Today I am inviting you to become a Circle de Luz mija, a member of our giving circle that supports higher education for Latina girls through scholarships. Circle de Luz is a Charlotte-based non-profit with a mission to radically empower young Latinas by supporting their transformation through extensive mentoring, holistic programming and scholarship funds for further education. Circle de Luz does its work by selecting a small cohort group of Latinas in seventh grade whom we then follow until high school graduation. During the six years of the program, we offer the girls holistic, dynamic programming and thoughtful mentoring. In addition, we guarantee each girl a minimum of $5,000 scholarship when she graduates from high school and pursues further education.
As a mija (which is a Spanish word of endearment for girlfriend), my investment is in the future education of a group of young women who will be the first in their families to pursue further education and, in many cases, will be the first in their families to graduate from high school. My annual contribution of just $100, in partnership with others who choose to become mijas, fund the scholarship the program participants will receive when they graduate. Circle de Luz mijas can come from anywhere in the world and have any background. The Class of 2024 will hail from Eastway Middle School in Charlotte and our goal is to support the future dreams of 8 young women through that class. Right now, we have received enough commitments to invite 5 girls to join Circle de Luz. We need 30 more mijas to offer this opportunity to 8 girls.
The 6 years of dynamic programming we offer our members sets them up for success as they complete high school and tackle post-secondary education. The scholarship support we offer, made possible by the giving circle, gives them desperately needed funds to begin their college journey.
Are you ready to make a commitment to education, access, equity, empowerment, and upward mobility? The commitment to Circle de Luz can be, simply, a financial one; however, if you live in the Charlotte area (our mijas come from over 25 states and 4 other countries!), there are also opportunities to join the girls for programming or to share your skills with them by offering a workshop if you so choose. If you want to join us in standing for education and empowerment, I hope you’ll complete this Letter of Commitment and return it as soon as possible.
Joining a group of people from around the world to empower young women as a part of this circle is one of the most powerful ways I make a difference in our community. I hope you’ll join me!
