Accomplishments for August & September

Cecilia Aragon (Seattle, WA) – Appeared on the CBS show MISSION UNSTOPPABLE, filmed in September 2024. Plus, Cecilia celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary in June! Cheers!

Ileana Araguti (Beaumont, CA) – The Spanish version of her novel SHATTERED PARADISE is now available, PARAISO DESTROZADO.  Ileana is working on new novels and is looking for literary representation.

Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – Returned from exhibitions in Italy and France, and she invites Comadres to join her for the opening of her next solo show in NYC, “Faces & Façades,” featuring a new series of paintings inspired by the women and architecture of Northern Manhattan. Please join her on October 19, 3-4:30pm, at the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum. Free and open to all, no Rsvp needed: https://morrisjumel.org/exhibitions/faces-facades/

Gloria Chin (New York, NY) – Launched Synergy Strategy Group, a Strategic Communications and Public Relations Consultancy focused on uplifting minority and women owned businesses, non-profits and entrepreneurs. With nearly 10 years of television news experience in the #1 media market and 17 years of public relations counsel to c-suite leaders, city leaders, and 2 U.S. Mayors, I am looking to put this experience to use for my community. Adelante!

Diana Diaz (Hackensack, NJ) – After an impressive 25-year tenure of a prominent Bankruptcy Law Firm, serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the last 10- years, Diana took a bold step forward and resigned to pursue her passion for helping others. Shortly after, she founded her own Legal Research Bankruptcy Consultant Firm, and she is pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney, laying the foundation for her future law firm. Reflecting on her journey, Diana realized that fear was once her greatest adversary, holding her back from seizing opportunities. However, she has now conquered that fear, emerging more confident and determined than ever to continue her mission of uplifting the Hispanic community. This journey is not just a professional milestone; it’s a profound personal transformation that inspires her to forge ahead and make a lasting difference.

Nylda Dieppa (Orlando, FL) – Her book, ALBORADA /DAWN: A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry has received an Honorable Mention award from the International Latino Book Awards in the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Poetry Book Award category. Nylda is proud to be in the company of Emanuel Xavier, one of three finalists in the same category and author of LOVE(LY) CHILD.  She interviewed him for the Las Comadres Book Club recently.

Laura Esparza (Austin, TX) – After retiring in March 2024, Laura founded a new foundation called A3, devoted to raising and distributing funding to individual artists, musicians, performers and other arts related contractors who offer their work to the Austin public for free.

Eris Garriga (New York, NY) – Has a new Spanish language book coming soon, AGUADILLA EN IMAGENES Y VERSOS.

Ana Gonzalez, OP (Boston, MA) – Is rocking Graduate School at Boston College and on track to graduate with her MA in Theology and Ministry with an emphasis in Latino Pastoral Ministry.

Raquel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (Pharr, TX) – Won a Goodwill Scholarship from the Texas Association Court Administration (TACA) for continuing in Certification of Court Administration in the State of Texas for Certified Court Management.

Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) — Her poem, Going to the Mammos, was published in Brownstone Poets 2024 Anthology.

Mirta Rinaldi (Forest Hills, NY) – The company she works for, League of Kitchens, is publishing a cookbook that showcases her recipes, along with the recipes of her peers. We are proud and excited to introduce this collaborative book that allows us to share a little bit of our culture and favorite family recipes. We will have a book tour through the end of the year with a big launch event at the Invisible Dog Art Gallery in Cobble Hill on November 13th, 7pm, here in NYC. All Comadres and friends are welcomed to celebrate our book and taste eight of our instructors’ food!

Madeline Vega (Austin, TX) – Was interviewed by the University of Texas Austin Electrical and Computer Engineering department for Hispanic Heritage Month: https://www.ece.utexas.edu/news/alumni-profile-madeline-vega 

Desiree Zamorano (Altadena, CA) – Her book launch and profile appeared in Latinitas Magazine: https://latinitasmagazine.org/author-desiree-zamorano-releases-new-novel-dispossessed/