By: Ashmar Mandou
Mujeres Latinas en Acción hosted its first women’s leadership conference in 38 years, titled, Maria Mangual Leadership Conference, La Mujer Despierta: Honoring our Past, Investing in our Future, on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Blackstone Hotel.
The conference titled, Maria Mangual –La Mujer Despierta: Honoring our Past, Investing in our Future, held six workshops that addressed financial stability, education, leadership, and insights from elected officials on issues that affect Latinas. The workshops offered Latina participants salient information that allowed them to build upon their personal, professional, and leadership skills. “This is the first time I am participating in a conference at this magnitude,” said UIC student Gissel Escobedo. “I think it is really important that organizations such as, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, continue to advocate for the advancement of Latinas. Knowledge is important and together we can be empowered.”
During the conference, Mujeres Latinas en Acción held an award ceremony in which U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky was presented with the distinguished Maria Mangual Leadership award. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the leadership and advocacy characteristics of Mujeres’ founder Maria Mangual. “I congratulate Mujeres Latinas en Acción on its first Latina Leadership conference,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “The role of Latina women is essential to fully understanding American history. They deserve an event that recognizes their important contributions. I am honored to receive this award and I promise to continue to work on rights and freedom for women everywhere.”
Mujeres also used the conference to unveil its comprehensive research study Latina Portrait: Domestic Violence and Latinas, which examines the challenges and barriers that many Latinas face when accessing domestic violence services. “This report brings light to the different factors that are unique to Latinas that experience domestic violence,” said Marala Goode, policy expert and co-author of the report. “One of the main barriers that prevent Latinas to speak up about the abuse is the fear of being excluded by the family. It may be perceived as they are violating the value of family unity and risk not only losing their abusive partner, but also the respect and acceptance from their own family and community,” said Goode.
Key findings of the Latina Portrait reveal that as of March 2011, the 12th Police District, where Mujeres Latinas en Acción’s main site is located, reported an average of 1-9 cases of domestic disturbance, domestic battery, and violation of orders of protection each day. In 2010, out of the 30 domestic violence homicides that took place in the City of Chicago, four of the victims were Latina. And while the overall number of clients served by Domestic Violence programs in Chicago in the last five years dropped, the number of Latinas served increased by nearly ten percent. “With the growth in population of Latinos, it is imperative to increase the scope of services for this group,” said Neusa Gaytan, director of program at Mujeres Latinas en Acción and co-author of the report. “It is crucial for all agencies to be equipped to address the unique cultural and language barriers that Latinas encounter.”
The report underlined the need to make resources accessible by offering recommendations that included, establishing positions for interpreters and bilingual staff in areas of high Latino/a growth and mandating cultural and domestic violence sensitivity training for all employees of the criminal justice system. For more information, visit www.mujereslatinasenaccion.org.
