Please join us in celebrating Comadres Dr. Charley Ferrer and Adis M. Vila’s nomination and award for Latinas of Influence in Florida. Dr. Charley & Adis join the prestigious list of award winners alongside our Executive Director, Maria Ferrer who won this recognition in New York City in September for her work with Las Comadres Para Las Americas — Connecting Latinas. Several of our comadres were on hand to celebrate and honor the recipients.
Las Comadres’ Executive Director Maria C. Ferrer is recognized as a Latina of Influence of New York by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine. See article here: https://www.hispaniclifestyle.com/events/connecting-latinas/connecting-latinas-of-influence-new-york/
Congratulations to our COMADRE AUTHORS for their latest publications!
AUGUST
Ileana Araguti (Beaumont, CA) – The Spanish version of her novel SHATTERED PARADISE is now available, PARAISO DESTROZADO from New Trends Press.
Sarah Bonamino (San Antonio, TX) – her book THE BORDER BETWEEN US, fiction, was published by Blackstone Publishing. The book is also available in Spanish, LA FRONTERA ENTRE NOSOTROS.
Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) — Her poem, Going to the Mammos, was published in Brownstone Poets 2024 Anthology.
SEPTEMBER
Desiree Zamorano (Los Angeles, CA) – her book, DISPOSSESSED, a historical fiction novel, was published by Running Wild Press.
OCTOBER
Julia Amante (Inland Empire, CA) – her romance book, CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU, was published by Wise Writer Publishing.
Nimia Maria Ramos Beauchamp (Bayamon, PR) – self-published a games and puzzle book, COMBO X-WORD PUZZLE ALTERNATIVE HEALTH 2024. Find out more here: www.APYArte.com.
NOVEMBER
Deborah Nevarez-Vivolo (Placerville, CA) – her poetry appears in the INLANDIA: A LITERARY JOURNEY, published by Inlandia Institute. Her flash fiction was published in last year’s WRITING FROM INLANDIA anthology.
Mirta Rinaldi (Forest Hills, NY) – her recipes appear in THE LEAGUE OF KITCHENS COOKBOOK from Harper Collins.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL !
ACCOMPLISHMENTS — send your accomplishments for next publication here: https://forms.gle/PHcbG5YZgJzY1CqF9
COMADRE AUTHORS — send us your book news here: https://forms.gle/vXZw4TUF2ahPVwbG7
Maria C. Ferrer
Executive Director
Las Comadres Para Las Americas
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/
Congratulations to the following Comadres
Crescencia Alvarado (TX) – This 28 of August was the beginning of an Advocacy National Day to recognize and advance the profession of a Community Health Worker CHW’s something that I was part of this movement since 1997 and work to organize and advocate for the certification of our CHW’s so that Texas become the first state in the nation to recognize by providing the certification for the CHW’s or Promotoras de Salud. Now as a Nacional movement NACHW.
Nohra Bernal (CT) – She received an Honorary Mention at the International Latino Book Awards for ALMA SEMILLA, a children’s picture book about resilience, immigration, friendship, girl empowerment, and reforestation.
Norma E. Cantu (TX) – Published a new book, Chicana Portraits: Critical Biographies of Twelve Chicana Writers.
Gloria Chin (NY) – She was Deputy communications director to Mayor Eric Adams and has recently started as Chief of Staff at the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.
Jeannie Diaz (NY) – Completed her Yin Yoga training and was awarded her certification in August.
Nylda Dieppa (FL) – She is proud to share that the Hispanic Heritage Network of Orange County has selectd her book, Alborada (Dawn), A Cross-Cultural Memoir in Poetry, for the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Book Exhibit! The Art Exhibit at the Orange County Administration Center, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., 5th Floor, Orlando, FL 32801 will run from October 2 through October 31 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you are in the Orlando area, make sure to check the exhibit out.
Dr. Charley Ferrer (FL) – Her play, Breast Cancer Diaries, is being performed live on stage at Stage West Playhouse. I originally wrote the play in 2019 and it was performed in NYC to sold out crowds. The play is now being performed in Spring Hill Florida. On August 13, we finished casting the play and began rehearsals on August 15. Breast Cancer Diaries will be performed live on October 7 & 8. On top of that great news, a representative from Susan G. Komen requested I submit the play for a performance in Wisconsin they’d like to do. I’m so thrilled. About the play: Breast Cancer Diaries is a compilation of stories about women and men diagnosed with breast cancer, sharing a little bit of drama and a whole lot of comedy and inspiration giving voice to the thoughts, dreams, struggles, and triumphs faced by both women and men diagnosed with breast cancer.
Abigail Golden-Vazquez (NY) – She was added to the Executive Committee of the Board for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, which holds the foremost collection of diplomatic oral histories, and had the opportunity to interview the honorable Julianne Smith, US Ambassador to NATO, on NATO meeting this historic in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Abigail also joined the board of her Quaker High School, Oakwood. She is honored to have the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given her so much.
Estela González (VT) – Her novel ARRIBADA (Cynren Press, 2022) won the 2023 Triangle Publishing award for debut novel! The paperback version is now available at Cynren Press and on Amazon.
Lila Guzman (TX) – This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lorenzo’s Revolutionary Quest, a young adult novel about the first cattle drive in U.S. History. In 1777, Longhorns left San Antonio to feed General Galvez’s troops in Louisiana. The Lorenzo series (Arte Publico Press) tells the story of the Spanish in the American Revolution.
Patricia Livas (TX) – Was accepted into the DBA ( Doctorate of Business Administration) Program at the University of the Incarnate Word beginning this Fall.
Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz & Ashley Alaniz-Moyer (TX) – Comadres Fabiana and Ashley launched a new public relations agency, Refuerzo Collaborative, on August 15, 2023! Refuerzo (reh-fwehr-soh), which means reinforcement in Spanish, is a Latina-owned communications agency creating holistic, multicultural, and dynamic strategies so clients can find their truth, increase their impact, and sustain brand growth. We deeply believe that marketing and communications are essential for business, reinforcing the work many leaders and their organizations do through storytelling.
Gina Nunez-Mchiri (CA) – On August 4th, Gina completed her first year as Dean at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley. She is the first Chicana/Latina dean in the University’s 125 years history.
Margarita Perez (CA) – She was promoted to the Job Development Unit with Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services.
Mireya Perez (NY) – Three of her poems were accepted for publication in Voices, journal of Lp2 GC-CUNY program for their Fall issue.
Mirta Rinaldi (NY) – Mirta has been excited about a recent book collaboration with the League of Kitchens. Published next year, this will be a compilation showcasing Mirta’s recipes, along with 13 other LOK talented, immigrant chefs. Mirta also has been steadily hosting Mate Ceremonies & breaking bread & barriers with new friends from across the boroughs & globe. She encourages you to check out a workshop in the months ahead. Check IG @Mendulcina for updates!
Enid Rodriguez (NY) – After 24-years , Enid retired but is still working in Early Childhood 2 days per week!
Darlene Tenes (CA) – Her Farmworker Caravan held its first Campesinas en Paz Retreat for female farmworkers on Sunday, July 30th at the Saint Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista.
Theresa Varela (NY) – She is proud to announce that she started a weekly astrology podcast with a peer astrologer, Shayla M. Rose, another Latina! It is called Sabor Astrology with T and Shay. It can be seen on Youtube and Spotify! Come listen, like, share, and subscribe! https://youtu.be/1pOvXnUy0R8?si=h0azWWv12ZxG2nRa
Elise Wiarco (NV) – Celebrated her 5-Year Work Anniversary with Southwest Gas on August 20th.
To share your accomplishments for next month, register here: https://forms.gle/2UCRAKr5u4J83mSz9
To read last month’s Comadres Accomplishments, visit us here: https://comadresconnect.blogspot.com/2023/07/las-comadres-celebrates-its-members_31.html
NOTE: these listings are for congratulatory purposes only. We are not endorsing any products, services, or candidates for public office.
Congratulations to all our Comadres!
Maria C. Ferrer
Executive Director
Las Comadres Para Las Americas