2 minute read
Giving Back
Building a Personal Path
HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK OF TEXAS PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR WOMEN IN THE COASTAL BEND TO MOVE FORWARD
BY: JESSIE CHROBOCINSKI
In 1986, Latina visionaries from across Texas recognized the need for a statewide Latina-based leadership organization, thus creating The Hispanic Women's Network of Texas (HWNT). The organization comprises eight chapters across the state: Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.
Its members are from diverse backgrounds, each committed to promoting Hispanic women's participation in public, corporate and civic arenas, and celebrating the positive image and values of the Hispanic culture. HWNT aims to advance the educational, cultural, social, legal and economic well-being of all women through a broader awareness of their role in society.
Almira Flores, past chair of the HWNT-Corpus Christi Chapter, described her experience of HWNT’s impact on the women in the Coastal Bend by saying, "We network with other organizations, and we'll have guest speakers at our meetings. We educate our young girls and women and focus on continuing their education in college. We
To stay up to date with HWNT’s Corpus Christi chapter, follow and like the organization’s Facebook page. provide scholarships for them, and we get involved in the community through community service."
Liliana Morales Galván, chair of the HWNT-Corpus Christi Chapter, continued, "How we give back to our community is [by] having different meetings, mixers, volunteer opportunities and networking events. That way other nonprofit organizations can get to know us, what we offer and what we've been doing for the last 35 years."
The HWNT Corpus Christi Chapter has three endowments for Del Mar College, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University - Kingsville. By providing this aid to the community, HWNT is continuing its legacy. The organization also has other opportunities, such as the LIFT program, which offers high school senior girls eight sessions to acquire life skills, including filling out college applications and forms. When they've completed the program, they are better prepared for college and become eligible for a scholarship. "It's important to learn your community as a whole, and not just have a preconceived notion from what you had growing up,” said Galván. “The women in our community who haven't had their chance to speak up can have a voice to grow developmentally, personally and professionally.”
The Hispanic Women's Network Texas-Corpus Christi chapter offers numerous resources to the Coastal Bend community. By creating a safe space, local women can showcase who they are and how far they've come, and influence a positive environment for our local communities, businesses and individuals for generations to come.
