MISSION STATEMENT

MANA de Metro Detroit is the local chapter of MANA, A National Latina Organization. Our mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, education, and advocacy.

The name MANA is derived from hermana, the Spanish word for “sister.” The national organization was founded in 1974 in Washington, D.C., and the Metro Detroit chapter was established in 1995.

MANA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Honoring Our Legacy, Embracing Our Future

As we proudly celebrate our 30th Anniversary in 2025, we reflect on  MANA’s journey of transformation, resilience, and impact. For three decades, we have evolved to meet the needs of new generations of Latinas while staying true to our core values: Leadership, Service and Advocacy. This milestone is a tribute to the vision of our founders – Belda Garza, Gloria Rosas, Angie Reyes, Ninfa Cancel, Maria Flores, Ines de Jesus, Alicia Juarez, San Juanita Barajas, Myrna Mendez, and Gloria Rocha – who established MANA de Metro Detroit to empower Latinas and strengthen our community.  Their bold legacy continue to inspire us as we move forward with renewed purpose and determination.

From the beginning, MANA has championed Latina empowerment through education, leadership, and community engagement.  Our Scholarship Program and Hermanitas Program have provided mentorship and support to countless young Latinas, fostering their academic and professional success. As we enhance these initiatives, we are building stronger connections between students and professional Latinas serving as Tias/Mentors, ensuring lasting impact and guidance.

MANA’s dedication to service is evident in our expanding community initiatives. Programs such as the School Hygiene Program, voter registration and education efforts, and Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays Program exemplify our unwavering commitment to addressing critical community needs. These efforts are strengthened by collaborations with organizations shat share our mission of empowerment and advocacy.

As we mark this 30-year milestone, we celebrate not only our enduring legacy but also the dynamic contributions of the next generation of MANAs who continue to lead with passion and vision. Honoring our past fuels our drive to create a future with opportunity, progress, and unity.

Adelante hermanas! The best is yet to come.

BECOME A MEMBER

HERMANITAS

Hermanitas Program – provides opportunities for growth through the mentorship of our young Latinas by Latina leaders from all arenas: education, government, political, business, and community. The program encourages young Latinas to stay in school and achieve high academic performance, and helps to develop the talents and skills of young Latinas in elementary, middle and high school though educational and leadership programs.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Weekly Meetings

Utilizing MANA National Framework/Curriculum

Weekly Mentor Contact Via Email, Phone Calls, or in Person, etc.

Quarterly Field Trips

BRINDIS LUNCHEON

“Las Soldaderas Yesterday Today and Tomorrow” by Mary Luevanos

MANA de Metro Detroit invites you to join us each year at our Brindis Luncheon (from brindar: to toast ceremoniously in honor of someone), where we award scholarships to Latina students in the Metro-Detroit area. We celebrate these scholarship recipients for their dedication to education, personal growth, and community service. We offer them our continued support and encouragement as they pursue their dreams.

In addition, we honor exceptional women and “amigos” who go above and beyond their daily responsibilities to uplift and support the Latino community. The Adelita Award (named in honor of the brave women who fought in the Mexican Revolution) recognizes women for their volunteerism, self-sacrifice, activism, and commitment to creating positive change in our community. The Amigo Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advancing Latinas and have supported MANA’s mission of empowering women.

The Adelitas and Amigos we honor are exemplary models of leadership and community service. Their dedication reflects the values we aim to inspire in our scholarship recipients. At the Brindis, we come together to raise our voices in celebration of these individuals whose powerful spirit inspires us all.

Click the link below for more information and to Save the Date!

2025 Brindis Luncheon

SCHOLARSHIPS

MANA de Metro Detroit established its Scholarship Program in 1996. Since then, we have awarded 164 scholarships to Latinas to help support their educational journeys. These awards can be used for a range of expenses, including books, fees, housing, school supplies, parking, gas, and other education-related costs.

To be eligible, applicants must be women of Hispanic/Latina origin, reside in Detroit or the Metro Detroit area, and be accepted to or currently enrolled in a higher education institution, vocational/career training program, or leadership program. Additional eligibility requirements are outlined on the application form.

While the program began with just one scholarship category, it has since grown to include six distinct categories:

MANA de Metro Detroit – General Scholarship

This is MANA’s original scholarship and it was designed to assist students of any major with financial assistance to supplement their school budget.  In subsequent years, MANA expanded the scholarship program to include specific scholastic majors.

Carmen Muñoz Entrepreneurship Scholarship

The Carmen Muñoz Entrepreneurship Scholarship was created to honor Carmen’s life and encourage Latinas to continue her legacy of entrepreneurism and community engagement. 

Monica L. Martinez Leadership Scholarship

Monica L. Martinez served as a compassionate advocate and voice for the underserved families, neighborhoods, entrepreneurs, business owners and communities throughout her career. She was also instrumental in providing funding for the MANA scholarships and for the Hermanitas program. This scholarship was established to honor her legacy.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa STEM Scholarship

Dr. Ellen Ochoa became the first Latina to go to space when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the shuttle Discovery in 1993.  She has flown in space four times, logging nearly 1,000 hours.  Her 30-year career at NASA culminated in serving as the 11th Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, from 2013 until her retirement in May 2018. Due to Dr. Ochoa’s pioneering spirit in the sciences, MANA is proud to name the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarship in her honor. 

Gloria Rosas Teacher Education Scholarship

Since immigrating to the United States, education was the engine that propelled Gloria Rosas’ life of service in Southwest Detroit. Gloria always placed great value in education and the role of parents in the education of their children. Gloria has been advocating on behalf of parents for decades and continues to passionately advocate for bilingual education. For these reasons, MANA is honored to establish the Gloria Rosas Teacher Education Scholarship.

Eva Garza Dewaelsche Community Service Scholarship

Eva Garza Dewaelsche established this scholarship as a way to give back to the community that she has served throughout her professional life. Eva supports the academic and career goals of young Latinas seeking a degree or professional certificate in the fields of Social Sciences, Social Work, Community Organizing, or Urban Planning.

APPLY HERE – All SCHOLARSHIPS

2024 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

SOME THOUGHTS FROM OUR AWARDEES:

“As a scholarship recipient, this is a triumph that will not only aid me financially but empower me throughout my academic journey. Thank you MANA.”  Alejandra Padilla-Miguel

“I am sincerely thankful for the Gloria Rosas Teacher Education Scholarship. With this great opportunity, I can transform my dream of becoming a Secondary English and English as a Second Language (ESL) educator into reality. The scholarship will allow me to further my education with less financial burden and dedicate more time to my studies. There has been a portion of worry as to how my parents and I would pay for my education. Fortunately, your scholarship will help cover some of those expenses. Thank you MANA!” Jenifer Rizo-Perez

2024 Adelitas y Amigo 

Tanya M. Caruana, Olga Ortiz Rodriguez and Eva Torres  

2024 Amigo: Dr. José Cuello

ADELITAS  1996 – 2007

  • 1996 Adelitas Community Involvement – Irma Clark, Gloria Rocha, Gloria Rosas, Christie Urgo de Lozano
  • 1997 Adelitas Education – Penny Bailer, Norma Barquet, Gloria Butler Miller, Ines de Jesus
  • 1998 Adelitas Health – America Bracho, Guadalupe Lara, Myrna Mendez, Toni Villarruel, Erminia Ramirez
  • 1999 Adelitas Political Empowerment – Jane Garcia, Honorable Belda Garza, Eva Garza Dewaelsche, Hon. Patricia Perez Fresard
  • 2000 Adelitas Arts and Culture – Dr. Lucie Cruz Gajec, Cristina Huizar, Marta E. Lagos, Nora Chapa Mendoza, Jacqueline Rae Sanchez
  • 2001 Adelitas Business Owner – Ninfa Cancel, Maria C. Luna, Patricia Rojas Ferguson, Jacklyn Salazar, Serafina Hernandez
  • 2002 Adelitas Media – Olivia Galan, Carmen Garcia, Laura, Luevanos, Raquel Vazquez, Sara Toro, Dolores Sanchez
  • 2003 Adelitas Labor – Rebecca Cabreros, Alana Reyes-Ali, Maria Enriquez, Gloria Gonzalez, Goldie Martinez, Elena Herrada, Maria Winters, Sandra Esparza, Luisa M. Perez
  • 2004 Adelitas Leadership – Maria Flores, Sally Rendon, Angela Reyes, Blanca Almanza
  • 2006 Adelitas Community Service – Mary Barela, Mary Luevanos, Adela Rivera, Maria Salinas, Mary Turner
  • 2007 Adelitas Advocates – Ruth Dumas, Alicia Juarez, Juanita Hernandez

ADELITAS  2008 – Present

  • 2008 Adelitas Recipients – Jeanette Avila, Carmen Muñoz, Edith Colon, Giovanna Rodriquez
  • 2012 Adelitas Recipients – Sister Consuelo Alcala, CSJ Dorothy Alcala, Laura Echartea, Sheila Jackson, Monica Martinez, Judge Maria Oxholm, Kathleen Wendler
  • 2013 Adelitas Recipients – Cindy Estrada, Beatriz Esquivel Ramos, Debra Ehrmann
  • 2014 Adelitas Recipients – Sylvia Gucken, Renee Liagkos, Celia Christina Rosas ,Rosa Cruz-Avila
  • 2015 Adelitas Recipients – Rocio Campos, Alma L. Guajardo-Crossley, Marycruz Gutierrez Saldivar
  • 2016 Adelitas Recipients – Laura Reyes Kopack, Laura Robollar, Whitney Walton
  • 2019 Adelitas Recipients – JoAnn Chavez, Maria Enriquez, Melissa Villarreal
  • 2022 Adelitas Recipients – Dr. Sandra M. Gonzales, Helena Rezende Lazo, Diana Ortega, Linzie Venegas
  • 2022 Posthumous (Mano) Award – German Rosas Farias
  • 2022 Amigo of the Year – Dr. Juan José Martinez
  • 2023 Adelitas Recipients – Estrella Crawford, Vanessa Reynolds, Gabriela Santiago-Romero
  • 2023 Amigo of the Year – Ray Lozano
  • 2024 Adelitas Recipients – Tanya M. Caruana, Olga Ortiz Rodriguez, Eva Torres
  • 2024 Amigo of the Year – Dr. José Cuello

SPONSOR PARTNERS – 2024

 

Thank you to all our Sponsors!

STANDING COMMITTEES…2025

EXECUTIVE – Officers & Chairs

President – Stephanie Lopez Gilmore
Vice President – Cindy Gamboa
Secretary – Micheline Silva 
Treasurer – Tanya M. Caruana
All Committee Chairs
And Membership Coordinator, Mari Quesada

EVENT PLANNING

Laura Torres, Co-Chair
Marcia Mercado, Co-Chair
Maria Flores

Erminia Ramirez
Ninfa Cancel
Alicia Juarez

MENTORSHIP

Diana Ortega, Co-Chair
Maria Khan, Co-Chair
Sandra Valle-Holdwick
Elsa Calleja
Dr. Vanessa Reynolds

Eva G.Dewaelsche
Ana Sandoval
Eva Torres
Belda Garza

FUNDRAISING

Mari Quesada, Co-Chair
Belda Garza, Co-Chair
Tanya Caruana
Ines de Jesus

Nora Rodriguez
Tami Arreguin
Elizabeth Gonzalez
Eliana Quesada

SOCIAL MEDIA

Myrna Mendez, Co-Chair
Jonelle Lopez, Co-Chair
San Juanita Barajas
Daniela Garibay
Alejandra Padilla-Miguel

Melanie Calvillo
Laura Chavez Wazeerud-Din
Elizabeth Amezcua-Tepehua
Ana Gómez
Arely Aguirre-Pacheco

SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION

Ines de Jesus, Co-Chair
Rocio Contreras, Co-Chair
Ana Calandrino
Mary Carmen Muñoz

Helena Lazo
Sandra Valle-Holdwick
Dr. Sandra Gonzales
Cinthya Casillas

CONTACT US

Have any questions? We’d love to hear from you below. Or, you can email us at, mana870@ymail.com

    ADDRESS

    4138 W Vernor Hwy
    Detroit, MI 48209