Community Spotlight:
Latinitas is a nonprofit organization focused on informing, entertaining, and inspiring young Latinas to grow into healthy, confident, and successful Latinas.
Mission
To empower Latina youth through media and technology.
Vision
| To provide a forum where Latina youth have a voice; to foster positive self-images and empower Latina girls to accept and appreciate themselves; to inspire young Latinas to be strong, smart, successful and most importantly themselves; to encourage cultural awareness and pride. |  |
Successes
Since its inception in 2002, Latinitas Inc. has been empowering Hispanic girls through media and technology, and has seen many pivotal points along the way.
2002
- The vision of Latinitas was developed by a group of University of Texas at Austin students.
- Latinitas became an official student organization at the University.
- The Board of Directors was formed and Latinitas incorporated.
2003
- Latinitasmagazine.org was launched as the only bilingual online magazine especially for Hispanic girls.
- Latinitas launched an outreach campaign aimed at empowering Latina youth through media workshops at local schools and nonprofit groups.
- Ballet East became fiscal sponsor of Latinitas, allowing the agency to receive tax-exempt contributions.
- Latinitas held first fund-raiser.
- Club Latinitas launched at Martin Middle School, AISD.
2004
- Latinitas hosted an anniversary party to honor a year of publication.
- Latinitasmagazine.org expanded to include articles by and for Latina teenagers.
- Latinitas initiated a teen advisory board to provide feedback on the magazine.
- Latinitas started a teen reporter program to train aspiring Latina journalists.
- Latinitas hosted its first summer camp in collaboration with Youth Encuentro.
- Latinitas began a series of Saturday Camps at the Pan Am Recreation Center.
How does your program help Latina girls and Latino families?
First and foremost - there is practically no other media out there for Hispanic youth, yet they are the largest growing population in the States. The contradiction is absurd really. So we are filling a huge void. The images and stories in Latinitas reflect real girls lives - stories of their quinceañeras, their neighborhoods, the foods they like and their issues. This kind of reflection of a culture in media is validating. And, we are positive - we want our girls to feel confident about themselves and their futures.
| The magazine celebrates the Latino identity - its diversity and its dominant role in American life. We were very inspired by the pioneers before us like Christie Haubegger who founded Latina Magazine and even Robert Rodriguez and his wife Elizabeth Avellon, the producers of Spy Kids, who live here in Austin. They had a mission to portray Latino youth in a strong and powerful image - a contrast to the Guatemalan kids ambushing Indiana Jones or the perpetual portrayals of Latino gang-bangers in films in the eighties and nineties and even today. |  |
Testimonials
Comments from readers
- "I would like to say thank you for having a website for us girls. It is really hard to find something like this. So I want to say thank you."
- "In school all of the teachers teach us about America. They don't teach us about where we came from. It [Latinitas] will help me learn about my own culture."
- "I want to go to college and become a doctor. Maybe it [Latinitas] would help me."
- "I want to be a photographer when I grow up, so I really liked that we could do that. I thought it was cool because we could learn more things about our life."
Comments from Latinitas outreach participants
- "I came to this workshop with the Hispanic mother/daughter program. I learned a lot about college from the financial aid to résumés and essays. I think this really helped me see my future a little better."
- "As part of the Hispanic mother/daughter program, I really enjoyed the Latinitas!!!! Keep up the good work."
Comments from Club Latinitas members
- "I definitely like when we make our own newspapers. I feel like I could become an editor or it can help me if I want to be an author or something."
- "Because of the club, I want to make my own magazine someday."
For more information, please contact:
Laura Donnelly or Alicia Rascon 512.322.9947
Email:
info@latinitasmagazine.org
Latinitas Magazine and Outreach
Address: P.O. Box 4284 Austin, TX 78765
Website: www.latinitasmagazine.org
Congratulations to Latinitas Magazine for their wonderful work and to their dedication to improve the lives of our Latina girls and teens.
If you would like us to spotlight your organization or community program please contact TheLatinaVoz.com at: Communityspotlight@latinavoz.com.
