MEXICOÂ’S FIRST LADY SENORA MARTA SAHAGUN DE FOX TO SPEAK AT THE 19TH NATIONAL HISPANIC WOMENÂ’S CONFERENCE IN PHOENIX ON October 14-15, 2004
The Hispanic WomenÂ’s Corporation (HWC) is hosting the 19th National Hispanic WomenÂ’s Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. on Oct. 15-16, 2004 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza featuring MexicoÂ’s First Lady Senora Marta Sahagun de Fox. The two-day conference is the largest gathering of Latinas in the country and will provide leadership and professional development to over 2,000 participants while raising money for college scholarships to benefit young Latinas. There is also a Youth Leadership component to the conference.
PHOENIX, AZ (PRWEB) September 28, 2004
Over 2,000 Latinas are expected to celebrate Latina Power at Phoenix Civic Plaza. Youth Leadership Conference will kick off two-day celebration-
The Hispanic WomenÂ’s Corporation (HWC) is hosting the 19th National Hispanic WomenÂ’s Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. on Oct. 15-16, 2004 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza featuring MexicoÂ’s First Lady Senora Marta Sahagun de Fox. The two-day conference is the largest gathering of Latinas in the country and will provide leadership and professional development to over 2,000 participants while raising money for college scholarships to benefit young Latinas. There is also a Youth Leadership component to the conference.
“Latinas have a powerful voice in today’s society and we want our message to be heard,” says Sonja Mazon-Rubalcava, chairwoman of this year’s conference. “Latina Power” is this year’s theme with an emphasis on empowerment in taking charge of your life, says Rubalcava. The conference will highlight influential Latinas who will share their stories of success, an exhibitor pavilion to promote products and services. There will also be a series of workshops and presenters on education, financial planning, parenting, voter outreach, careers, literature and more.
MexicoÂ’s First Lady Senora Marta Sahagun de Fox has been invited to speak at the corporate luncheon on Friday, October 15, the second day of the conference. During this luncheon, Janet Murguia, executive director and COO of the National Council of La Raza will also be presented a special recognition award.
The conference kicks off with a Youth Leadership Conference targeting about 300 area school students. Letters were distributed statewide to select high schools with an invitation for Latina students to attend the conference. According to Rebeca Ronstadt, youth conference coordinator, “we have received an incredible response this year and we are looking forward to providing our young Latinas with the tools and resources they need to learn about college scholarship opportunities, financial planning and career outlook.
Linda Mazon Gutierrez, president of the Hispanic Women’s Corporation is one of the co-founders of the conference and has seen it grown into one of the nation’s largest Latina gathering. “We are thrilled that his conference has received national exposure, because Latinas live in virtually every major city in this country and we are a major contributor to the economy. We are politicians, professionals, laborers, wives, mothers, daughters, in short we are CEO’s of our households and major corporations and we know how to get things done.” This year’s conference celebrates the huge steps we have made as Latinas. “We’ve come a long way, baby,” says Mazon Gutierrez “and we still have a ways to go.”
In addition to serving a career development opportunity, the conference also raises money for scholarships to benefit young Latinas This year, over twenty scholarships will be awarded to students ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to attend Arizona state universities. Freshmen who apply for the scholarships must have a 3.0 grade point average. Sophomores, juniors and seniors or transferring students also must have a cumulative 3.0 average. This yearÂ’s scholarship winners will focus on health and sciences and will be recognized during FridayÂ’s corporate luncheon.
The conference will also host creative Latina authors in a round table discussion called Latina Voices in Literature. Other workshops include: financial management, education, political empowerment, business and leadership skills, goal setting, entrepreneurial opportunities, parenting, and time management. There is even a salsa workshop!
The Hispanic WomenÂ’s Conference attracts over 2,000 attendees from around the country. Key sponsors for the conference include: Allstate, Arvizu Advertising & Promotion, Arizona Department of Health Services, APS, General Motors, Maricopa Community Colleges, Qwest, SRP, State Farm Insurance Co., and Wells Fargo.
A press briefing will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza at 10:15 a. m. and will feature Linda Mazon Gutierrez, president of HWC and Sonja Mazon-Rubalcava, chair of 2004 Conference.
The Hispanic Women’s Corporation was founded in 1981 and is a model organization, recognized as a 501 © (3) non-profit corporation know for being a proactive leader in the development of Hispanic women. HWC empowers women through its commitment to the culture by promoting higher education, community involvement, professional advancement and leadership development for the improvement of Latinas’ cultural quality of life. For more information on HWC or to register for the conference, please visit www. hispanicwomen. org.
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