Celebrating the Spirits of Everyday Women

Join LCL for the 2013 LEAD Expo

The LEAD Expo is about bringing everyday women

 together to discuss and develop real strategies to address the everyday

challenges that continue to hold diverse women back.

Click Here for more information about the 2012 LEAD Expo

Funded by Crossroads Fund

In partnership with Imagine Englewood If

“Redefining our world from our perspective
one girl at a time”

LCL WILL BE HOSTING THE GIRLS LEAD PROGRAM

DURING NILES NORTH SUMMER PROGRAM

STARTING JUNE 20TH, 2013

SESSION I: 10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON

SESSION II: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

THE GOAL OF THE GIRLS LEAD PROGRAM IS TO

DEFINE OURSELVES AS WOMEN SO THAT

BECOME A TRUE LEADER OF THE NEXT GENERATION!

WE DO THIS BY UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS

MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND LEADERS IN SOCIETY

LEADING LADIES OF NILES NORTH & WEST MS. PICKETT OR

CALL DONNA MEDINA, LCL PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AT

773-738-1593 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Check us out at www.lascaraslindas.com
Or join us http://www.facebook.com/LasCarasLindas

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!

DEFINING OURSELVES AS WOMEN

BECOME A TRUE LEADER OF YOUR GENERATION!

JOIN THE LCL GIRLS LEAD PROGRAM

LOOK FOR LCL AT NILES NORTH ON

MAY 2ND (10:00 AM -1:00 PM)

LEADING LADIES OF NILES NORTH TEXT MS. PICKETT OR

CALL DONNA MEDINA, LCL PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AT

312.298.9532 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Check us out at www.lascaraslindas.com
Or join us http://www.facebook.com/LasCarasLindas

LAS CARAS LINDAS TEA GALA

Thank You to all of our sponsors, honorees, performers & guests!

This journey requires fierce girls to unapologetically own who they are as leading women. Women to stand up with us in solidarity to support those girls with open arms. Leaders to to take action to ensure that diverse girls and women continue to have a place to lead in society. If we believe that everyone has a talent to offer then we need to breakdown all of the barriers that prevent them from operating in their strengths.  We truly thank those who joined us at the Tea Gala and showed their support to a dynamic organization that contributes to the liberation of all women one girl at a time. We welcome each of our to our family and look forward to partnering with you in the future!

If you did not have the opportunity show your support for LCL and would like to make a donation, please do so by clicking Donate Now to the right. Each $50 supports a young woman in or Youth Leadership Institute Program.  

Hosted by our wonderful
community partners at CampButterfly Chicago

Camp Butterfly2929 South Wabash AvenueChicago, IL 60616Tel: (312) 328-0800

As always the Cool Breeze Sister Sunday Brunch was phenomenal. Focusing on JOY the Journey of You was the theme for the event. In this time of great transition and uncertainty it is easy to let the negative events, conflicting politics, and uncertainties of the future overwhelm our sense of truth. As diverse women we must find ways to let our JOY become and remain our focus, motivation, reason to come together to build a more certain future, as individuals and leaders within our community.

 We energized our souls with Christian Totty, encouraged each other through our collective wordswith Michelle Hughes of Diaspora Spirit!

Euphoria 

Authors: Monica How, Bobbi Jones, Abby Romo, Shirley Paceus, Christian Totty, and Lisba Romo- Martinez.

We, the independent sisters and the dream makers yearn for joy.
We’ve experienced joy in many forms; birth of each child, birth of your purpose, love and dreams fulfilled.

But life’s darkness also brings things that obscure, break, and destroy joy.
Things like divorce, loss of self, death of a loved one and sickness.

But we gather today to summon joy into our lives. We remember our joys celebrate the diversity of our friendships, embracing vulnerability and strengthening each other.

Today, we continue on our journey affirming the pursuit of joy. Testifying to the power of Joy.

We pledge to continue on our journey creating joy in our spirit by staying curious and open to possibilities. We promise to continue nurturing our joy in our mind by thinking positively and sharing it with others.
We vow to build joy in our bodies by maintaining self care.
Today we say salute to joy!

The Secret of Wildflowers 

Authors: Esly Sarimento, Toni Bondleonard, Alexis, and Erika

I awoke to the confusion of a new day stereotypes and all forms of oppression.

The sun is bright, but the shadows pull me in. How will I experience joy today?
Perhaps I should get rid of negative influences, throw away self doubt,
discard other people’s images of who I am.
Joy Stealers. Joy delayers.

I should just let self confidence flow….Let faith flow. And joy will emerge looking
like bliss and affirmation of who I am. Joy will saturate the air smelling like calmness
of  wildflowers, lavender, and renewing scents after it rains.

Joy will fill me feeling like gratefulness,
connecting with the universe and dancing all night long.

Today I chose Joy!

Collective Joy

Authors: Donna Medina, Cynthia Milsap, Lissette Romo, Tova Black, Dorthy Toney

We the oppressed and the privileged yearn for joy.
We’ve experienced joy in many forms, such as
personal achievements, our love of nature and love for all living things.

But life’s darkness also brings things that obscure, break and destroy joy.
Things like death, doubt, fear and dissapointments.

But we gather today to summon joy into our lives.
We remember our joys: a source of empowerment, inspiration and a reminder to be grateful.

Today, we continue on our journey affirming the pursuit of joy. Testifying to the power of joy.
We pledge to continue ton our journey of creating joy in our spirit by smiling and sharing fellowship and friendship with one another.

We promise to continue nurturing joy in our mind by remembering our joyful moments and and finding ways to create new moments of joy.  We vow to build joy in our bodies by being mindful of what we eat and how we care for our bodies.

We pledge to love our bodies.
Today we welcome joy!

Joy

Authors: Veronica Romo, Emily O’Callahan, Katrina Malone, Juliette Tyson, Charlotte Phillips

I awoke to the confusion of a new day;
overwhelmed, stressed, frazzled and apprehensive.

The sun is bright, but the shadows pull me in. How will I experience Joy today?
Perhaps I should get rid of negativity, throw away fear, discard uncertainty and doubt.  Joy stealers.
Perhaps I should put priorities, procrastination, and time management in order.Joy delayers.

Or maybe I should just let positive thoughts flow…
Let positive energy flow. And joy will emerge looking like smiles, glistening eyes, and happiness.
Joy will saturate the air smelling like ocean mist and mom’s home cooking.

Joy will fill me feeling like excitement and peacefulness.
Today I chose joy!

Power2Switch

Deregulation gives you control over your electricity.
Understand your options and save hundreds on your bill.

Join LCL in switching your energy provider.
Saving you money and supporting your community!

June 10th (1:30-4:30 PM)
Summer Sister Sunday Brunch!

We energized our souls with Christian Totty,

Encouraged each other through our collective words

with Michelle Hughes of Diaspora Spirit

and brought it home with Yolanda Nieves, TOV and Mama Brenda!

Thank you to Enerspace for donating
their amazing office in the West Loop!

The Sister Sunday Brunch experience is about coming together as sisters to share, converse, and learn. We engaged in thriving conversations about our community, and shared the initiatives and ideas we have been working on in order to progress it. We all became dynamically engaged and together we created two powerful poems to encourage ourselves and our fellow sisters in their collective journeys:

 Here we are sisters in spirit:
We are The Brilliant/Complete/Holistic Sisterhood!

Authors: Nia Randall, Donna Medina, Camille Neal, Michele Shade, Brenda Matthews,
Franohorr Sulter, Evelyn Siete Lunas DeJesus, Bobbie Jones,
Myra Nolan, Lisba Romo-Martinez and Yolanda Nieves

We are searching, care givers, strong in spirit and love!
We come from generations, culture, strength, and mothers who shaped us.

Shaped by history.
Scarred by oppression.
The world says we are secondary, and “not enough!”
But our spirit affirms our worth.
Indeed… “We are the ones we have been waiting for”… to bring love, justice, compassion.
Our intent? Eternal progress with integrity- It demands action NOW! Change!
Stand with us and rise!
Learn from us as we grow!
The universe needs our presence, voice, vision.
Future generations await our unity, wisdom, guidance, and history.
To my sisters who do not yet realize our bond, we are here for you so here’s may hand-take it! It is a gift!
We say join in our intent.
To my sisters who are waiting for their worth, look within yourself.
Let us go forward and speak life; our silence will not protect us.

Here We Are:
The Universal Poets, Sisters in Spirit

Authors: Lissette Romo, Catherine Jackson, Renita Alexander, Jasmine Neal, Cynthia Milsap
Amanda Pena, Martha Anderson, Toni Bord Leonard, C. Miller and Christian Totty

We are fabulous beautiful, fierce powerful, creative passionate, compassionate and independent.
We come from strong ancestors, fearless leaders, greatness and are created in God’s image.
Shaped by love, purpose, hurdles.
Scarred by fear, trials, self-hate, and negative images.
The world says we are weak, insignificant, second-class, “just women.”
But our spirit affirms our strength, individuality, potential, worth, value, and destiny.
Indeed… “We are the ones we have been waiting for…”
Stand with us and speak out, create, change, and grow.
Learn from us as we proclaim our truth and break free from oppression.
The universe needs our ability to nurture life, our sensitivity, intuitive knowing and our undeniable strength.
Future generations await our vision and guidance.
To my sisters who do not yet realize their worth, we say you are needed, you are loved, you are worthy, and you are beautiful just as you are.
To my sisters who do not realize their worth, we say and see, that you are magnificent, open your eyes and your potential is unlimited.
Let us go forward and heal ourselves, heal our families, and continue to empower others to heal the universe.

Hosted by Las Caras Lindas and Diaspora Spirit

Click Here to Read About Our Last SSB!

Saturday, June 2nd

Orientation Meeting (10:00 AM -11:00 AM), including parents
YLI Core Program Parent Orientation Packet_2012 Final
Program Kick off meeting (11:00 AM to 1:00 Pm) at

DePaul University Egan Center Loop Campus
Click Here for Map 

Join Us!

LCL YLI LEAD Core Program was co-founded in 2006 by a group of women committed to helping African American and Latina adolescent girls (ages 12-18) define themselves as women. Since it’s humble beginnings as a 8-week self-esteem mentoring program Youth LEAD has evolved into a 12-week leadership development program for diverse young women designed to help girls to understand themselves as individuals, members of their community and leaders in society. Through our weekly 2 hour workshop series young girls have the opportunity to progress through each of our three modules. Understanding ourselves as individuals focuses on self-esteem, mental health and physical well-being. Becoming members of our community redefines how young women look at and engage with their “disenfranchised” neighborhoods as they learn to identify and connect with the assets in their communities. Leading in society integrates ones sense of self, community and culture into a model of leadership that encourages and calls young women into their uniquely defined roles as leaders.

The 2012 program will begin in June!
 Click here to apply to the 2012 Youth LEAD Program!

Click Here to Pay Membership Fee or See below

Call Dona Medina, Program Director at (872) 216-5199 for more information

Check us out at www.lascaraslindas.com
Or join us http://www.facebook.com/LasCarasLindas

At a critical time in history, when issues of women’s rights and our bodies are being brought into question by those in power, we  sincerely thank and honor the leadership of Marvenetta Woodley-Penn, the young women of Global Girls, all of the other awardees  and each of the performers for their important work improving the lives of diverse women throughout society. Together we rise! 

Thank you the LCL team and Youth LEADers who came to show their support for LCL!