As some of you know, in 2007, my first book, Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina, was published. While researching, writing, and touring for it, I was reminded of just how many challenges young Latinas face as they come of age. In order to positively affect the lives of young Latinas, I founded Circle de Luz, a non-profit with a mission to radically empower young Latinas through mentoring, proramming, and scholarship support. We begin working with girls in seventh grade and follow them through high school graduation. When they gradaute, they receive a minimum of a $5,000 scholarship for the education program of their choice. We currently have 2 Circle de Luz classes and will choose our next round of seventh graders this fall.
Pepsi has launched a new grant initiative where they will give up to 32 community organizations grant funds each month. Circle de Luz has applied for one of the grants and part two of the process takes place this entire month when people around the country vote for their favorite ideas. Could you take a minute everyday between now and February 28th to vote (UP TO 10 TIMES A DAY) for Circle de Luz to receive a $5,000 grant to support our programming with the girls? When you vote, you’ll see that Pepsi provides a link for you to quickly “tweet” the opportunity and share the opportunity on Facebook and we would also greatly appreciate you doing that as well as forwarding this link to others who you think might be interested in radically empowering adolescent girls.
Here’s the link. If you have Facebook, you can sign in to vote through Facebook or you can register (it just takes about 30 seconds) the first time you visit and then all of your other visits will go much quicker.
Look for Circle de Luz, Empower Young Latinas through a mentoring and scholarship program
Thank you!
