MISSION STATEMENT
Mana de Metro Detroit is the local chapter of the national MANA organization. Our mission is to empower Latinas and create a better quality of life for all Latinos through education, leadership development and advocacy.
Mana is short for Hermana, Spanish for “Sister.” MANA National was founded in 1974 in Washington DC.
OUR HISTORY
As we look back at the year of our 40th Anniversary, we can see a MANA that is transforming to meet the challenges of new generations, while maintaining diligent resolve to our goals of Leadership, Service and Advocacy for Latinas nationwide. In our 40th year, we reflected the lessons of our founders in the adult financial literacy education, youth mentoring, capacity building, and countless local programming initiatives provided to meet the needs of our communities in today’s ever-changing environment.
Our communications are increasingly online, but our Chapters and Affiliates have the community touch points that make a significant difference in connecting with Latinas from all walks of life and all backgrounds.
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
BRINDIS LUNCHEON
“Las Soldaderas Yesterday Today and Tomorrow” by Mary Luevanos
MANA de Metro Detroit invites you each year to our Brindis (from brindar: to toast ceremoniously in honor of someone) Luncheon to award scholarships to Latina students in the Metro-Detroit area. We salute the scholarship awardees for their dedication to education, self-improvement and to serving our community. We offer them our support and encouragement.
In addition, we also salute outstanding women and “amigos” who go beyond their daily responsibilities to promote and support the Latino community. The women are the recipients of MANA’s Adelita Award (named in honor of the dedicated women who fought in the Mexican Revolution). The women being honored are recognized for their volunteerism, self-sacrifice, activism and proven commitment to positive change in the community. The Amigo Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated through their actions their commitment to the advancement of Latinas in our community and supports MANA’s Mission to empower Latinas.
The Adelitas and Amigos honored are a great example of what it means to be a member of a community. It is this type of leadership and community service we hope to relay to our scholarship recipients. At the Brindis, we come together to raise our voices in salute of these individuals whose powerful spirit inspire us all.
Click the link below for more information and Save the Date!
SCHOLARSHIPS
MANA de Metro Detroit established its Scholarship Program in 1996 and has been providing scholarships for Latina women annually. As of 2022, MANA has awarded one hundred thirty-eight (138) scholarships. Scholarship awards can cover costs not covered by other grants or scholarships, such as, books and other school related supplies, parking, gas, and other transportation related costs.
Eligibility requirements for scholarship include the following: must be Hispanic/Latina, resident of Detroit or Metro Detroit, and be accepted or currently enrolled in a higher education institution, vocational/career training, or leadership program. Additional requirements are listed on the application form.
Although MANA started with only one scholarship category, the program has expanded to four (4) scholarship categories:
MANA de Metro Detroit – General Scholarship
This is MANA’s first 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 Latina Women 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.
2023 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
SOME THOUGHTS FROM OUR AWARDEES:
I would like to thank the MANA Scholarship Committee and all the members for being such an amazing light for all of us students in Detroit. I am so honored to be the first recipient of the Dr. Ellen Ochoa STEM Scholarship, it makes my struggles feel so much more worth it. This scholarship is meaningful because I have worked extremely hard on my studies and seeing representation and inspiration for people like me is so encouraging. I hope to one day be a part of those representatives who help others, as they have helped me, like MANA has. Nancy Jimenez Solis
2023 Adelitas y Amigo
Estrella Crawford, Dr. Vanessa Reynolds and Gabriela Santiago-Romero
2023 Amigo: Raymond Lozano
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
SPONSOR PARTNERS
Thank you to all our Sponsors!
STANDING COMMITTEES…
EXECUTIVE – Officers & Committee Chairs
President- Stephanie Lopez Gilmore
Vice President- Cindy Gamboa
Secretary- Melissa Rios
Treasurer- Tanya M. Caruana
All Committee Chairs
EVENT PLANNING
Cindy Gamboa, Chair
Sandra Valle-Holdwick
Maria Flores
Alicia Juarez
Erminia Ramirez
Belda Garza
TBD
TBD
MENTOR / NETWORKING
Diana Ortega, Chair
Sandra Valle-Sloane
Belda Garza
Stephanie Gilmore
Eva Torres
Angelica Ramirez
Eva G.Dewaelsche
Mary Carmen Munoz
Alma Crossley
Veronica Beltran
Estrella Crawford
Marisol Quesada
FUNDRAISING
Tami Arreguin, Co-Chair
Belda Garza, Co-Chair
Tanya Caruana
Ines de Jesus
TBD
Nora Rodriguez
Marisol Quesadas
Elizabeth Gonzalez
TBD
TBD
SOCIAL MEDIA
Myrna Mendez, Chair
Daniela Garibay
San Juanita Barajas
Jonelle Lopez
Melanie Calvillo
Laura Chavez Wazeerud-Din
TBD
SCHOLARSHIP / EDUCATION
Ines de Jesus, Chair
Laura Echartea
Laura Torres
Sandra Gonzales
Ana Calandrino
Helena Lazo
Sandra Valle-Holdwick
Lilian Roa
Cinthya Casillas
Mary Carmen Munoz
Rocio Contreras
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
