Surrounded by Latina trailblazers

The ELLA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Training Conference in NYC this coming April 2014 will help attendees network with other Latinas who are succeeding in various businesses, learn valuable tips and insights. I’m excited to attend in person to keep the trailblazing spark lit! After watching last year’s event on Youtube, I was blown away! I was impressed to hear Latinas not just talking about doing something but actually telling their story of how they did it and how I and others can do it too. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about the impact we can and do make in our homes, communities and the world we live in. Continuing the conversation on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and other social sites allows a daily reminder achievement is possible and may I even say – expected!

It was impossible not to be inspired to do something big right here at home! Stockton, CA is home to my family, my extended family and many friends. I grew up on the East side of town and have fond memories of frequently visiting the Fair Oaks Library in the early 80’s. Many afternoons were spent walking to the library to read, listen to the storytellers or just play there with friends. Sadly, it closed in 2010, among many buildings in Stockton as our city began facing bankruptcy. This was the only library available to families in this area. For many years it served our community whose statistics scream out as one in need of valuable educational resources. I want to see our community of East Stockton, CA revive this into a bilingual library and technology center offering books and various publications in Spanish and English, provide technology resources and become a place where we can build ourselves into a strong, educated community ready for the future. My next steps are to continue to connect with supporting partners, create community awareness and of course gather funding.