Latinas unite at conference

High schooler Frances Ramirez joined hundreds of Latinas from Los Angeles on campus Friday to hear a message of unity, educational empowerment and pride, as part of a daylong conference on issues facing Latinas.

"I learned the truth about my culture today," said Ramirez, a Huntington Park High School junior, as the conference broke for lunch. "I also learned more about my background and its roots. It really opened my eyes."

Some of the points brought up included: More women, especially Latinas, should get a college education; women have difficulty climbing the corporate ladder; Latinas need to unite to learn from one another and define their future.

The annual conference carried the theme this year of "Women Empowered Through Education, To Break the Barriers of the New Millennium" and was sponsored by the Cal State Long Beach La Raza Student Association.

"The purpose is to self-empower Latina students and to bring about awareness of issues," said La Raza Chairwoman Adriana Hernandez. "We want to let people know where we stand as Chicana students and women, as well, and what we have to offer as women."

After a keynote address in the University Student Union by  Long Beach Councilwoman Jenny Oropeza, attendees broke into workshops.

There, high school, college and professional women discussed issues such as the importance of a college education and the struggle to break through a "glass ceiling" as women fight for equality in the corporate world.

"We want to show young women experiences to open their minds," said CSULB La Raza President Salvador Madrigal, who said this was the seventh year the university has hosted the event.

After the workshops, the women went into a conference  room on the Student Union's second floor for a panel discussion.

"The panel is the best because the women are hearing from people only a few years older than them and they can relate to them more," said CSULB student and La Raza member Ruby Pican. "These women can serve as role models for them."

Also on hand Friday was Univision KMEX News reporter Norma Roque, who took part in the panel discussion, and disk jockeys from 97.5 Super Estrella radio in Los Angeles.

La Raza will host an art exhibit, Tierra De Oro, today at the University Student Union informal lounge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free exhibit features artwork from CSULB students and faculty and promotes Latino art.