Enlarge Students in Circle de Luz focus on education, cultural activities and healthy living.

Posted: August 26th, 2009 Rhiannon Bowman

Text by Rhiannon Bowman

Rosie Molinary, author of "Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina," didn't mean to start a non-profit organization.

But after the research for her book about growing up within two cultures confirmed her intuitions about the struggles the Latinas face, she couldn't help herself. "I felt that I couldn't put my head in the sand on this," she said.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Campaign to End Teen Pregnancy, Latino students have the highest dropout rates of all races. A third of the Latinas who dropped out of school cited pregnancy or marriage as their reason.

On book tour, teachers would approach Molinary and say things like, "I wish you could talk to my Latinas." Others would ask, "What can I do to help?"

A former teacher for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Molinary said she knew she wanted to offer mentoring, scholarships and programs for the girls but wasn't sure how to get started.

So, in March 2008, she gathered her friends and asked for their ideas and support. Many of the women in that first meeting are still on the board of directors for what is now known as Circle de Luz, which means "Circle of Light."

The organization aims not only to empower girls and encourage their interests, but also to introduce them to people, places, ideas and activities they may not be able to access otherwise.

And, most importantly, the organizers want to help make it possible for the girls to attend college or trade school after they graduate from high school.

"I didn't really know what college would mean to me," said Jocelyn Negron-Rios, one of the women invited to the first brainstorming meeting. "I didn't have any female role models to ask. I didn't know how to get started."

Negron-Rios says she came from a good family with lots of good role models, but none of them went to college. That's why she's involved. She wants to show the girls there are plenty of Latinas who overcame myriad obstacles on their way to success – and she emphasize that they can do it, too.

Circle de Luz introduces the girls to cultural activities, helps them set goals and encourages healthy living by teaching them how to cook and do yoga.
"One of the most rewarding things," said Negro-Rios, "is seeing their reaction to some of the things we're exposing them to."

But, that's not all. The organization actively recruits M'ijas, or girlfriends. They hail from all across the country. Some are financial contributors, some volunteer to mentor the girls or speak to them as a group, and some do both.

The financial contributions are invested in bonds with the goal of giving each of the girls at least $5,000 in scholarship money upon graduation. Molinary says her goal is to include five girls per year in the program and says it takes 10 M'ijas' donations to create one scholarship. Each M'ija is asked to contribute $90 per year for four years.

Circle de Luz partners with high-need Charlotte schools that have a significant Latino population. The girls are chosen, with the help of administrators, in the seventh grade. Once chosen, the M'ijas work with and mentor the groups through graduation.

"We are excited to have them at our school," said Joy Reid, a social worker at Ranson Middle School. Molinary mentored her while she was a student at Davidson College.

Reid said her school doesn't offer many programs for Latinas, and she knows the program will benefit the girls in lots of ways.

The girls aren't the only ones who benefit. "I think the whole board would say that we've had a transformative experience," said Molinary.

For more information, visit CircledeLuz.org..

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