The mission of NLIRH is to ensure the fundamental human right to reproductive health and justice for Latinas, their families and their communities through public education, community mobilization and policy advocacy.
Read more about the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health...
I am powerful because sharing my story helps fight for women’s health. Because of this, I advocate for the need of sexual health education and resources in public schools.
Soy Poderosa because I’ve struggled. Soy Poderosa because I realized that I needed to be self motivated and independent to get by. Soy Poderosa because I developed other poderosas.
As a young working professional Poderosa, as a college graduate, and as I have seen in communities across the Americas, I know first-hand intelligent and motivated Millennial Latinas achieve and overcome what some would consider insurmountable obstacles.
With my Director Maria Azuri, I’ve been able to better understand women and our needs. I understand my job more, and why despite the difficulties we face we must continue to strengthen education and leadership among women.
I believed the promises my teachers told me, about working hard to achieve your dreams. I didn’t know that all this hard work would go unnoticed if I wasn’t a citizen.
My cousin, who was once so hopeful about her life and her future, now felt trapped and betrayed by the American Dream and, even worse, she felt alone. I don’t know what exactly happened to me after that day, but something struck inside of me and I knew I had to do something for my cousin and for the thousands of people like her.
Sadly, the label of being a troublemaker is often given to me for merely speaking up and pointing out that women are left out of an equation. Or Latinas. Or just questioning the equation itself.
In order to be successful in our fight for reproductive justice, we Latinas must recognize our poder. NLIRH’s “Soy Poderosa” campaign is trying to do just that.
I believe in dignifying and lifting all women to be an example for others. The time I’ve spent with the women at Valley have filled my life with satisfaction.
Until we find a way to respond to media’s discriminatory assumptions about immigrants, they will continue to spread, and the dialogue around immigration and gender could stay on it’s dead-end course in the public realm.
