Ms. Zenaida Mendez has been involved in a variety of issues affecting women and children-from housing, to daycare to equal pay for equal work to educational, women right to choose, to health, economic and environmental justice issues. She served for almost three years as Director, Racial Diversity Programs at the National Organization for Women (NOW) where she successful spearheaded a diversity and inclusion training program, a woman of color and allies summit, and the campaign on the femicide of the women of Juarez and Chihuahua Mexico among other initiatives. Ms. Mendez is President and Founders of the National Dominican Womens Caucus, her national and international activism has earned her recognition for her leadership as well as many awards from local, national and international organizations. She has spoken on issues of womens rights, racial and environmental justice, electoral politics, parenting and immigration.
During the Graduation Ceremony, the Class of 2010 recognized Adriana Dawson, Regional Director Johnson & Wales Universitys RI Small Business Development Center with The Latina Leadership Award , for her dedication and for inspiring other Latinas to advance.
The LLI provides Latinas the opportunity to meet and work with other emerging and influential Latina leaders from a diverse cross section of the state, developing new contacts and relationships; engaging sessions to enhance their capacity for leadership through training in public policy, leadership, strategic time management and team building; public speaking and media relations; as well as presentations to increase their confidence, motivation, and commitment to becoming actively involved in promoting positive change across the state.
After coming to the Latina Leadership Institute determined to become the emerging leaders, graduates often find themselves looking forward to opportunities long considered beyond their reach. Past graduates from the program have gone on to run for public office, run political campaigns, serve on boards, become tutors for young Latinas, and open their own business. Others have being able to reconnect with their Latino roots, gaining a better understanding of the community. For all of the LLI graduates, graduation day marks a pivotal milestone on their journey toward becoming the future Latina leaders. As a graduate of the 2008 Latina Leadership Institute and the coordinator for this years class I can absolutely attest to the hard work, dedication and growth that occur from being a part of this program. Watching these women throughout the past four months as they actively pursued education and understanding of what it takes to be a leader, maturing and growing with each event, has made me very confident in the future of our community. affirmed Carmen Diaz-Jusino LLI Programs Coordinator.
The program began with a retreat at URI Whispering Pines Conference Center and was followed by weekly Saturday sessions spanning over a four month period. As part of the program, participants were required to take part in a group project which addressed particular needs within the Latino community. The projects goal is to provide hands-on-opportunities in order to better understand those needs and to help them thrive during their time in the program; as well as to provide them with meaningful direction so they can continue strengthening the community upon graduation. This years projects covered a variety of issues, such as education, immigration, health care and civic participation.
The faculty for the 2010 Program was:
Tony Affigne, Professor, Providence College
Fred Fuentes, Executive Director Latino Policy Institute
Norelys R. Consuegra. Senate Aide. Senator Jack Reed
Shirley M. Consuegra, Former Asst. Director S.O.U.L.S at Suffolk University
Ana-Cecelia Rosado, R.I. Board of Regents
Grace Gonzalez, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI
Adriana Dawson, Regional Director J&W Universitys RI SBDC
Sandra McNamara, CEO, Context Consulting & Translations
Carmen Diaz Jusino, Director Center for Women & Enterprise
Doris Blanchard, Retl Bkg Personal Bkg Rep III, Sovereign/Santander
Marisol Camilo, Tiempo Social Magazine
Jan Ruggiero, Elections & Civics Division, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis
Rob Rock, Elections & Civics Division, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis
Dr. Heidie Garcia, Psychologist
Betty Bernal Advance C.N.A Program Coordinator Bristol com. College
Dr. Arelis Valerio, Community Education Coordinator, Hasbro Children's Hospital
Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, CEO Womens Care, Inc.
The event was attended by Lt. Governor, Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General, Patrick Lynch; City of Providence Mayor, David Cicilline, State Senator Juan Pichardo, State Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis, State Rep. Grace Diaz, State Rep. Steven Costantino State Rep Scott A. Slater, State Rep. Peter Kilmartin, Councilman John Lombardi, Councilman James Diossa, as well as representatives from the Offices of the US Senators Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, and US Congressman Jim Langevin.
The graduates received citations from Governor Donald L. Carcieri, U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis as well as from the elected officials mentioned above.
The Institute was sponsored by Hispanics in Philanthropy, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI; City of Providence, Human Relations Commission, Sodexo, Center for Women & Enterprise, Gilbane, Providence En Espaol, Building Bridges Consultants, and Mildred Clothing.
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For more information about the organization, please call Carmen Diaz-Jusino (401) 345-5403 or via email lli@rilatinocivicfund.org