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Proyecto Latina
In 2007 Amigas Latinas launched a city-wide survey to assess the
composition and needs of the Latina lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community. In 2008 we will share the data from the 300+ surveys we collected through community forums where you will be able to get informed and get involve!. Stay tuned for more details. For more information please contact Alicia Vega at info@amigaslatinas.org.
We meet in women's homes throughout the city to explore our ideas, beliefs, and opinions of who we are include identity, family, relationships, health and spiritualit.
Quiet, creative and supportive space to learn about yourself and share your ideas and experiences to help and learn from other women like yourself.
We invite guest speakers to inform and learn from us about legal and health issues impacting our own and our families' lives.
In May 2005 Amigas Latinas partnered with the Association of Latino Men for Action (ALMA) to sponsor PFLAG en Español: Entre Familia to provide a safe environment for parents and friends of Latino LGBTQQ persons to meet and talk about their lives. Most parents attend with their sons and daughters. The group meets on the second Sundays of the month at El Valor in Pilsen. For more information contact Aurora at 773-661-0940 or info@amigaslatinas.org.
We provide education and training on issues that affect Latina lesbian and bisexual women to help providers serve our communities with competence and sensitivity. Presentations are also given to counseling and social work students as part of their class training to better inform their future clinical practice with lesbian/bisexual clients.
We bring together mothers, grandmothers, aunts, comadres and their children for positive and safe children-focused activities.
We host fun, safe, alternative activities to meet and socialize in the community.
In June 2006 Amigas Latinas partnered with the Center on Halsted to offer the first youth group specifically for Latina adolescents and 20somethings who identify as LBTQQ. The group chose the name “Amigitas” and meets the second Fridays of each month at the Center. Contact Zaida for more info – Zaida17@gmail.com.
A group held monthly for women to explore issues related to aging gracefully as a Latina who loves and partners with women.
Contact Lourdes at info@amigaslatinas.org.
In partnership with En Las Tablas Performing Arts, Amigas offers writing and spoken word workshops and performances throughout the year. For more information contact Maritza Nazario at enlastablas@sbcglobal.net or 773-805-4325.
Amigas Latinas Scholarship Fund
(formerly the Aixa Diaz Scholarship Fund)
Aixa Diaz was a teacher at Mozart Elementary School and a dedicated activist who was a founding steering committee member of Amigas Latinas and brought vision and commitment to the Latina lesbian/bisexual community through her organizing efforts, and knowledge and encouragement to Latino children through her dedication as a teacher. In 1999, Aixa passed away suddenly. From 1999 – 2004 Amigas Latinas held a scholarship dinner in her honor to raise money to provide financial assistance to young Latina lesbian/bisexual student activists entering or enrolled in college who promoted understanding and tolerance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in K-12 schools.
Awards have also been given to gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in high schools with large Latino student populations, to the Mozart Elementary School where Aixa taught first grade, to Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, Café Teatro Urbano Batey's Juventud del Ambiente and RadioArte/Homofrequencia (90.5FM) for their efforts on behalf of Latino/a LGBTQ youth.
In 2005 the Aixa Diaz Fund name was turned over to the Diaz family and in 2006 and 2007 the last of the Aixa Diaz scholarships were awarded. We are proud of the work done by the following Aixa Diaz scholars to promote understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ students everywhere.
2000-2007 Scholarship Recipients
2000 – Oriana Fowler
2001 – Marieke Guillen-Treadway
2002 – Jessica Garcia & Denise Martinez
2003 – Elizabeth Castaneda & Stephanie Fernandez-Gentry
2004 – Zaida Sanabia
2005 – Marilyn Pagan, Xochitl Garcia, Lilliana Vasquez and Rosa Yadira Ortiz
2006 – Rebeca Vargas
2007 – Janeida Rivera, Maritza "Marty" Rodriguez, Judith Bednarek