Social Science Research Institute - St. Cloud State University

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Panel Title:

Transformational Leadership: Stepping Outside the Box of Social Services to Address Barriers Facing Latina immigrant Women, Empowering Them as Change Makers in their Community

Presider:

Dr. Miguel Chavez, Director Chicano Studies, SCSU

Panelists:

Maria Cisneros, Leadership coordinator,Mujeres en Liderazgoo at Waite House Neighborhood Center

Jovita Francisco - Morales, Organizer,  Mujeres en Liderazgo

Kate Percuoco – Organizer, Mujeres en Liderazgo

Alicia Ranney – Program Coordinator, Mujeres en Liderazgo

Panel Description

:

This panel will discuss the Mujeres en Liderazgo program at the Waite House Neighborhood Center in South Minneapolis. The Mujeres program takes a holistic approach to addressing barriers facing Latina immigrant women while developing their strengths as community leaders. These leaders, through community engagement and collective action have been able to address personal barriers while simultaneously working on community issues that impact their families and the greater immigrant community in Minneapolis. Through their collective efforts they have introduced legislation to increase access to driver’s license, mobilized both immigrants and non-immigrant allies to support a city wide Municipal ID, began a new radio program on community radio station on KFAI as well as achieved countless individual successes achieved by members themselves. The panelist will discuss the architecture behind this project and how it was achieved on a small budget and in a philanthropic environment where leadership and community action programs are not a funding priority.