Spring 2006,
Issue #25

In this issue:

Celebrating "La Mujer Latina"

Latina Voices on Capitol Hill

Board Members in the News

NHLI Goes to Israel

2006 NHLI Calendar

Alumnae on the Move

Meet the NHLI 2006 Fellows

2005 NHLI Highlights

Vision Forward; Growing Latina Leaders!

2006 Latina Empowerment Conferences

NHLI Celebrates Cinco de Mayo with Celebrity Chef Sanchez

Latina Life Song

Register for the 2006 Leadership Training & Mujer Awards Conference

In Every Issue:

Our Sponsors

Friends of the Institute

Give a Gift to the Future

Latina Life Song

By Marisel Herrera, 2005 NHLI Alumni

Mi’ja, hay tanto que decirte
So much I want to say
But first déjame acomodarme
Kick my shoes off, quiet yourself mi alma
As I reminisce and I pray.

I pray that you understand
The words that adorn this page
It’s about a treasure given to me long ago
Un tesoro de esperanza y hermandad
That lives and breathes in me even today.

Amor, it was more than just an experience
Of laughter, joy and friends
It was more like a movimiento
Deep, deep inside the soul
Una revolución begun in our hearts,
Un grito with no discernible end.

As 22 women came together
Stretching arms across borders,
and seas, space and time
Reaching for another to
gently heal, to weave, to mend.

That which was broken and hurting,
Restoring what had long been left unheard
Dándose un fuerte abrazo and chanting
Eres Latina, Luchadora, Leona
Urging each other to rise,
To stand tall again and again.

Just like God intended
Not one was left behind
Unidas siempre in each other
A collective fuego y fuerza we would find.
Cada una con su sueño,
A cause percolating within.