online dating and mobile apps. According to the Pew Research Center, “today, nearly nine-in-ten Americans are online, and dating on the web has grown in both popularity and acceptance.”

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Online dating seems to be the norm now and in talking to my single girlfriends I get mixed

reviews of the online dating scene being horrible, tough, and that people don’t want to settle down, etc. However, I recently spoke to a friend of mine, we’ll call her Veronica, and she was telling me about her recent date (with whom she met online on a popular dating site). Our conversation quickly turned into a discussion about her 6 years of online dating, how happy she is, and how she feels she has grown as a person from her dating life.

“TODAY, NEARLY NINE-IN-TEN AMERICANS ARE ONLINE AND DATING ON THE WEB HAS GROWN IN BOTH POPULARITY AND ACCEPTANCE”

NLINE DATING

BY ANA DAVILA

Phase I: Dating, dumping and regret In the first 3 months of being online, Veronica met a great guy and they started dating. He was handsome and “great on paper” (good job, good looking, good education, etc.). However, over time she realized he was not for her, there was not that spark she wanted to feel. She decided to end the relationship and continued to date online. She quickly realized that some of these dates and guys were not for her and she began to wonder if she had made a mistake ending her relationship. He was kind, sweet, and treated her with respect, essentially he was a catch. She decided to reach out to him, however he was in a different place in life at that point. She was disappointed and questioned her decision but decided to keep on this journey of online dating even if at times it was discouraging.

Phase II: Discovering the spark and learning a lesson A few years later of off and on online dating she met an amazing guy and fell in love. It was then she realized that the decision she had made to end the relationship with the first guy was the right choice because she knew what that spark was supposed to feel like. She also better understood that she could not be with someone because they were “good on paper” or because they are the “type” of person she should be with but because she must have chemistry to fall in love.

She realized that she had to go through that disappointment and discomfort to get to this point.

Ana Davila has been with Modern Latina

since 2010 as a Communications Specialist, Video Producer and Event Producer. She has a passion for storytelling through media, the Latino culture and combining the two together. Ana studied Television Broadcasting and has a Masters degree in Communication Studies.

Phase III: Figuring out who you are, what you want, need and are not willing to settle for Unfortunately, she had to end this new relationship. While she was deeply in love with this person she ultimately had to end it because her needs were not being met fully. She felt that at this point in life she needed what she needed and he could not give that to her. She refused to stay in a relationship where she was the only one who was going to compromise. In the end, she learned that she loved herself more and her personal values than the idea of being in a relationship.

While she has not come out of this online dating experience with a husband or even a long-term partner she states that she has come out of it with: Knowing more about herself, what she wants in life, in a partner, what she deserves and that she should not settle just to be in a relationship. By going through these 3 stages she says she developed a more confident approach to life, her relationships and finding the positivity in dating, which can be tough, but ultimately has made her fulfilled and happy.

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INSPIRE A CHILD’S LOVE FOR READING

by Jasmine Colón

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With the weather cooling down it can only mean one thing…more time to curl up to a good book! As a new mom, I do find it a bit difficult for personal reading time, but my love for books is now passing on to my little one. We snuggle together and flip through the pages of his books or if he does not feel like sitting still he plays and I still read out loud to him. Every so often he will stop what he is doing and crawl over and look at his book for a moment and then go back to playing. It does not matter, how we read. It only matters that we do read.

When I read to my son I take into consideration what he will be getting out of the source. It is important to me that he has access to books that celebrate his culture. I want him to look at the protagonists and think that they look like him or that they look like someone from his community. I want him to learn, celebrate, and respect other cultures. We do this by allowing our story time to be inclusive as well as take advantage of cultural programs at our local public library. We also subscribe to the mission of the We Need Diverse Books campaign to encourage publishers to hear our voice!

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote by Duncan Tonatiuh Pancho, a young rabbit, is awaiting his father’s return from working in El Norte, but as the welcome home party begins it is soon realized that his father is not one of the family members to return. In order to find out what happened to his father, Pancho sets out on a journey lead by a conniving coyote and a pair of thieving snakes. Forced to hand over the food he hoped to nourish his father with, Pancho finds himself in danger with only hope to save him.

This book tells of a darker story of migration and immigration that too many people are familiar with. The text is bit heavier, so older children may appreciate it and be more patient to sit through this story. The illustrations are stunning and provide a subtler aura on this powerful book.

Niño Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales Niño dons his red chonies and a lucha libre mask as he faces some of the fiercest opponents in Latino/a folklore! Niño shows no fear as he battles La Llorona, and gives the smack down to Olmec, but when he is faced with two opponents that he has personal history with he has to think twice of his athletic abilities.

This book provides an interactive bilingual experience with its wildly imaginative storyline. There is quite a bit of nonsensical action words that get my son laughing as we read each page.

The artwork is vivid and gorgeous and feel authentic to Latino/a printed media history.

Jasmine Colón grew up in the Central Valley of California where she suffered through hot summers and foggy winters. Hiding from the local elements, she was often found in her school library with her nose in multiple books. Exchanging extreme temperatures for a more mild setting she headed off to the beaches of Santa Cruz where she earned her B.A. in Literature from U.C. Santa Cruz.

Moving on to San Jose, she found a renewed love for libraries and earned her M.L.I.S. (Master of Library and Information Science) from SJSU. Jasmine is employed as a part-time academic librarian and adjunct instructor at two Bay Area community colleges. She is currently trying to beat her personal best of reading 95 books in one year.

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TINA ALDATZ The Style of Her Success “Starting a business is kind of like starting a family, it's never a perfect time and there is always an excuse to wait. But if you just do it…wow!”

by Marcela Davison Aviles

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Stock Exchange.” By 2011, she sold the business for $14 million in cash.

Act I of our story begins in Orange County, California, where Tina grew up. As a child, Tina would visit the beach and on one fateful trip, she burned the soles of her feet when she accidentally walked on coals that were buried in the sand. She suffered third degree burns and endured months of painful therapy and recovery. That summer, Tina was in and out of the hospital, and confined to a wheel-chair. She started fourth grade on crutches, and her feet have remained sensitive and prone to blisters ever since.

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Act II cuts to the bright lights of the Big Apple - New York City.

Having emancipated herself at age 16, earning her GED and working her way up the ladder in consumer retail with Victoria’s Secret, Tina landed a leadership position as the Special Events and Merchandising

Director for BCBG Max Azria.

While pounding the pavement of New York City streets, Tina’s feet took a beating. With every step she took, and each little pang of pain her feet endured, the spark of an idea germinated in her head. In 2001 the opportunity to join an internet start-up in California beckoned, but fizzled after six months. That’s when Tina took the leap, and in 2001 launched her first start-up, “Foot Petals.” Giving herself six months to make it, she leveraged her personal experience and researched production and design for a foot cushion that would make women’s dress shoes as comfortable as they are fashionable. Building the company with her business partner, Margarita Flores took ten years years and many teachable moments chronicled in her new memoir, “From Stilettos to the

Act III dissolves to the launch of her new business with Margarita, “Savvy Travelers.” Savvy Travelers offers a line of eco-friendly and convenient products that make travel easy and healthy.

The on-the-go travel wellness line includes sanitizing hand and body wipes, “No Sweat” antiperspirant wipes, surface wipes, “In the Klear” lens and screen wipes, foot safety shields, “Speak Eazy” mouth refresher wipes and luxe facial cleansing towelettes. The company has already attracted outside investors and is now offered by high end retailers such as Nordstroms.

Tina is also expanding her business activities into the entertainment industry - a logical extension given the celebrity backing to Savvy Travelers. She is a credited producer for the 2014 film drama, La Frontera, starring Eva Longoria, Michael Peña, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. La Fontera is a story of Mexican migrants and American ranchers finding common ground at the border through love lost and reclaimed.

Act IV finds Tina and Margarita in San Jose, California where she was honored by ModernLatina. com for her achievements in business and leadership as a mentor, philanthropist and Latina activist. With her second company taking off, a major motion picture under her belt and growing national recognition for her new memoir, Tina’s journey from pain to profit might just be coming to a theatre near you. Stay tuned ….

In 2008 Tina was profiled by Los Angeles freelance writer Sarah Tomlinson for the entrepreneur blog for women, “Ladies Who Launch.” Tina offered advice then for business owners that remains salient, no matter your gender. Here are three “tips from Tina” excerpted from this 2008 profile, with attribution to Sarah Tomlinson

Let the experts do their jobs

“I think entrepreneurs, at times, try to do everything themselves. You just can’t be successful unless you know what your strengths are and you get the right people in the right places.”

It Takes Two to Merchandise

“In January of 2001, I got my first partner, and that was Armando Dupont. And he’s still my partner. And Margie, who is my vice president and business partner, came on board in February of 2001. Margie had worked in the fashion industry for many years and before we launched I said, ‘If I can make this thing, do you think that you could sell it?’ She shopped it around to buyers, and she called me back and said, ‘Absolutely, let’s go for it.’ We took the product to our first trade show in June of 2001, and we shipped our first order in August.”

Teaching Shoe Dogs New Tricks

“We had fashion experience, but the shoe world is run by these old men, and they’re referred to as ‘shoe dogs.’ So when we walked into these meetings, they were like, ‘Why in the heck would we sell something that we give away every day?’

And our response was, ‘Why would you give something away that you could sell?'”

Marcela Davison Aviles is an author, lawyer and founder of Chapultepec Group, a leading cultural insights agency serving the arts and entertainment industry and Managing Director of El Camino Project, a new arts social venture initiative.

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Modern Latina’s 10th Anniversary Celebration: Fashion Fights Back, a runway event benefitting Latinas Contra Cancer was an amazing way to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Held at the beautiful, historic San Jose Woman’s Club with over 160 guests in attendance, it was a magical evening with so much positive energy in the room all to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer.

All proceeds from the ticket sales and silent auction benefitted Latinas Contra Cancer, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about cancer in the Latino community, increasing access to quality care, working to decrease mortality and improving the quality of the health care experience.

The evening began with a special talk and book signing by Modern Latina’s Commemorative 10th Anniversary Edition Featured Latina, Tina Aldatz. Tina is a self-made, successful Latina entrepreneur who founded Foot Petals and is now the CEO of Savvy Travelers. She shared her compelling and heartwarming personal story of success against all odds from her book, “From Stilettos to the Stock Exchange.”

Guests mingled while enjoying wine tasting from the featured vintners Encanto Vineyards and Voces Cellar and appetizers from local restaurant Mezcal. Guests were able to pick up unique items from local artists, crafters and small businesses as well as bid on many of the unique silent auction items.

It was an evening to celebrate and honor the loved ones lost from cancer, currently battling cancer and cancer survivors.

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A memorable moment during the event was to honor the breast cancer patients and survivors in the room who were presented pink corsages.

This beautiful and personal piece was donated by Sirron Norris, a San Francisco accomplished artist across several mediums including multimedia, television, film, and illustration. The piece was created in honor of his wife, Laurie Scolari during her battle against breast cancer. The title of the print is: “My Wife’s Battle & the City That Healed Her.”

Art of Love paintings, painted by local Latina artist, Ana Vera Rodriguez filled the walls of the venue.

These special paintings were purchased in dedication to honor loved ones impacted by cancer.

During her speech Ysabel Duran, CEO and Founder of Latinas Contra Cancer noted that breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer and of cancer death among Latinas. “Research is finding that Latinas are getting breast cancer at a younger age, with larger tumors and detected at a later stage,” said Ysabel. For that reason, Latinas Contra Cancer is focusing on research to better understand the Latina DNA in order to help find answers to address this disease.

Additionally, Latinas Contra Cancer provides support services and resources for the Latino cancer patient and their family; collaborate with other small agencies to provide education and outreach services; partner with health care institutions to bridge the gap through culturally competent outreach and medical care. These services would not be possible without a dedicated staff. Ysabel made two special presentations to patient navigator, Claudia Colindres and promotora or community health educator, Damiana Flores, for their continued hard work and commitment to Latinas Contra Cancer.

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The energy of the event emcee, community leader Mrs. Guisselle Nu単ez, Director of Marketing, Public and Government Relations for Chabot-Las Positas Community College District energy was contagious as she kicked off the fashion show. Latina leaders from the Silicon Valley Latina Coalition strutted their stuff on the runway wearing the latest fashions from Banana Republic and Dress Barn.

Local Latina designer Sindy Hernandez de Cornejo debuted her 2015 #SINDYCollection featuring sophisticated and classic pieces. Her set opened with her original designed Frida Kahlo t-shirt.

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“Frida Kahlo inspires so many. She embodies the strength, creativity, beauty and talent of all Latinas. I am so happy that Frida was a part of Fashion Fights Back benefitting Latinas Contra Cancer. We’re extremely impressed by all of the Frida Kahlo fashion concepts and it was exciting to see the looks come to life,” said Linda Castillo CEO and Executive Editor of Modern Latina.

Congratulations to all of the designers: Terri Banuelos Ilse Sarai Caballero Catalina Cervantes Ofelia Gallegos Mauricio Hernandez Laura Moreno Ana Vera Rodriguez Arie Rose Mona Sosa 28 |

Original Frida Kahlo Inspired Look concept submitted by Ofelia Gallegos.

A special moment on the runway was seeing the look created by Mauricio Hernandez go down the runway. Frida Kahlo has been inspiring his life for many years now and he had lost his inspiration and passion for creating after his mother lost her battle against cancer earlier this year. It wasn’t until he ran across the Frida Inspired Contest on social media to benefit Latina women against cancer that he felt inspired again. “It was as if it was sent my way from my mom,” said Mauricio who entered the contest to honor his mother’s memory and to make her proud.

His beautiful niece, Pamela Tripp, wore the breathtaking

look that featured jewelry that was a combination of pieces from all his three sisters with a focal point medallion that belonged to his beloved mother. Mauricio along with many other family members drove in from San Diego, California to support the event.

A significant part of Modern Latina’s mission is to give back to the community. Modern Latina hosts events that create meaningful opportunities for Latinas to connect and support the community.

“I want Modern Latina to be more than an online publisher and I see it as a conduit to give back to the community. For Modern Latina’s 10th

The office of Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese presented a commendation to the Fashion Fights Back event for raising breast cancer awareness and empowering the Latino community of Santa Clara County.

Anniversary celebration, I had an idea and vision to create this night of fashion, culture, and community honoring and celebrating breast cancer survivors. Seeing all the support and the event come together was so overwhelming,” said Linda.

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It feels good to give back.

And together with our generous customers and employees, Macy’s averages more than $1 million a week to initiatives important to you and your community – arts, education, the environment, HIV/AIDS, and women’s health and wellness.

It adds up to $70 million* a year. It’s a good feeling we can all share, and to us, that’s the magic of giving. * Includes grants from Macy’s Foundation

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Schwab.com, or call (650) 614-2022.

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Member SIPC. (0414-2416) ADP89394-00 (11/15)

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NINE KATAS & A HOPE-FILLED HEART: A Latina’s Trip to India

by Eydie Mendoza

Denice Enriquez holds her breath while she clutches her knotted stomach and reaches for the book on top of the stack she began cataloging yesterday.

The musty smell overpowers the room, yet the sun rays breaking through the doorway offer hope.

She continues to dust off the cover and grimaces at the brown residue on her fingers.

On Nov. 22, 2008, Enriquez steps off the plane in Delhi, India, along with 10 of her peers, “We flew at night, but as soon as I got out of the doorway, the first thing I smelled was spicy soot.

It was hot and humid and lots of mosquitoes. Pollution was just hanging and it looked like fog. I felt like I couldn’t breathe for two days.”

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Lamu, their guide, gives each one a (kata) traditional Tibetan scarf, “That was the first cultural experience I remember,” says

Enriquez and mentions that it isn’t unusual to find then in a room or shrine honoring the Dalai Lama. People hold the scarves up to a lama for a blessing. Katas are plain or ornate scarves often made of silk, and usually offered to lamas, or people of government. It is also customary to offer a kata to translators and assistants, Enriquez squeals, “I came home with 9.”

The group boards the prearranged shuttle to a local guest house in Delhi. Their destination is Upper Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj), located in the northern part of India. After spending a day in the city, the group travels by night train to a city in the foothills near their destination, with a remaining three hour cab ride up the mountain. The entire trip from Delhi to Dharamsala takes about 18 hours.

Enriquez and her peers visit McLeod Ganj, a community of exiled Tibetans, including the current Dalai Lama.

Enriquez stays with a Tibetan host family, where she has breakfast, lunch, dinner and, “We had teas every morning.”

Although everyone is kind, she finds herself not being able to communicate. The culture shock only heightens from there. India has running water but using the bathroom can be quite an experience for foreigners. “It was a huge event to take a shower. I can count the number of times I bathed in India.” Because it is cold there, every place has water heaters. She adds, “It took two hours to heat water. Most people showered like once a week, also you’d have to plan showers three days in advance.” The water quickly gets cold, a person has to avoid getting water in their eyes because it is unsanitary, and

Only five days into her visit, Enriquez is homesick for her family and familiar food. She has not been able to eat because she is physically ill with a stomach virus. Juggling volunteering, unable to speak Tibetan, and feeling unsuccessful in tutoring the English conversation circles, she feels lonely. While working, she looks around the Tibet Hope Center in despair yet only sees a dilapidated building. She dusts off another book, while trying to ignore the musty odor. But on that day, she discovers a Website with useful questions for her conversation class. “I found myself finally feeling confident and prepared and getting to know more and more Tibetan people.”

Enriquez enthusiastically absorbs the class, “Everyone was learning English while building confidence in order to spread the word about the tragic situation in Tibet to the rest of the world.” The students speaking tonight are not nervous compared to other nights, “My student returned from the microphone and I patted his shoulder as I told him he did a great job. A lama sitting next to him replied, ‘That’s because he has a good teacher.’ I stood there while we all laughed with tears in my eyes as my wall of resistance crumbled, and I finally realized how important my presence at the conversation classes was and that there was a method to the center’s madness. I found the hope in the Tibetan Hope Center.”

Enriquez is no stranger to the experience of learning another language. Her parents moved to Orange County from Mexico. She and her two siblings were raised in a bilingual household where the

parents spoke Spanish and the children English. Since she is the eldest she had to translate for her parents while growing up, “I was embarrassed because they spoke Spanish and I had to translate.” Her father taught her to be proud of her heritage and assured her that speaking two languages was a benefit.

Enriquez may not have known when she stepped off the plane in November to that spicy soot and extremely humid, mosquito ridden city, she would return to the U.S. believing she made a difference in one person’s life.

The experience of making a difference to that one person, she believes helps change the Tibetan community of Dharamsala. She, too, found hope, “I naturally felt like a member of a unified community in the loving and welcoming environment,” she says it was a small part in making the world a better place.

Eydie Mendoza has worked with underserved and underrepresented communities as a bilingual educator and counselor assisting families, care providers, teachers, youth and adults in pursuing their dreams for a better education and life within her roles at National Council of La Raza, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and College of the Redwoods in Eureka. She is a former SVL Editor-in-Chief of SVLatino.com and a former San Jose Pride Board Member.

With membership to the Luna Park Business Association, the Latina Success Network, and a team member of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, she is currently the Social Media and Website Coordinator for Santa Clara County Public Health and web producer for her own business EMpresenta.

Meanwhile Enriquez knows she is able to adjust into a culture by participating and listening. She gained a new cultural perspective and made friends. She urges, “The relationships are very important to me. I went into it thinking I knew what the community needed but learned that I needed to listen to what they needed and to provide that. There were fliers for English tutors everywhere and that is what they wanted and needed. I learned about Buddhism.”

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THE FREEDOM IN BEING 36 |

A white peasant blouse embroidered with bold pink roses. A flowing folkloric skirt. A rainbow-hued serape.

A bouquet of plastic flowers. My mother’s box of castoff costume pieces had everything I needed to be a spot-on Frida Kahlo for Halloween.

Up went my hair, a spray of fake flowers pinned in like a crown. Never had a costume come together so easily.

The only thing missing for the perfect Frida: a unibrow.

They say clothes make the man, but when people picture this iconic artist, it’s her thick connected eyebrows that leap to mind. Mascara wand in hand, I leaned toward the mirror and carefully painted over the space I plucked daily to keep hair-free. To complete the look, I moved the mascara brush down to my upper lip.

“Are you really going to give yourself a mustache?” my husband asked. Considering the countless hours – not to mention the sizable pile of pennies –I had spent on electrolysis to rid myself of my lady ‘stache, it seemed an odd choice to eagerly paint the hair back on.

This went against trend, my regression to a hairier time.

It’s become cliché for women dress as scantily as possible for Halloween. On this one night, you’ll see plunging necklaces, skintight hot pants and astonishingly short skirts on women normally too modest to wear this little on the beach. “Sexy” versions of ordinary costumes abound, in ever more outrageous styles. The old standards like Naughty Nurse and Flirty French Maid have given way to Sexy Pizza Slice, Sexy Big Bird, and Sexy Ebola Worker. (These all exist. Really.) As long as the costume is tiny, anything goes.

G FRIDA

Crazy examples aside, the “sexy” costume trend can be viewed as a reaction the maddening expectations for the female figure. Be confident in your body. She’s such a cow. Looks aren’t everything. She dresses like a slut.

Loose those extra pounds fast! I’ll never be that hot.

No way she’s that thin without an eating disorder. Ten exercises to reduce belly fat. She’s way too obsessed with the gym. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. She was practically falling out of that dress. Miracle cream that reverses aging. She doesn’t have the body to pull that off. It’s shameful the way girls dress today.

by Angela Hedges

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If I could only lose 10 pounds...

We’re ashamed by our imperfect bodies. We can’t let ourselves go, but when we twist ourselves to meet an ideal, we’re conceited, shallow, self-absorbed. Nothing we do, or don’t do, is ever enough.

It’s no surprise that looks are the number one trigger in shame for women, according to social researcher Dr. Brené Brown. She’s made a career of studying shame, vulnerability and worthiness. Her research shows that “Shame, for women, is this web of unobtainable, conflicting, competing expectations about who we’re supposed to be.” A familiar feeling to even the most confident women.

The sexy costume trend fits neatly into this theory. At a Halloween party, ladies can dress as provocatively they please. The whole ideas is to be someone we’re not. Gone is the judgement that haunts us on every other day.

Since we’re just playing a part, we can reveal our bodies, be proud of what we’ve got, and be safe from the critics, both around us and within us. We have permission to be what we want. Even ourselves.

And here I was, wasting my free pass on decidedly unattractive clumps of facial hair. I had poured over pictures of Frida to get her look just right. Based on her eyebrows, I’d thought of her as being unconcerned with appearances, but photographs revealed a different story. I was struck by how subtle her unibrow really was. Her brows, while thick, we’re neatly groomed, and the line connecting them was rather thin. When recreating herself in paintings, she reveled

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in fine detail and exaggerated her most unconventional features.

This was a woman very aware of her looks, perhaps obsessed. She just didn’t care what anyone else thought of them. In photograph after photograph, the confidence of her gaze reveals itself, challenging the viewer to rethink beauty and sexuality.

Women pluck, wax, thread and burn unwanted hairs away, all in secret. To admit you weren’t born this way would break the illusion.

Frida Kahlo wanted to break the illusion. She broke it, then remade it in her own image.

Dr. Brown noted that people who are the happiest and most fulfilled have “the courage to be imperfect.” Frida lived that way.

As I recreated her less-attractive features, I felt a tiny sliver of that courage. The costume was a big hit. It was liberating to spurn the feminine ideal and still feel confident. Being Frida was not just a costume. It was no sexy Cleopatra or scantily-clad schoolgirl, but allowed me to embrace a part of myself that is more real than the version of me that people see everyday. Much like the skimpy costumes show more of our real bodies than the clothes we cover ourselves with.

Beauty is not found in tight abs or a perfect shade of lipstick, a killer outfit or a flawless complexion.

It’s confidence, pure and simple.

Loving who you are, flaws and all, makes you attractive. Frida was hairy and manly with a twisted, crippled body, and still she smoldered with sensuality. Not everyone thinks she’s attractive, but that’s true even for celebrities

and supermodels. There is no single ideal. You only need to be attractive to whatever you hope to attract. If that attraction is based on illusion, you’ll spend the rest of your life pretending to be what you’re not.

My husband couldn’t believe I was painting on a moustache, but he laughed. He knows me, the real me, and he loves me. Fake moustache and all. It’s taken 40 years to find the strength to be vulnerable. To stare down the fears that make me feel ashamed – I’m ugly, dorky, unwanted, boring – and flaunt them instead of hide what I fear. People may criticize, sneer or judge. But the people that love me, the real me, never will.

It’s addictive, this feeling of freedom. Which is great, because shame never stops coming at you. And it’s not just looks. As a mother, a wife, a friend, I’m constantly feeling inadequate. I yell at my kids, keep a sloppy house and talk way, way, way too much. Some things I’m trying to improve, some I’m content with. I’m not perfect and never will be. Most importantly, I’m not ashamed. This is me. I’m not for everyone. But I’m amazing, because I believe I am. No matter what anyone else thinks.

Thanks Frida.

Angela Hedges put aside a career in social media to pursue her passions: family and writing. As a mother she is inspired to explore the struggles and joys found in the ever-changing landscape of modern parenting. Her blog With Fail chronicles her journey as a writer. Angela also dead-blogs about the remarkable life of her grandmother on the aptly-named My Dead Grandmother.

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Standing on my Own

by Tamika Burgess

I moved the arrow on my computer screen over the “send” option and paused. Will my fellow Afro-Latinas like this? Am I representing myself, my culture, and them in a positive way? Is this even a good idea? At the very last minute doubt crept in, and it was strong. But at that point the thing I’d been working on for two weeks straight (bouncing ideas off of friends, finalizing the header, researching women to feature, compiling article links) had to go out. There was no reason it shouldn’t. It was done, it was ready, I sent it.

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“Doubt can only be removed by action.”

The idea to start Es Mi Cultura -a monthly newsletter that spreads awareness of the wonderful contributions Afro-Latinas are making to further advance our presence- randomly came out of nowhere. I had been wanting to start a newsletter all year, but had no idea what purpose it would serve.

But now when I think about it, the idea specifically for Es Mi Cultura came to me at the right

time; which is why it was perfectly launched during Latino Heritage Month.

The doubt I experienced on launch day was also felt in the days and weeks leading up. My feelings were very up and down.

The ups were the excitement of producing something with information I am passionate about. The downs came in the form of self-doubt, at the hands of social media.

These days, social media is the way to go when promoting your

work. So having a substantial amount of followers on any social media platform is beneficial. But for someone like me who tries not to live out every life moment online (I only tweet and share when I feel like it), my follower count is not anywhere near where I know it could be. Then came the thought, if they don’t know about me, how will they find the newsletter?

And that made me feel like I wasn’t going to be able to pull this off by myself… I started to feel like I needed a partner. A partner with a big following so the newsletter could be wide-spread or a partner with a known name to bring attention to it. I spent hours thinking about my friends and acquaintances who would be a good fit to partner with.

This is also when I thought back to the early days of my blog and how I didn’t, and still don’t, worry about my follower count and reader numbers. As my blog’s purpose is for me to simply write.

I’m not worried about who, or if anyone reads my words. I just have to get the words out of my head and if people are drawn to them, can relate to them, or learn something from them, it’s a bonus. With that I figured I should take the same approach with my newsletter.

But Es Mi Cultura is different. It’s something that needs to reach the masses. It needs to go out to as many people as possible. AfroLatinos as a whole need as much representation as possible, for people of other races and cultures and for ourselves. So again, I

found myself struggling with how to make the newsletter spread like wild fire.

A partner is never a bad idea.

But for this, I quickly realized I needed to do it by myself. My passion for Afro-Latina topics might not be at the same level as a partners, or vice versa. Plus, this is my baby, my idea, and my focus. Only I will understand the logic behind the monthly features and content, and that is something I don’t want to compromise on. So I had to put all my fear to the side and just do it.

“SOMETIMES THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS NOT THINK, NOT WONDER, NOT IMAGINE, NOT OBSESS. JUST BREATHE AND HAVE FAITH THAT EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT FOR THE BEST” Since that October day when I clicked “send,” I have received nothing but positive feedback.

Es Mi Cultura has been a light for those who were in the dark regarding websites, women to follow, and content to read as it relates to Afro-Latinas.

Subscribers are happy to see themselves represented, which is exactly what I set out to do.

In addition to all the great feedback, I have realized putting myself out there, alone, wasn’t as big of a deal as I was making it.

The newsletter is necessary and I’m glad I pushed passed my doubt and fears and made it happen. And in the process I was reminded that just like my blog, Es Mi Cultura will grow organically. I don’t have to force it because it fills a void, and I know it will end up in the inboxes of those who need it.

Doubt will always crowd our minds when doing something new. Never let outside factors determine your passion. If you feel it’s meant for you to do, do it.

The satisfaction you will feel from doing it will be far more worth your while than any amount of social media follower count can bring about.

Tamika Burgess is a NYC based writer, blogger, and editor. Her articles have been featured on various sites, including Cosmopolitan. She is also the force behind The Essence of Me; where she blogs about all things that catch her attention and sparks a reaction.

Sexy Sophistication

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DESIGNER Sindy Hernandez de Cornejo STYLIST Teresita Marie PHOTOGRAPHY Eve Ayala HAIR & MAKE-UP Liliana Paulina Murillo Jay Alvarez www.sindycollection.com

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HOT HOLIDAY HEELS SEYCHELLES

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GUESS

Christa Two-Piece Lace-Up Dress Sandals $110.00 macys.com

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CHARLES BY CHARLES DAVID David 'Pact' Pump $98.95 nordstrom.com

FOUR FALL MAKE-UP TRENDS YOU NEED TO BE WEARING RIGHT NOW

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1. This fall its time to ditch the strong contour for warm peach and rose colors. Bring color back with flushed and rosy cheeks. One of my favorite palettes is the Park Avenue Princess II by Tarte cosmetics. It has everything you need in one palette. With 3 steps in one, this is all you need for the fall, bronzer blush and highlight that is great for those on the go and traveling. For a drugstore alternative you can also try the Milani’s illuminating face powder in Amber Nectar.

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by Delilah Montoya Hello my lovelies, and hello fall! I’m back again with another beauty review.

Fall is finally here, yay for scarfs, boots and new makeup. As some of you may know fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors associated with fall, the leaves turning color, the weather cool and breezy but what excites me most is bringing out all my fall makeup and buying all the new palettes for my collection.

I love the plums, burgundies, oranges, browns and reds. The warm shadows and vampy lips is where it’s at. So grab your Pumpkin spice latte and get ready, its time to update you on all the new fall trends.

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2. Next up are your lips. The dark 90’s berry, red, plum, and even black lips are the trend this fall.

Applied with minimal makeup and just bronzer you are ready to take on anything that comes your way. The statement that a bold lip gives is confidence and you will definitely feel just that with colors like VIP red from NARS, Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick by NYX, and Exorcism by Kat Von D.

3. Now we are ready for the eyes. Try graphic eyeliner with a gunmetal gray shadow. Get your Kohl pencils and get to lining. Fully rimmed tightlined upper lid and don’t forget your waterline then smudge away, the more smudge the better.

Some of my favorite Kohl pencils this year are Smashbox Always-Sharp Kohl, Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eyeliner and L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner.

4. Now we are on to the eyelids. Let your inner goddess out with bronzed eyelids using colors like rose-gold, gunmetal grays and gilded shimmers you are sure to capture everyone’s attention.

One of the many colors I’m loving this fall is ColourPop On the Rocks Super Shock Shadow.

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Well, there you have it, some of my favorite trends for fall 2015. Hope you enjoy and try some of these products out.

Delilah Montoya lives in San Jose and is a mother of two. She works in the Silicon Valley and also runs her own makeup business Fancy that Face Beauty and blog Fancy That!. She has been passionate about makeup, beauty and fashion since she was a young girl. She is a self-taught artist who has worked along side some amazing artist for companies such as Bare Escentuals and MAC Cosmetics. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, family and friends. Her hobbies include reading, dancing, music, cooking and anything fashion and beauty related.

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Caring for Your Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s:

The Story of Gerardo

By The Mari Twins

Alzheimer’s Disease, you have probably been hearing more about it, on the news, social media, topic of conversation at different health forums, and even from new advocates such as actor Seth Rogan. We should all be informed and talk about how Alzheimer’s disease is affecting our loved ones. The Alzheimer’s Association defines it as a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s develop slowly and become severe over time impacting daily life tremendously. One of the biggest misconceptions with Alzheimer’s is that it is seen as a normal part of aging. Unfortunately, it can impact people starting in their 40s and 50s. Gerardo Joven was in his late 50s when the changes starting to become evident including memory lapses, forgetfulness, concentration problems, difficulty finding the right words to say, depression and anxiety. That was only the beginning for Gerardo, nobody would even imagine what would transpire after being diagnosed with Early – Onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Gerardo Joven, was born and raised in Spain and later settled in New Jersey. He is a hard-working, charming, handsome, loving man.

He was always the life of the party and worked endlessly to make certain to take care of his family

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The image of the strong, hardworking, loving father was quickly altered when only at the early age of 57 Gerardo Joven was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s.

Although physically he was with us, we quickly lost our father, he was no longer the same person.

With very little answers on how this could have happened and how did we all miss the warning signals, we decided not to dwell on how we could have identified the earlier signs but focus on how we would create a safe environment at home for him. It has been a long trajectory of accommodations for our father, always taking into account his best interest. Life for Gerardo now at age 67 is 24/7 care and our family is far from giving up on him. We acknowledge each birthday and holiday. We treat him with respect and sit him with us at the dinner table. He is unable to eat by himself, care for himself, speak, and lately his walking has slowed down significantly, but Gerardo Joven is alive, he is still a member of our family. He has his first grandchild now and little Camilo knows who “Belo” is. We are all his caretaker, we all take shifts to stay with him, to feed him and care for him. There have been several times when Gerardo’s Alzheimer’s confusion has caused terrifying moments, that we had to overcome together as a family. If we did not stick together as a team the situation could have quickly

escalated to a disaster. There is no easy way to deal with this disease that steals our loved ones, but as caretakers and family members there are precautions that can be taken.

Transitioning. When Gerardo was first diagnosed, he still went to work in New York City. Gerardo knew his routine and somehow made it to work. Probably one of the most stressful moments. What if one day he lost his way to work or coming back home? What if the train schedules changed abruptly?

His place of employment was extremely supportive and together we developed a system that would maintain the whereabouts of Gerardo available. This was obviously very risky but Gerardo wanted to work and was completely unaware that his memory was failing. Always keep your loved one with Alzheimer’s safe, do not restrict them from all activities, but make certain to take the steps necessary to create safe activities, tasks, and routines. Slowly we had to explain to Gerardo that he could no longer go to work. This was a difficult period for Gerardo, he could not understand why he had to stop working. Afterwards, we had to take away his car keys, it was just becoming too dangerous for him to drive. For Gerardo, anxiety set in quickly, he could not understand why life was changing so much. It was very heartbreaking

to see that we had to minimize his activities outside of our home but we had to make sure to make daily life safe. Never go against the person with Alzheimer’s, there already exists enough confusion, instead make arrangement to smoothly transition into a safe environment.

Assess your home. Many of our loved ones with Alzheimer’s find themselves confined to their homes.

It is extremely important to assess the entire house and determine areas of danger. Anything can pose as a threat once judgment is impaired. Make sure the doors are securely locked as well as windows.

Just like when there is a baby or toddler in the house make certain to put everything away or out of reach. The stove becomes a threat too, remove the knobs. During the earlier stages, Gerardo wanted to wander outside of the house often.

His internal clock was interrupted and he did not know the difference between day and night. This was a huge problem at night. What if he became confused and walked out of the house? We decided to put extra locks on all doors that would make it impossible for him to be able to get out. If this is a choice you need to make, please have an emergency exit plan implemented and all acting caregivers must be informed of it. Throughout the process of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s open communication is a must. We also had to take down all the calendars and clocks.

Gerardo became obsessed with the date and time and continually went to check. It provoked Gerardo’s anxiety level to rise. Something as simple as removing a calendar

can make a great difference. Make sure to look at your home in the eyes of someone with Alzheimer’s.

activities would create impulsive negative behavior, we began creating routines for Gerardo.

Develop routines and provide encouragement. Daily routines are what works best for Gerardo and our family. Once he was home, we had to find simple things to keep him busy. We tried a few adult day care centers to occupy his time during the day. The facilities were equipped with the proper attention for patients with Alzheimer’s. Their activities included music, arts and crafts, and manual tasks that would keep patients busy. Gerardo became more confused going to different locations and agitated.

We decided that keeping him at home comfortable would be best.

Since we noticed that different environments or different daily

He knew what to expect during the day and created a more relaxed behavior. A schedule for grooming, meals, activities, napping, and bedtime was set up and the same structure is still followed everyday. It is also a good idea to inform your loved one which task is taking place and what you will be doing next.

When possible encourage your loved one to complete daily tasks and activities on their own. Make certain to acknowledge them when they complete it. If they are able to dress themselves, lay out their clothes and opt for using clothing that are easy to put on.

My mother would lay out

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Gerardo’s clothes on the bed and he knew where to find them, minimizing confusion. This also allows for a sense of independence and accomplishment.

What is most important throughout this process is to continue treating your loved one with Alzheimer’s with respect and acknowledge their presence.

They are the same person but with new needs and behaviors.

Always treat them with patience and understanding. As your loved one’s Alzheimer’s progresses avoid becoming frustrated, repeat instructions as many times as necessary, keep communication clear, be affectionate with hugs and kisses, include them in family activities, and when they ask the same question over and over again, simply answer every time. Do not ask the person to remember things, or try to force them to understand, or struggle with a reality they can not begin to comprehend.

Adjusting to this new life will not be easy. There will be so many emotions and questions. Show your loved one how much you really love them, let them know that you are there, act with kindness, remember you are all they have.

As for Gerardo, he lives a comfortable life at home. The doctor finds it remarkable that we have been able to maintain Gerardo at home after all this time. Gerardo and Nury just finished celebrating their 38th Wedding Anniversary and their love seems stronger than ever. Nury is the definition of strength, her heart is filled with

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love and there is nothing she cannot do for her husband.

Gerardo has forgotten many things, he cannot function alone, and we had to bring in a nurse to the house to assist in the morning routines. As a family, our goal is to keep Gerardo safe and happy as long as we can.

Every family situation with Alzheimer’s is different and unique. Planning ahead, preparing for challenges, and learning what to expect is very important. For more information and support visit the Alzheimer’s Association or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America websites.

Both sites are filled with resources that will educate and assist your families during this process.

Maribel and Marisol Joven, better known as the Mari Twins were born in New York City from Ecuadorian and Spaniard Parents and they serve as positive role models in their community. They are passionate about their culture, health and wellness, education, and fashion.

Currently residing in New Jersey, Maribel and Marisol have successful careers in the Education and Healthcare fields. Maribel and Marisol’s efforts to better the wellbeing of others or create awareness can be found in their volunteer work. The Mari Twins are proud to represent the Icla DaSilva Foundation, Literacy Volunteers of America, Handfuls of Hope, and are Sunday School Teachers at their local church. Maribel is the current Ms. Latina Galaxy and former Ms. Belleza Latina International 2013. Marisol is the current Ms. New Jersey Belleza Latina. You can follow them on their blog, Life with The Mari Twins.

YOUR HOME CORNER OFFICE

by Nicole Moreno-Deinzer

Nowadays more and more people are working from home. I live in the land of entrepreneurs; shoot I guess you can call me one. So our “corner office” is the corner of a room in our apartment. Our working space has to be a place of productivity but also go with the theme of the house. For my home office, I was very particular of what went on my desk.

Your workspace has to speak to you. How does your workspace speak to you?

Light Colors: My desk is white, and my paper holder is yellow. I did this to capture more light and be a welcoming, inviting space.

Pictures of Nick: This reminds me that I have at least one person in the world that understands my crazy mind. Plus he’s pretty to look at.

Items From Other Countries: I use a pot from Vietnam to hold my pens to remind me of traveling.

Books and Magazines: I surround myself with books about business and the New Yorker magazine, to help with my creativity.

Nicole Moreno-Deinzer is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Epifania - A Love Your Life Outlook Publication. She studied Communication Studies as an undergrad and is currently earning her MBA. She was the previous Vice President of St. Elizabeth Day Home Board and is a Board Member of Bay Area Advertising Relief Committee.

She is a graduate of Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Board | 57 Academy

HOW TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOS

by Anna Santillan

Taking great and memorable pictures, whether it’s with a digital camera or with your smart phone is just a click or a tap away. You don’t have to have expensive gear to take really good pictures, you just have to learn to utilize what you have really well. The most important things are; an image that’s in focus and a steady hand to avoid any movement in the picture once it is taken.

1. Get Your Focus On If you’re using a digital camera start by setting it to Auto Focus, this usually gets your subject in clear focus. If you want to be adventurous and try your skills, set your camera to Manual Focus and focus looking through the lens, while using your hands to get your subject into focus.

As for smart phones, and depending on which one you have as some may vary, check to see how you can put your subject in clear focus. On an iPhone I know that you tap and hold for about 3 seconds on the area you want in focus and your camera phone will remain focused in the area you specified until the picture is taken. This can be changed as many times as you want before taking a picture, just repeat the tap and hold for 3 second until you are happy with where your phone is focusing.

2. Close and Personal It’s always nice to get a picture of everything that’s going on around you, but sometimes you have to get those close zoomed in pictures. Whether it’s your family, your kiddos, or a picture of a ladybug walking on a flower petal; close pictures are always wonderful to have.

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3. Take Lots Of Pictures When taking pictures, it’s better to have multiple pictures and delete repeats later, than regret not taking enough pictures or not getting the moment you wanted caught on camera because you only took a few pictures. I’ve had this happen so now I try to take more pictures than I think I’ll want to keep. More is better in this case.

4. Change Your Angle We all like to take pictures head on. But you’ll be surprised at how different your pictures will look if you shift to the left or to the right of your subject just a little.

Another thing to try is to get down on your knees if you are

taking a picture of your dog or your children. Perspective changes everything, right? So look at the world from a different angle.

5. Add a Focal Point Usually pictures are centered or have your subject in the middle of the frame and that’s ok. But sometimes you can add more interest to your pictures by putting what you’re photographing at one corner or having something like a tree or a flower take up most of the frame.

Try it next time and I’m sure you will love the outcome.

Anna Santillan has a deep love for photography, art and design. She started her journey into photography in middle school when one of her projects was to make a camera! The camera was made of a cardboard box with a pinhole and photography paper placed on the inside.

She took photography at San Jose State University while working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design and minor in Advertising.

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THE PSYCHOLOGY & ART OF NEGOTIATION

BY ROSIE “THE CLOSER” ZEPEDA

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It was at this year’s Latina Success Network’s annual self and professional development all day workshop: “The Power of YOU,” that my previous research on Latinas and negotiation was once again proven. After having engaged in and completed a communication exercise on positioning, several Latinas came up to me to share they did not know they could negotiate their salaries. They simply had always accepted whatever salary they were presented with at the time of their offer letters.

I was not surprised by these comments at all. After having coached many Latina professionals at various careers levels, I knew and understood well why Latinas did not engage in the behavior of negotiation. I knew all of it was related directly to cultural and social conditioning. This conditioning is in direct conflict with the very male dominated business world and behavior.

Most Latinas, whether born in the US or not, come from very humble economic backgrounds.

This cultural and social upbringing sends the message to work hard, you will be noticed and compensated. Often times, Latinas are the first in their families to graduate from college and the first ones to enter the white collar workforce. Many of our parents work in the blue collar work space, where hourly rates are pretty standardized. If negotiation ever occurs it is done at the collective, union level, not at the individual level.

Therefore, the behavior of negotiation is not only something Latinas do not grow up with,

but also a behavior they are not comfortable with. I have heard it over and over again from Latinas of being afraid of “asking,” or not sure how to “ask.”

The first step in altering a belief system or mentality is to face it head on, get honest with YOU and get deeper into awareness of what it is rooted in. Ask yourself what about “asking” makes you uncomfortable. What happens to you when you ask in a professional setting? Do you get nervous, does your voice tone change, or does your body language reveal a different you? This awareness will bring you closer to revealing what part of your cultural conditioning is getting in the way of assertively asking each time for what you want or need. Write all of this down. The act of writing it alone will utilize a different part of your brain and help you release the fear. You will also see your reactions written on paper, instead of just reacting to them. Now we are going to replace your current mindset and belief systems with new ones.

It takes 21 days to change a behavior and for both your brain and body to assimilate a new one.

This is the reason why you can read all the self and professional books many times over and you will not see a change in your behavior unless you practice the new behavior over and over again.

Basically, your brain has to form new pathways in order to override the old conditioning and previous memories associated with the behavior.

Successful negotiators have three rules they follow. First, they believe in and embody the first rule of

negotiation which is: “Everything is negotiable.” Second, great negotiators see themselves engaging in the behavior of negotiation as something that is part of everyday life. Third, good negotiators look forward to opportunities to negotiate over and over again.

You probably are already negotiating and do not even know it. This is because you have compartmentalized the act of negotiation only to the professional space. Let me give you an example. When your friends or spouse are deciding where to go on vacation, you expressing your desires is an act of negotiating. When you order at a restaurant and change the order to ask for something to be replaced or altered, you are negotiating.

Finally, if you have children, there is a lot of negotiation going on.

In order to start feeling comfortable with and easing yourself into negotiation being part of your professional life, you will purposely engage in it in your everyday life. Remember “everything is negotiable.” Here is an exercise for you to do.

First, you are going to take one of your credit cards (given your credit score is decent); find out what your annual rate is and “ask” for a better rate. You will be surprised how easily some banks will oblige, just because you “asked.” If they say they cannot, then “ask” for a reason. After they give you the reason, make your case and state how long you have been a customer, what your payment history is and how you would like a show of appreciation for your great record by reducing your rate. Many times, the person

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you are speaking with might not have the power, so ask to speak to a manager.

This exercise will put you directly into a business negotiation having to do with your personal finances, something you already know about and are familiar with. Not only will you be engaging in the behavior of asking, but also in making a case, with facts and data, in order to get what you want. This last part is very crucial in every professional negotiation situation, but especially when it comes to negotiating salaries.

According to the research that Harvard’s Negotiation Institute conducted on women, there is a catch 22 for all women when it comes to negotiation. According to this research and data, women who do not negotiate for themselves, especially when it comes to salaries, are not respected, are viewed as weak and immediately not seen as leaders within the organization.

However, women who negotiate too aggressively and do it in a male manner, are not respected either and are relegated to being judged as “difficult.”

Both men and women view women who do not initially negotiate as possible pushovers.

The subconscious assessment made by both sexes is that if they do not vet for themselves or know their worth, then they cannot be trusted with vetting on the organization’s or company’s behalf. This is something that happens immediately takes a lot of effort to undo or cannot be undone once you are already enmeshed in an organization.

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Both men and women will severely judge and punish a woman whose behavior is too aggressive when negotiating.

By contrast, men who negotiate aggressively are rewarded and respected. According to the research, both men and women, expect women to display traditional female behavior where she is “ladylike” when “asking” for what she wants. This means that there is an expectation for women to be feminine and ask for what they want in terms of the greater good of everyone.

In other words, when women simply repeat “I” when vetting for themselves, they are negatively judged, but when they combine “I” with “we” they are respected more, since subconsciously they are expected to look out for the good of everyone. Here is an example of what I mean: “I expect to be compensated according to my experience.” Instead, “I am the best candidate for the position and bring a wealth of knowledge that would be of benefit to the team. We can arrive at an agreement on salary, we can both be satisfied with.”

Employers will always feel very comfortable answering a salary range question, because they are not committing to a specific amount. There is nothing wrong with you asking what the range is to see if it meets your standards for financial compensation. You need to know beforehand what you will have no problem saying “no thank you, but I will pass, unless I get this.” The message you send to the other side is not one of you rejecting them or their offer, but that they need to go back and regroup and come up

with something better. Always state the highest amount for a position, since that gives you the most leverage. If you quote too low on the range, then the employer is simply going to negotiate down from there.

When asked why you are worth that, speak to value your skills and personality add to the organization. Tie in your skills to their needs as a company.

Finally, practice mastering your negotiation skills, like you would any other skill. You do not become a master over night, but you must practice it every day, so that your brain forms new pathways, new memories and before you know it, it will become second nature to you.

Rosie “the Closer” Zepeda, Ed.M. started her negotiation journey at 9 years old. She mastered her negotiation skills as a sales and business development professional negotiating on behalf of two Fortune 500 companies. She is the CEO of Compelling Conversations (www.compelling-conversations. com) a training and consulting company. She is the Founder of www.latinasuccessnetwork.com (LSN), the premier community for culturally relevant self, professional and business development for all Latina women to reach their highest potential.

Sabor del Valle raises funds for local nonprofits and changes the lives of the overlooked and underrepresented in the Bay Area by working in collaboration with local vintners and restaurateurs to showcase their delectable creations www.sabordelvalle.org facebook.com/sabordelvalle twitter.com/sabordelvalleSJ

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FIT AFTER CHILREN

by Angela Zapien

Many mothers believe that after having children that they will never feel or look in shape. Some desire ABS. Some desire to be a runner. Some desire to wake up and not be tired. This may or may not be the case for you. Your goal may not be to have a perfect figure…besides who does! Perhaps your goal is to look and feel fit after having children and that is perfectly OK as well. I am here to shed some light and provide a few tips that have helped me through out my postpartum journey.

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I am a mother of two boys (Maximus – Almost 3 years old, Noah – 9 months). Both were born via cesarean section. They

both keep me pretty busy. From working at home as a Beachbody Coach to changing diapers, potty training, Mommy and Me dates and simply doing life with them.

I am always busy working on myself on a daily basis. Eating clean, exercising and growing as a person. I truly believe that we are all a work in progress. There is no such thing as a perfect body.

Unfortunately, society has an influence on how mothers should look. We should be a size zero, we should look frumpy, we shouldn’t shower, and we should have the perfect family. It down plays both sides. Let’s be honest there is a lot of pressure in how we should look.

And there is nothing wrong

Photo by Jennifer Babbit

either way. You just have to be comfortable in your own skin and who you are as a person.

In my experiences I believe that when we do take time out for ourselves we have more confidence, we are able to accomplish more and we just overall feel like Super Mom! I value my role as a mother and my health is very important to me. I want to be able to interact with my children at the park without getting tired. I want to wear that bikini. I want to spread awareness to other women. I want to educate my children on eating healthy. I want to share the importance of overall health.

1. Eating – This is an important factor. Like the old saying goes: ABS are made in the kitchen! You have to find the right foods that suit you, learn portion control and have a well-balanced regime. Say NO to DIETING! Start by cutting out all processed foods, junk foods and fast foods. Replace them with lean proteins, complex carbs, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables.

Limit your daily intake of caffeine.

One cup of coffee or a cup of green tea is sufficient. Cut out all sugary drinks, soda and alcohol. Replace with water, water and water!

Treat yourself once a week to a Reward Meal. The program that helped with my eating and portion control is 21-Day Fix. It’s a simple, effective plan to follow and goes beyond the 21 Days.

2. Exercise – 30 Minutes a day is all you need. Especially as mothers our time is limited. Invest in a jogging stroller that way you can load the children up to go for a walk or run. Join a Mommy and Me fitness group in your area.

Invest in a local gym where there is daycare for the children. Convert your garage or find a space in your home for a home gym. Beachbody provides an abundance of at home workout programs. Along with the 21-Day Fix eating plan, I’ve also followed the workout DVDs. You’ll also learn that your children will want to exercise with you. It’s fun and it sets the tone for their own physical abilities. My favorite rule is: Get Outdoors! Nothing like fresh air, sunshine and seeing the little ones run happily!

3. Rest – Now this is a tricky one because as mothers we all know our sleep schedules are never the same. However, we can make a few changes in our sleeping patterns.

Each night I have a cup

of warm tea or lemon water. I read for a few minutes. I enjoy writing in my journal to clear my mind for the day. If you are a stay at home mother try and squeeze in a nap.

Snuggle up with the children. I have learned over the months that my dishes can wait or the laundry will be there tomorrow. I’ll use that time to just close my eyes for a few minutes or head to bed early. It’s all about balance when it comes to rest.

4. Goals – Have them! Set them!

Accomplish them! Goals are very important because it lays the foundation of being a fit mama.

They should be simple, realistic and leave room for change. If you are a visual person like myself create a vision board. Post it where you can see daily. Let your goals define who YOU are. Don’t compare your goals with others.

We are all different and unique in our own ways. However, share your goals with your friends or a community of mothers that way you are encouraged. Having that community makes this journey rewarding.

5. Schedule – Invest in a planner!

This tool will help you plan out your daily workouts, grocery trips, budget, appointments and other things that we are responsible for.

Every Sunday I spend a few minutes and lay out my week. It helps me have a foundation of what is going on and what my focus is going to be. Everyday I give myself at least 30 minutes to exercise. It’s always on my TO DO List!

Lastly, I would just encourage you to embrace your journey! My journey is different from your journey.

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My goals are different than your goals. My focus it to shed light to other moms and encourage they too can look and feel amazing! We are all made differently.

We all have different body types. We are all not meant to be a size 2. But, we are all made for Greatness!

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Embrace your body, your strengths and weaknesses. We all have flaws and that is perfectly fine. If your goal is to wear a bikini, then make it happen!

If your goal is to get out of your mom jeans, then make it happen! If your goal is to put on make-up daily, then make it happen! My point is we are all in control of our actions and our thoughts.

Let’s let go of perfection and just focus on our own journey. Be inspired by others. Make motherhood beautiful by being YOU!

Angela Zapien was born and raised in San Jose, CA. She currently resides in Los Banos with her husband Alex, her two son Maximus and Noah and their dog, Latte. She is a Beachbody Coach and teaches boot camp classes at her local gym. She is both PIYO Certified and P90X Certified. She is also a brand ambassador for BaoBei Maternity.

Her hobbies include running, reading, helping others, baking and doing life with her friends and family.

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Thank you so much to our reader, Christal Clonts-Cortanza, a proud Puerto Rican and Dominican from Atlanta, Georgia who submitted this powerful and beautiful poem, “I am… Yo Soy Latina!”

I Am... Yo Soy Latina I am the rhythm of the merengue, salsa, bachata, bomba, mambo beat heard deep down in the bosom of the hermoso Caribe I am Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Gloria Estefan y Selena.

I am the ripe plantanos in your flavorful mofongo dish or the sofrito in your arroz con gandules. The rich ingredients in your abuelas sancocho.

I am the cafe con leche y chocolate in your savory desert.

I AM… YO SOY LATINA I am the sway in your hips, the thickness of your thighs, y the fullness of your plump lips. The beauty in your exotic aura.

I am the spiral in your unmanageable mane of luscious coiled curls and unruly waist length locks.

I am the la negra rosa or the marrón colored spices of cinnamon and sugar.

I AM….YO SOY LATINA I undeniable love, fiery passion, y steadfast strength.

I am roll your R’s y the què? To your what?

I am the beloved Guadalupe, the heart of the Santeria and the faithful believer in the blessed son born of the Virgencita Mariá I Am Hermana, Mija, Madre, Mamí, Tiá, Hija, Abuelá, Amiga, Chica I am Cortanźa, Lopez, Rodrigez, Parrilla, Mendez, Ortaga, Valdez y Marrero I am Puertorriqueña, Dominicana, Cubana, Columbiana, Mexicana, Panamanian, Spaniard, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Honduran, Costa Rican, Argentinian, Bolivian, Chilean, Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Uruguayan, Salvadorian, Paraguayan I AM…..YO SOY LATINA

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1. Heno de Pravia– the iconic solid bar soap with its classic yellow packaging was first introduced in 1905 by the Spanish beauty powerhouse Perfumeria Gal. Products also include cologne and body lotion with a clean, natural scent reminiscent of fresh-mown grass and geranium.

Timeless Beauty Products

by Rachel Ramirez Garcia

4. Tres Flores Molding Pomade- a water-based, non-greasy hair pomade that offers light to medium hold, can be used on damp or dry hair and contains an aromatic, floral scent.

Best of all, it washes out easily to avoid product build-up.

2. Maja Soap-another brand with recognizable packaging, the luxury, triplemilled bar soaps were first created in 1923 with a distinct scent including notes of vetiver, nutmeg, carnation and lavender.

Products also include an Eau de Toilette and Dusting Powder.

3. Pomada de la Campana del Dr. Bell- Dr. Bell’s Skin Ointment-with just five ingredients, including allantoin to smooth the skin surface, this ointment heals and softens skin and, over time, promotes more even-toned skin.

5. Crema Concha de Nacar Face Cream – fight the look of dark spots, acne scars and even nicks and burns with this lightweight, nongreasy formula containing Mother of Pearl extract, vitamin E and chamomile.

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Rachel Ramirez Garcia has written for Modern Latina since 2006, in addition to Carefair.com. Many of her articles reflect her interest and specialty in skin, beauty, and nutrition. Rachel received her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from San Jose State University.

Publisher Linda Castillo DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST STORIES AND TRENDS Be sure to visit & sign up for our eNewsletter at Design & Layout www.modernlatina.com Alina Eberly

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Contributing Writers Tamika Burgess Twitter: @modernlatinas Christal Clonts-­‐Cortanza Instagram: @modernlatina Jasmine Colón facebook.com/modernlatina Ana Davila pinterest.com:modernlatina Marcela Davison Aviles Angela Hedges Patti Jinech Maribel and Marisol Joven Eydie Mendoza Delilah Montoya Nicole Moreno Rachel Ramirez Garcia Anna Santillan Angela Zapien Rosie “the Closer” Zepeda

Photographers Jaymer Delapena Eve Ayala

Stylist Teresita Marie

Hair and Makeup

! t t s s s Ps d e t c e n n o c y a t S

Publisher Linda Castillo

Design & Layout Alina Eberly

Contributing Writers Tamika Burgess Christal Clonts-­‐Cortanza Jasmine Colón Ana Davila Marcela Davison Aviles Angela Hedges Patti Jinech Maribel and Marisol Joven Eydie Mendoza 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Delilah Montoya

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