by Samantha McLane, PPFA There are several things that make us
Latinas proud of our culture: We have booty-shakin’music,
powerful art, humor, passionate spirituality, a rich history,
and oh yes — pretty amazing food. Our tierra madre Latin America
is a fertile, rich, and vast land that evokes energy, vitality,
and hope. Here in the states, in addition to sharing such a
great cultural background and strong ties, we Latin@s have
constructed our own identity in ways that make our communities
very diverse and strong. We are not only Mexican voices, but
also Guatemalan, Peruvian, Honduran, Puerto Rican, and many,
many others. As a Latina and Mexicana, I am elated about the
fact that we Latin@s are becoming a powerful and influential
community at many levels in the U.S. Nevertheless, I am also
conscious of the struggles that our communities face when it
comes to accessing basic fundamentals such as health services,
well-paid jobs, education opportunities, and housing.
Unfortunately, Latinas are the most affected by