Carmen Figueroa Creative Tools for Social Change

Competency FX Presentation

“Where Latinas in the arts and media intersect. We tell you about the work and impact these women have on our communities.”

www.proyectolatina.com

Proyecto Latina is a grass roots organization that provides inspiration

and motivation for women to SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT!

Through networking, Proyecto Latina invites women in the community to express themselves using their artistic abilities and the power words!

In the past women are taught that she should what she is told and is considered rude and disrespectful to speak her mind… even in the cases of abuse and unjust activity!

Latina Community Often Lives in FearMany times they don’t know where to start looking

for answers on social issues.Proyecto Latina brings issues to the table and encourages women to talk about them, issues such as:

Proyecto Latina also encouraged women to fill out this years census. The Hispanic community tends to fail at filling out the census applications thinking it will some how have immigration knocking on their doors.

• Domestic Violence• Immigration• Education• Finding a Home• Financial Support• Nutrition

• Breast Cancer• Suicide• Early Pregnancy • Health Care• Politics

One very successful tactic they do is by hosting a gathering every third Monday of the month. At these gatherings, they park their “soap box” at various locations through out the community mom and pop shops, such as coffee shops, art galleries, and have even graced the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Proyecto Latina

Proyecto Latina provides open discussions to advocate woman’s needs by partnering up with a variety of advocacy groups that also reside in the community such as:

Latina Leadership Council www.cfw.org/Page.aspx?pid=183Chicago Foundation for Women www.cfw.org/Mujeres Latinas en Accion www.mujereslatinasenaccion.orgLas Comadres www.lascomadres.org

By doing this they are building bridges and uniting women to never ending source of resources.

Chisme Box At the gatherings they

have what they call a “chisme” box, which means the gossip box. Here attendees are free to put in their ideas and opinions.

The group gets many ideas from the

“chisme” box for upcoming gatherings.

Domingo New-byte

Domingo New-bytes

Every Sunday one of the members puts out an informative piece of information, for example a statistic on Latina suicide or pregnancy then it follows with a source where you can reach out for help. They also post informative news like free computer classes available somewhere in the community or places where people can seek help with their taxes or help with their mortgages. The variety of information is endless!

Other Tactics…

“Women Don't Riot"Women don't riot, not in maquilas in Malaysia, Mexico, or Korea,not in sweatshops in New York or El Paso.They don't revoltin kitchens, laundries, or nurseries.Not by the hundreds or thousands, changingsheets in hotels or in laundrieswhen scalded by hot water,not in restaurants where they clean and cleanand clean their hands raw.

Women don't riot, not sober and earnest,or high and strung out, not of any color, any race, not the rich, poor,or those in between. And mothers of all kinds especially don't run rampant through the streets.

In college those who've thought it out join hands in crucial times, carry signs,are dragged away in protest.We pass out petitions, organize a civilized vigil,return to work the next day.

We women are sterilized, have more childrenthan they can feed,don't speak the official language,want things they see on TV,would like to own a TV--women who were molested as childrenraped,beaten,harassed, which meansevery last one sooner or later;women who've defended themselvesand women who can't or don't know howwe don't--won't ever rise up in arms.

We don't storm through cities,take over the press, make a unified statement,once and for all: A third-millennium call--from this day on no more, not me, not my daughter,not her daughter either.

Women don't form a battalion, march arm in armacross continents boundby the same tongue, same food or lack thereof,same God, same abandonment,same broken heart,raising children on our own, haveso much endless misery in commonthat must stopnot for one woman or every woman,but for the sake of us all.

Quietly, instead, one and each takes the offense, rejection, bureaucratic dismissal, diseasethat should not have been, insult,shove, blow to the head,a knife at her throat.She won't fight, she won't even scream--taught as she's beento be brought down as if by surprise.She'll die like an ant beneath a passing heel.Today it was her. Next time who.

--1998, ChicagoAna Castillo

In addition to bringing the community together, the organization also show cases brilliant artists that inspire such as Ana Castillo!

Our goal is to cater and nurture the self confidence and power of Latina existence therefore we need to make ourselves more available, we will become a liaison between the community and resources!

“WHAT ARE WE BUILDING?”

Revamping Proyecto LatinaDrama is a key to drawing attention!

Plays out in public will make People wonder who we are

Albert Hunter stated that “community organizations are often considered to be the formal structural embodiment of local

community solidarity”

SO HERE WE ARE!!!

It’s not just the 3rd Monday of the Month Anymore…you will be able to find Proyecto Latina though out the week.

In addition to the new tactics we will continue to do readings, recruit artists, and bringing our soap box into the local mom & pop shops that reside in Pilsen and Little Village we are coming into the communities homes and building that trust. As the Chicago south side resident activist LaDonna Redmond said “Every community has the intellect to heal itself” Proyecto Latina provides ammunition through moral support to keep ourselves strong!