5th LatinasWIN Anniversary

Message from LW President:

Established 5 years ago, LatinasWIN has been able to accomplish a number of initiatives and programs that touch the lives of the Hispanic community in Norman in a very positive and caring manner. Among these are the establishment of an annual scholarship for a Latina student at OU, attendance to programs of Orientation and recruitment at OU and serve as translators in back to school and parent-teacher conferences in Norman’s Elementary Public schools. But perhaps the most important accomplishment has been participating in MOSAICOS which, as the name symbolizes, is a program made of several parts forming a vibrant whole.

MOSAICOS, an after school program at Truman Primary School is directed and taught by Ellen Kraft (NPS 2016 Teacher of the Year) and Marisol Faro-Suarez, Administrator and staff member at the Center for Families and Children Inc. (CCFI) In the three years since it began has reached 60 Hispanic students and their families. This program is a successful partnership between LW, the Norman Public School system, CCFI, Smile Education Foundation, and The University of Oklahoma. OU students studying Spanish participate in this service learning program. LW members are paired with MOSAICOS families in a mentorship program which focuses on inclusion of parents in their children’s learning program and issues of acculturation and adjustment to life in the Norman community. I believe that MOSAICOS is indeed empowering the students and allowing the families to learn English and become effective citizens of our community.

As President, I appreciate deeply that the members of LATINAS WIN, all volunteers, are helping make the dreams of students become a reality. In the process, we are strengthening the commitment of our organization to help others in need and can therefore hope for a more compassionate and respectful society.

Millie C. Audas, Ph.D.