ADELANTE: It's About Giving and Sharing

Adelante
Hermanas
Vengan alrededor
Miedo
No tengan
Por favor
It's about sisterhood
It's about mentorship
It's about selfless support
Giving and sharing
Experience
It's what they aim for
Don't be afraid of the dark
Don't be afraid to explore
Embrace what you've endured
Made you strong
Step through the door
Survival
Tenacity
Let fear be your guide
Go find your wings
So as hermanas
We fly

Left to Right @FarahMesa @EzzyLanguzzi @SofiaKeck @AdrianaBoatwright

ADELANTE in Miami!

©2013 Ezzy G. Languzzi

Exactly one week from tomorrow, I'll be on a plane headed south to meet up with mis blogueras hermanas at Hispanicize, the premier Latino trends event slated for April 9-13 in Miami, Florida. The five days are going to be jammed with educational sessions and special events. One program in particular I'm certain not to miss -- Nely Galán's The Adelante Movement. I had the opportunity to hear Nely Galán twice last year and am looking forward to hearing her empowering message once more. I'm grateful that I get to attend and wish to thank our friends at Coca-Cola for helping to make my trip possible.

The Adelante Movement: The Wisdom of Latina Legends will feature special appearances by Hollywood icons Rita Moreno and Charo, two inspiring women who are going to share their experiences and thoughts on everything from personal and economic empowerment to complete health.

2012 Hispanicize, Miami, FL -- Amigas, it's going to be a reunion!

I hope you'll follow the event because once you've heard Nely Galán, there's no going back. Here's a little wisdom she imparted last year that will always stay with me ...

... that "failure is not a fact, it's a feeling"
... the importance of not being isolated in "community"
... that it's a lot easier to be Latina in the mainstream, than within the Latino community
... and the importance of cleaning our own "luggage," because we could all use a little professional help

What will Rita Moreno and Charo reveal? Will they share their vulnerabilities? I'm eager to find out, because it's when you hear amazing women such as these discuss their fears, that you realize you're not alone.

I'll be tweeting highlights and pictures from Adelante and Hispanicize next week. Follow me on Twitter at @EzzyLanguzzi and @AdelantePower, hashtags, #CokeHispz13 and #Adelante to stay on top of the action. If you're at Hispanicize, I encourage you to attend. Admission is free and space is limited. You can register at  www.theadelantemovement.com .

To learn more, please visit Adelante, the Coca-Cola "Coming Together" website and the Coca-Cola company Journey website and blog.

©2013 Ezzy G. Languzzi

Featured Speakers

"RITA MORENO has won all four of the most prestigious awards in show business: the Oscar, the Tony, two Emmys, and a Grammy. Her countless credits span more than six decades, from her Broadway debut at age 13 to her current role on the TVLand series, Happily Divorced. Moreno has performed on Broadway; London's West End; appeared in more than 40 feature films, and has performed in numerous regional theaters, most recently starring in her one woman show, Life Without Makeup at the Berkeley Rep. Rita was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 and the National Medal of Arts by President Obama in 2010. Her book, Rita Moreno A Memoir was published in March by Celebra."

"CHARO is a household name. She is instantly recognizable as the “cuchi cuchi” girl, Charo’s trademark expression, which has endeared her to millions around the world and made her name synonymous with music, fun and excitement. She has appeared in countless hit television shows, including more than forty-five appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She also appeared on the long-running comedy “The Love Boat” than any other star. Charo also appeared in such films as MOON OVER PARADOR with Richard Dreyfuss and AIRPORT 79: THE CONCORD." www.charo.com

"NELY GALÁN – Founder of The Adelante Movement Nely Galán is a first generation Latina and self-made media mogul, who was the first Latina president of a U.S. TV network (Telemundo), She was recently featured in HBO’s “The Latino List: Volume Two” and was also named one of PEOPLE En Español’s 25 Most Powerful Women. She is an Emmy Award-winning producer of over 600 episodes of television in Spanish and English, including the hit reality series “The Swan” and the first Latina to appear on Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump. Galán recently went back to school and completed her Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology."  www.nelygalan.com

Summer's Bounty

Some days I wish that placing my finger on time might keep it from slipping away ... 

Moments, blessings, memories ... beauty streaked with Blue.

Some days I wish that placing my finger on time might keep it from slipping away... 

My boy,

Growing!

Curiously gazing,

Seizing everything new.

Some days I wish that placing my finger on time might keep it from slipping away ...

A canvas splattered,

An arc of color,

Phosphorous kisses,

Fire bleeding into you.

Some days I wish that placing my finger on time might keep it from slipping away ... 

Books weighted in honesty.

Sharing, showing, cracking open their souls.

They fill me with sadness.
The realization of what is true.

Some days I wish that placing my finger on time might keep it from slipping away ...

New friends

Old souls

Who knew?

Spooky in Savannah

Stairs down to River Street, Savannah GA

A night of reverie and laughter

Libations and cheer

Brought women together

For a friend, so dear.

Twas late in the evening

Whilst lightning flashed overhead

A night of levity interrupted

by the lure of the dead.

"Follow me to a place down by the river," the man said.

Clothes clinging to bodies

All sticky with sweat

They followed the man

Promised a sight

They might not soon forget.

Through thick air they pressed

Down stairs and an alley

They bantered and frolicked

Half-wary, half-weary

Over cobblestones

Toward a darkness so dreary!

Do you believe in apparitions,

Residual energy

Ripples in time?

I had my thoughts,

How they've changed.

Oh, my.

River Street, Savannah GA. This photo has not been retouched. Shot with iPhone 4.

When first gazing into the cavern

Rumored to have once held grain,
Maybe munitions,
Quite possibly human pain,

A milky darkness screamed mute secrets,

Revealing no names.

River Street, Savannah GA. This photo has not been retouched. Shot with iPhone 4.

I had the chance to visit Savannah for a whirlwind weekend trip for my friend Adriana's 40th birthday last weekend. The evening we went out to celebrate we came across a friend of hers who gives haunted ghost tours. Within minutes of meeting him, we followed him to the place shown in these pictures.

These spaces were illuminated with small fluorescent lightbulbs that cast a drab grey light. Where this green came from I have NO idea. What I can tell you is that none of my other friends' cameras picked up this ghastly green that reminded me of Ghost Hunters.

Left us all feeling a little creeped-out.

What do you think?

Butterflies in Miami

JW Marriot Marquis, Miami

By Ezzy G. Languzzi

They descended on Miami
Butterflies in a mist
Wings touching, souls dancing
Hearts open in earnest

From faraway places
Seen only in dreams
Wedded by language
Yet not all the same

colombianas

guatemaltecas

boricuas

cubanas

venezolanas

uruguayas

Y unas cuantas mexicanas

Women stunning
Unforgettable

Both in heart and mind
Giving and sharing
Not one unkind

Mothers, wives
Sisters, daughters
Journalists, fotógrafas
Fashionistas y artists

Butterflies embracing life
With vigor and laughter
Stars and sparkle in eyes
Aspiring to be better

After many tears and much banter
These butterflies
Returned home
Hermanas, amigas
Seeds of friendship sown

They captivated my mind
Set on fire my imagination
Mis hermanas
Mis amigas
Left me longing for more time
Mariposas bonitas
I didn't want to say, "Good-bye."

Un Meme: Sólo por Diversión | A Meme: Just for Fun : )

¡Que divertido! Mi amiga, Dania de La Familia Cool, compartio este meme con migo a noche. Gracias! Me ayudaste sacar la cabeza de los libros por un rato. xoxo

Aquí les dejo mis respuestas:

What fun! My friend, Dania from La Familia Cool, shared this meme with me last night. Thank you! You helped me take my head out of my books for a short while. xoxo

Here are my responses:

¿Qué fue lo primero que le viste a tu pareja cuando se conocieron?

What was the first thing I noticed of my husband's when I met him?

Su acento (y sus bíceps)

His accent (and his biceps)

¿A dónde te gustaría ir de luna de miel?

Where would I like to go on a honeymoon?

La Isla de Santorini

The Island of Santorini

¿Te consideras una persona aventurera?

Do I consider myself an adventurous person?

Depende, soy muy cuidadosa.

It depends, I'm very careful.

¿Tienes algún secreto tuyo que nuca le hayas contado a nadie?

Do you have a secret you've never shared with anybody?

No

¿Playa o piscina?

Beach or pool?

Piscina

Pool

¿Verano o invierno?

Summer or winter?

Verano

Summer

¿Besos of abrazos?

Kisses or hugs?

Abrazos

Hugs

¿Dulce o saldado?

Sweet or salty?

Dulce y salado! ... saladitos con tamarindo

Sweet and salty! ... saladitos with tamarind

¿Fresa o chocolate?

Strawberry or chocolate?

Fresa

Strawberry

¿Blanco o negro?

Black or white?

Negro

Black

¿Color favorito?

Favorite color?

Negro

Black

¿Cuál es tu película favorita?

Your favorite movie?

Pride and Prejudice

¿Juego de mesa favorito?

Your favorite table game?

Bananagrams

¿Cuál es tu bebida favorita?

What's your favorite drink?

Agua de tamarindo

Tamarind water

¿Cual es tu trago favorito?

What is your favorite [alcoholic] beverage?

Margarita

¿Cuál es tu mes favorito?

Your favorite month?

Julio

July

¿Qué es lo primero que piensas al despertar?

What's the first thing you think about when you wake up?

Tarea

Homework

¿Perdonarías una infidelidad de tu pareja?

Would you forgive infidelity on the part of your spouse?

Nunca

Never

¿Cuántos timbrazos antes de contestar el telefono?

How many rings before you answer the phone?

Uno (No tengo paciencia!)

One (I have no patience!)

¿Sabes guardar secretos?

Do you know how to keep secrets?

¿Quales secretos?

What secrets?

¿Dices tu edad verdadera?

Do you tell your honest age?

Siempre

Always

¿Te consideras timida o extrovertida?

Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

Timida

An introvert

¿Que hay debajo de tu cama?

What's under your bed?

Zapatos y hilo

Shoes and yarn

¿Has faltado a clases/al trabajo sólo por el clima?

Have you missed school or work due to the weather?

Si

Yes

¿Cuánto tiempo tienes con este blog?

How long have you had this blog?

Casi dos años

Almost two years

Le paso este juegito a unas amigas queridas, gracias por todo su apoyo ... I'm passing this little game to a few of my dear friends, thank you for all your support ... Empatheia (Jen), Bicultural Mom (Chantilly), Motherhood in Mexico (Leslie), The B3 Blog (Angela), Me and the Mexican (Tara), Bella Vida by Letty and Adriana Iris. 

BLOGALICIOUS 2011: It Was All About Las Mujeres

Wanna grow?

I had a wonderful time at the Blogalicious Conference in D.C. this weekend. Educational content, inspiring keynote speakers and sponsored events aside, what I loved most about it was finally seeing in person many of the women I've met through Bicultural Mom and Multicultural Familia this year. 

The truth is that I was more than a little nervous about going there. It probably didn't help that I had to get up at 3:00 a.m. to catch a 6:00 a.m. flight (when I'm afraid of flying) ... or that I discovered on my way to Logan airport that I'd booked myself into Dulles (an hour away from the conference) instead of Ronald Reagan ... or that I'd be rooming with three women I'd never met in person.

(L-R) @Latinaish, Me, our santitos bracelets, cupcake from American Cancer Society Cupcake Party 

My worries vanished as soon as as I arrived at the conference and tracked down my roomies, @RubyDW, @LaFamiliaCool and @Jendalynne, women who warmed me with their good-humor, kindness and generosity. I was also thrilled to meet the blogger responsible for bringing out the Spanish in me @Latinaish and was surprised to see that we were both wearing similar santitos bracelets (one of which I now own : ).

Helena from @PinkGuayoyo (dancing feet) is every bit as outgoing and savvy as she comes across on her blog, @NewLatina is intelligent and inspiring, @MamiTalks, @ITYCPodcast and @BrownGirl were as classy in person as they are online. I also made two new friends @NewYorkChica and @Latina_Sweetie, two vibrant women from NYC who laughed alongside us.

An unexpected surprise to me was that I had a chance to meet the brains behind Latism, @AnnaRC and @ergeekgoddess, two uber-accomplished women, who educated me on the mission and goals of the organization: to promote Latinos in social media. I was happy to hear that there might be a chapter coming to the Boston area! I'm hoping to be able to get involved. : )

(L-R) @BiculturalMom Me @RubyDW
We couldn't wait to meet Chantilly!

The conference pace was frenetic. We did not want to miss anything and literally ran ourselves into-the-ground. In case you're wondering about the rooming situation, it was hysterical. We laughed to the point of tears. No shyness in this group.

One person I wish I'd been able to spend more time with was @BiculturalMom, who was busy with sponsors from the moment she arrived to the moment she left. She's a superwoman who's accomplished so much by launching two successful blogs in less than year. I see good things coming her way.

Top Left (L-R) @LaFamiliaCool @RubyDW
Bottom Left (L-R) Me @PinkGuayoyo
Top Right @NewYorkChica Me @Latina_Sweetie
Middle Right (L-R) @Jendalynne @RubyDW Me @ReneSyler @LaFamiliaCool @NewYorkChica
Bottom Right (L-R) The Jenda & Ruby Show @Jendalynne @RubyDW

If you care about diversity and want a engaging social media conference to attend, I recommend Blogalicious. A word of warning, though, the blogging piece is secondary to the social aspect. The women is where it was at! My hope is that we'll be able to get more of our hermanas on board to participate.


Think you might go next year?

The Gaylord Hotel, Washington D.C.