Latina leaders urge involvement
By ANGELIQUE CHIELLI

From left, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Ida Castro, Marie Wilson and Lorraine A. Cortes-Vazquez.

While a wedding reception was beginning in one room and Joe Torre’s resignation press conference was ginning up in another, down a corridor of the Hilton Rye Town, more than 400 women ­ and even some men ­ joined to celebrate the progress of the Latina community in the workplace and to educate each other on the importance of women’s leadership in politics.

The event was sponsored by Ethnic Marketing Solutions and hosted by Westchester County’s chapter of 100 Hispanic Women.

From author and motivational speaker Deb Shaw, who spoke during the morning ceremonies, to panelist Ida Castro, former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission chief under the Clinton administration and current head of the educational Spanish network, V-Me TV, Latina leaders stood up and spoke on the importance of Latina leadership in our society.

“What is key here is that the Latino population has grown and matured to its own but still remains relatively inactive in the electoral side in the political spectrum,” said Castro. “In order to make sure we are all fully participating in this great society, in addition to just working and contributing on a very local and family and religious basis, we need to be a part of the democratic process. So that’s what we’re trying to do, to make sure the women and men here receive the tools and the understanding necessary so they can fully participate ­ they can lead and they can continue to help this great country move forward.”

One such educational tool that Castro has been contributing to the Latino community, is V-Me TV, the first national Spanish network in the country. Castro said the Network seeks to enlighten and inspire the Spanish-speaking population.

“It’s something to see something in your language that you are proud of that reflects you and your values and that you can share with your children with pride,” added Castro.

Castro said where leadership is needed most: “Everywhere. Absolutely from top to bottom. We need it in the private sector. We need it in the public sector. We need it in the nongovernmental sector and we definitely need it in the electoral sector.”

Castro said when women are in office, families and communities do better.

“When you elect a woman you get more than what you bargained for,” she said. “The way I see leadership is: A lot of times men have been so accustomed to power they run and they think about what they’re doing in terms of acquiring more power. When women run, we think about exercising power and there’s a significant difference there. And when you exercise power judiciously, you help everyone.”

 

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