[Si] TV

“Today’s young Latina bridges the rich cultural traditions of her heritage and the exciting life opportunities available to her as a 21st-century American girl. While she deserves the best of both worlds, the statistics reflect a darker reality: caught between conflicting cultures and generations, overlooked and underserved, she is at greater risk of attempting suicide, leaving school and becoming a teenage mother, than her peers.” – an excerpt from “Young Latinas and A Cry For Help,” The New York Times and El Diario La Prensa, 2006.

We already have the ability to help today's young Latina: We can reach out to her in school, educate her about safe sex, drugs, and the consequences of teen pregnancy, and help her develop the tools to express her emotions in healthy ways—through art and open communication. We can be positive role models and share our honest experiences, so she knows she's not alone, and we can contribute our talents and time.

After doing community work for well over 10 years now, I've seen the growing need for help, communication, inspiration and truth. The truth is that as a Latina, I have struggled with the discipline of the traditional old school values vs. the lifestyle taught on the streets and media; I have survived, with minimal information, the pressures of teen sex, STDs and pregnancy; I am a survivor of rape, depression and suicidal temptations. I have taught myself to heal through self-expression and art; the truth is… I still have much to learn. But as I've learned, I have also taught through outreach and have connected with those that are so much like me with the hopes of finding the answers that can help us achieve a full and happy life. The statistics prove that a healthy, fulfilling life for women of color, especially Latinas, are slim. We are falling through the cracks of society, with little chance of breaking the ongoing cycles that plague us. Life is at stake and this has inspired me to lead the “Latinas 4 Life” program. Through this program, it is my intention to work in over 20 NYC schools in 2007, and facilitate workshops that will inform our young women on how to survive the realities and issues that they will inevitably face throughout their lifetime. I cannot do this alone; many of you have already reached out to me expressing interest and camaraderie in this movement, affirming that this is a step in the right direction for us all. I am grateful and acknowledge all of you for your vision and courage.

What is the next step?
If you are in the NYC area, and would like to volunteer, or assist in this effort, please send your information to latinasforlife@gmail.com. If you are not able to participate, but feel inspired to share your experience or express concerns that need to be addressed, I would love to read your words and am sure they could uplift others that share your struggle. Go to myspace.com/latinasparalavida, become a friend, share your story, and help me create a community filled with compassion and positivity. I need it, you need it, our children need it… together we can make a difference!