Virtual Art Auction to Benefit Semillas
Paintings and sculptures by 16 Mexican artists in an art auction to benefit Semillas. Consult the catalogue by clicking here. Send your bid to Anna Helszajn anna.helszajn@semillas.org.mx with
your telephone number before September 22th. News Staff changes
Ana María Enriquez, who has been working with Semillas this year based in San Francisco coordinating our cross-border individual giving program between the United States and Mexico, is leaving to join the Ford Foundation in New York. We would like to warmly thank Ana María for her wonderful contribution to Semillas and wish her luck in her new position as Ford Foundation’s Program Manager for the International Initiative to Strengthen Philanthropy. Her sensibility and commitment have been key to Semillas fundraising efforts in the United States this year. We are glad to introduce Johanika Roth, a long time Semillas donor
originally from New York who has led the development of the Red MIM
in Mexico during this year. Now living in Mexico City, she will
be replacing Ana María for the rest of this year, helping
us to continue growing our individual donor network of Women Investing
in Women throughout the United States. Please feel free to contact
Johanika with any questions or queries at johanika.roth@semillas.org.mx. News María Mangual, Activist for Latina Rights in the United States Passes Away
On August 17th, Maria Mangual passed away in Chicago. She was a consultant to Semillas and a donor of the Network of Women Investing in Women. María was born in El Paso Texas of Mexican origin. She was a great activist for women’s rights and in particular for Latina rights in the United States. In the 70s, she created the organization, Latina Women in Action, which continues to offer services to Latina women in Chicago. She was also the Director of Development for the Chicago Foundation for Women and promoted the creation of the Semillas Chicago Host Committee whose objective is to develop a network of individual donors for our organization in this city. At Semillas, we regret her passing and wish to pay her a heartfelt tribute. Maria, your example accompanies us. Welcome Semillas cordially welcomes its new donors in Mexico: We would also like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new donors
in the Adriana Moreno Nevares |
In This Issue
 Verónica Cruz Sánchez
Forging the
Society That We Want,
by Verónica Cruz Sánchez Since 2003, Semillas has provided financial support for a range of projects carried out by the Centro Las Libres de Información en Salud Sexual, A.C. (Las Libres Center for Information on Sexual Health, Inc.). Las Libres, which means “free women,” focuses on the sexual and reproductive rights of women and young people. In the context of the recent Penal Code reform in the Federal District (Mexico City), which decriminalized abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, we are pleased to present the work being undertaken by this organization as shared by Las Libres’ executive director, Verónica Cruz Sánchez. Belonging to the Centro Las Libres de Información en Salud Sexual, Región Centro, A.C., has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It allows me to work in freedom, with people I care about, to build a society that I want and to promote social change for women based on my own possibilities, resources, ideas and commitment.
What Does the Organization Do? What Has the Support of Semillas Meant for Las Libres? Decriminalizing Abortion
in the Federal District In response to this situation, Las Libres and the women’s movement in our state in general are organizing a series of activities to mobilize civil society. Since 2000, the citizens of Guanajuato haven’t been the same: people take action and express themselves; there are more voices, more women who are aware of their rights and who are determined to demand them publicly. .
At the beginning of August, Emilienne de Leon, Executive Director of Semillas, Carmen Gaitán, Vice President of the Board and Mali Haddad, Secretary of the Board traveled to the windy city of Chicago at the invitation of the Semillas Chicago Host Committee. Chicago is a city as pleasant as the members of the Committee: Rafaela Weffer, Gwen Stern, Rosemary Bombela-Tobías, Elena Mulcahy, Juana Guzmán, María Pesqueira, María Ovalle, Elda Anderson and Martha Medina. All are empowered women in the vein of Frida Kahlo or Nahui Ollin, women that have succeeded in, as Marta Lamas says, “fostering their creativity, forming a commitment to themselves, realizing themselves through their work.” We went to De Paul University to discuss Semillas’ work. Later, the Committee brought us to the Art Institute to see the exhibition of Ghiberti’s relief panels, the Gates of Paradise, a luxurious and unexpected gift. Gwen Stern hosted us in her house, full of Mexican objects and splendidly served us in Mexican casserole dishes. We visited the offices of Latina Women in Action, the organization founded in the ‘70s by Maria Mangual, and met the current Director, María del Socorro Pesqueira. Later, came the star event, organized by the Semillas Chicago Host Committee in the National Museum of Mexican Art. More than 100 people were in attendance. Emilienne gave a presentation about Semillas to a backdrop of guitar music, exhibitions and Mexican food: tamales, beans, Mexican rice and tequila, to mention just some of the food and drink, all donated. Juana Guzmán, Deputy Director of the Museum, invited those in attendance to “wring out their wallet.” We raised $8,350. We enjoyed the Nahui Olin exhibition, “A Woman Beyond Time,” as original as she is. Nahui Olin opened the road for the artistic and personal freedom of others. And a second exhibition, also interesting, “Women Artists of Modern Mexico: Frida’s Contemporaries.” They were creators, muses and purveyors of a social conscience. These exceptional women were not limited to the visual arts, as their expression also included music, dance, literature, theater and cinema. “I now think that Mexico is a more pleasurable place by being
a tragic country. Tragic cultures serve better food than optimistic
cultures. Tragic cultures have sweeter children, more opulent funerals.
In tragic cultures one does not carry the solitary weight of optimism.” Thank you to the Semillas Chicago Host Committee and to all the people
present who, through their donation to Semillas, are investing, from
Chicago, in just and equitable social change in Mexico.
“In Semillas we have found teachers, not only in terms of economic support but also in terms of all of the assistance that they have given both to our project and our organization. The trust that they have deposited in us has been truly sisterly. Semillas provides the solidarity among women that we need so much in order to grow into ourselves, to know that what we do, what we think, what we say, what we live, is valuable.” Elvia Villescas |
Photography courtesy of Lucero González |
