Being Latina Today Means Staying True To Yourself #OrgullosaHeritage

Disclosure:  This is part of a compensated campaign with P & G and Latina Mom Bloggers.  
However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Last week I joined a Facebook chat hosted by Adrienne Bailon as part of Orgullosa's Hispanic Heritage celebration.  I usually find webinars, conference calls and chats a bit boring (who doesn't?) but the Nueva Latina was absolutely enchanting.  I could not get enough of her being so real, so down to earth.  She spoke about her love of both her cultures - her dad is from Peru, her mom is from Puerto Rico but raised in New York.  She shared stories about her family, both now and while she was growing up.  She loves being Latina and is so proud to be one.  She is unquestionably passionate about her heritage and career.  I especially loved when she would break out into a song.  My favorite:  learning about her love for Selena and singing Como la Flor.  For all these reasons, I can relate to Adrienne and appreciate her being a nueva latina.  All reasons why I love being involved with Orgullosa.  

Orgullosa is a community that celebrates, empowers and fuels Latinas' accomplishments and dreams.  It is an online destination for them to connect, share, inform and inspire each other through the transformative power of community and culture.  At Orgullosa, we celebrate our Hispanic Heritage everyday of the year...because that's who we are!  


I had the unique opportunity to ask Adrienne a few burning questions and she answered this question:  
Being successful at a young age is hard work.  When you aren't working, what do you do for fun?  How do you stay grounded?  I was thrilled with her answers and have them on two short videos for you here and here.  Two questions that were covered in the chat and answered by many attending were:

What DOES it mean to be a Latina of today?  How do you balance living in two worlds and still celebrate your heritage and embrace your American lifestyle?

These are questions I struggle with daily.  My ancestors are Spanish but learning and embracing it was basically an afterthought in my mostly multicultural upbringing.  I was mainly raised Chamorro and Filipino.  I have been tracing back my heritage and know the fire inside has to come from my hispanic bloodline.  Being latina today means staying true to yourself and putting you first!  

I created this with the new Orgullosa Heritage app - it's easy, show your pride!  You can make one here.  

  

Join us for an exclusive Orgullosa Facebook Chat with Adrienne Bailon!

Disclosure:  This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Orgullosa.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

The Orgullosa community already celebrates, empowers and fuels Latinas' accomplishments and dreams everyday as “mujeres con la falda bien puesta”.   We celebrate where we come from and where we are going.  During Hispanic Heritage Month, Orgullosa wants to join together to recognize our Latina culture and passion to inspire each other because that’s who we are!

Join us to discuss how our bicultural community represents strong, independent women who celebrate having the best of two worlds: one being rooted in their Hispanic culture and the other seizing their limitless potential in the U.S. The Nueva Latina!

Celebrity Guest Adrienne Bailon will chat with us LIVE on Facebook to discuss her experience and point of view as a fashionista, television host, actress, musician and more.  Growing up as a bicultural Latina, she’ll share how her culture has shaped her today, and provide her personal advice for Latinas trying to reach their dreams and aspirations – all exclusive to the Orgullosa community!

And as always, we’ll have some amazing prizes to give out along the way!

Party Details:

What: Orgullosa ‘Celebrating our Hispanic Heritage Everyday: Being the Nueva Latina Generation’ LIVE Facebook Chat

When:  Wednesday, September 25th at 9 PM EST

Where: https://www.facebook.com/orgullosa

Hashtag: #OrgullosaHeritage

Special Guest: Adrienne Bailon, Nueva Latina 

Moderators: Latina Mom Blogs (http://www.facebook.com/latinamomblogs) 

Brand: https://www.facebook.com/orgullosa

Website: http://www.orgullosa.com/

Prizes: Three (3) gift baskets with your favorite Procter & Gamble home and beauty products, Orgullosa goodies, mini-ipod, and gift certificate, valued at $250 each.

RSVP: To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP at Latina Mom Bloggers.

Breaking The Cycle #DestapaSuFuturo - Scholarships for Hispanic Students

Did you know that only 1 in every 5 Latino has a college degree?

My Husband and I are the only ones in our families that attended college.  Chris is the youngest of 6 and the only one that graduated high school.  I'm the oldest of 3 and my parents pushed me to set an example to my siblings about the importance of graduating high school.  Not that I didn't want to graduate high school.. I had dreams of going to college but had no idea what to do to enroll or even if I would be able to get financial aid.  I always thought my parents made a decent amount of money so never thought I would qualify for financial aid and knew they wouldn't be able to afford "college" with my siblings right behind me so I did what I had been doing since I was 14 years old - worked.  

Fast forward to 2010, Chris and I decided to enroll in community college.  After juggling family life, work and school for the past 2 years, we finally get our degrees next year.  The first in our families but hopefully not the last.  We were determined to teach our children that it can be done but it takes hard work and dedication.  Our 6 year old Duke always talks about which toys he's going to take with him to college and I can not tell you how proud it makes me feel that he already has higher education goals.  Our teenagers know that we have answers for them about college and that we encourage them to do well in school so if we can't afford it, there are other options like scholarships.  This is important to us because this is the cycle we want to start - Our multicultural family investing in higher learning, succeeding and continuing a new generation full of education and success.  That's why Destapa su Futuro is important to us and it should be important to you and your children.

With just one month left to the Destapa su Futuro / Uncap Their Future Scholarship deadline, The Coca-Cola Company and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) are encouraging students ages 16 and above  to apply now for a scholarship.  The Coca-Cola Company, HSF and participating retail partners have joined forces to award more than $300,000 in scholarships during Hispanic Heritage Month. 

From now through October 31, students can apply for a scholarship at www.hsf.net/cocacola by answering three thought-provoking essay questions. Students must reflect on how their heritage affects their career goals, the importance of education in their lives and their community service experiences. Students should not wait until the last minute to apply.

As part of Destapa su Futuro also consumers can visit participating retailers to learn more about how to apply for scholarships in their area including:


• Selected Publix Super Markets stores in the South Florida region
• Tony's Finer Foods in Illinois
• Kum & Go LC in Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.
• Greater Houston Retailers Association (GHRA) in Houston, Texas
• Atlanta Retailers Association (ARA) in Atlanta, Georgia
• Stop & Shop Supermarkets throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
• Selected independent stores in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah
• Selected West region retailers, such as Superior Grocers, Gonzalez Northgate Markets, El Super, Vallarta Supermarkets, Cardenas Markets and Food City

“Our retail partners are committed to helping Latino students in their communities and are helping fund this initiative as well as raising awareness of the importance of a higher education among Latinos,”said Reinaldo Padua, AVP Hispanic Marketing, Coca-Cola North America., “We hope that this initiative continues to inspire others to support this worthy cause.”  
For more information, please visit www.mycokerewards.com/education and www.hsf.net/cocacola. 

Disclosure: This is a compensated post in collaboration with Coca-Cola and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are my own.

Macy's Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Carlos Santana & Vanidades!

I remember the first time I heard Santana.  It was in the 90s, I was in high school and we still lived in a very culturally diverse Long Beach.  My Dad put on a Santana cd one afternoon and I was enchanted by the mix of sounds and captivating lyrics.  This was a pivotal point in my life - At the time, I wasn't close to my Dad but here we were, bonding over music.  My Dad spoke highly of Carlos Santana and I am now passing on his music to my children and teaching them about their Hispanic heritage.  We are proud that Macy's is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and wanted to share these upcoming events with you!       

Macy's & Vanidades magazine salute our 2012 Icon of Style, Carlos Santana.

Join us as we explore Carlos Santana's influence in the music and fashion world with a panel of style makers and industry experts. Enjoy Latin music and refreshments.

Plus, with any Carlos by Carlos Santana purchase of $50 or more made during the event you'll receive a free gift.

Saturday 10/6 2:00pm

Macy's Plaza Bonita

3000 Plaza Bonita Road, National City, CA 91950

Saturday 10/6 2:00pm

Macy's Lenox Square

3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Wednesday 10/10 5:30pm

Macy's State Street

111 North State Street, Chicago IL 60602

Saturday 10/13 1:00pm

Macy's Santa Ana

2850 N. Main St, Santa Ana CA 92705

Saturday 10/13 2:00pm 

Macy's Dadeland

7303 SW 88th St. Miami, FL 33156

Saturday 10/13 2:00pm

Macy's Valley Fair

2801 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050

More information: Macy's Hispanic Heritage Month

Take the Hispanic Heritage Month Quiz - Weekly Prize: $100 Macy's Gift Card!!! 

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  All thoughts are my own.