{"id":16048,"date":"2023-10-03T22:57:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T22:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/california\/?p=16048"},"modified":"2025-04-30T17:06:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T17:06:55","slug":"hhm-celebrating-the-unstoppable-spirit-of-latinas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/state.nokidhungry.org\/california\/hhm-celebrating-the-unstoppable-spirit-of-latinas\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring Hispanic Heritage: Celebrating the Unstoppable Spirit of Latinas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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This Hispanic Heritage Month, No Kid Hungry is paying tribute to all Latinas who dream and work hard to grow, lead and create change for their families and communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We honor and celebrate Latinas, trailblazers, stewards of history and practitioners of culture and tradition, who represent a diversity of experiences and cultures.<\/span><\/p>

Although Latinas share a fierce spirit and love for community, they often face unjust challenges in American society. According to <\/span>Equal Pay Today<\/span><\/a>, Latinas who work full-time year-round earn only 54 cents for every dollar earned by white men. This means employers don\u2019t pay over five months of fair wages to Latinas every year. Even though they represent almost 10% of the U.S. population, they are underrepresented in leadership positions – only 1.6% are senior executives and 4.4% are managers (<\/span>USA Today<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>

What is the cost for us as a society to not have Latinas at the decision table? What is the cost of not valuing their work?<\/span><\/p>

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions of Latinas who are involved in the important work of the No Kid Hungry campaign – feeding our children. Below you will find the stories of staff, champions and program partners. Without them, we couldn\u2019t make No Kid Hungry a reality.<\/span><\/p>

Flor Martinez Zaragoza, Celebration Nation<\/b><\/h3>

\"\"A former farmworker herself, Flor Martinez Zaragoza is the founder and executive director of <\/span>Celebration Nation<\/span><\/a>, a community organization dedicated to serving agricultural and migrant communities in California.<\/span><\/p>

Despite all of the challenges farmworkers face, from the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather conditions, California\u2019s farm workers continue to show up and work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s our responsibility as a human race to care for one another,\u201d she shared. \u201cWhen community comes together, there are endless possibilities for impact. We need to be the change we keep talking about. It\u2019s in our hands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Celebration Nation operates the Fruits of Labor Food Bank for Farmworkers Program, a year-round, community-led food bank serving agricultural communities up and down California. Cities include San Martin, Salinas, Soledad, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, and Oxnard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As an entirely volunteer-based, Latina-led organization with no paid staff, Martinez Zaragoza provides farm working families with the same fruits and vegetables they pick but can\u2019t otherwise afford for their own families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Genoveva Islas, Cultiva La Salud<\/b><\/h3>

\"\"Genoveva Islas is the founder and executive director of <\/span>Cultiva La Salud<\/span><\/a>, a community organization dedicated to creating health equity by fostering changes that support healthy eating and active living in California\u2019s Central Valley.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cAddressing the health disparities that exist among the Latino community is necessary,\u201d said Islas. \u201cIt is important to be intentional about cultivating health because policies, systems and environments have a huge impact on our community\u2019s health and well-being.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

As a board member and President of the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) Board of Education, Islas is committed to working together to help improve access to healthy foods and beverages. Nearly 70% of the FUSD student population identify as Latinos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe know that there are a lot of vulnerable families that are experiencing food insecurity, so it\u2019s a real source of pride for me to say that all students in Fresno USD and in the state of California have a free breakfast and lunch.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Elisa Herrera, Latino Leadership Council<\/b><\/h3>

\"\"\u201cLatino Heritage Month is a reminder to us that there have been many, many people who have been here, from the beginning; people who have immigrated here, and they\u2019ve all in one way, shape or form contributed to where we are today,\u201d said Elisa Herrera, executive director of the Latino Leadership Council.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The Latino Leadership Council is the only Latino-focused organization in the Placer County region with a team of community navigators known as Promotores. They conduct home wellness visits, assess needs and deliver food boxes and other essentials to families. They also connect Latinos to health, education and youth development services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019re celebrating our elders, our ancestors and the work of our population, no matter what their country of origin is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

With fierce determination, Herrera and her team of Promotores stand committed to building and empowering Latino communities, and they recognize the Latino Leadership Council is one of many community-led organizations driving leadership and systems change.<\/span><\/p>

\u2014<\/span><\/p>

This month we celebrate the contribution of Latinas to our No Kid Hungry campaign – and to every aspect of society. We cannot end childhood hunger and poverty without Latinas. They are already on the frontlines serving meals to kids every day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Their voices, determination and unstoppable spirits are also essential at the leadership table. The stories from individuals like Flor Martinez Zaragoza, Genoveva Islas, and Elisa Herrera exemplify how Latinas are driving change in communities all over California. From championing summer meals and breakfast to instilling a sense of belonging through nourishing meals, these women embody what No Kid Hungry is all about. We need more of them at the table.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Last Reviewed: October 2, 2023<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Hispanic Heritage Month, No Kid Hungry is paying tribute to all Latinas who dream and work hard to grow, lead and create change for their families and communities. 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