[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 45 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S3417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MANA DE SAN DIEGO

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a wonderful 
organization in my home State of California, MANA de San Diego, as it 
celebrates its 20th anniversary.
  MANA de San Diego is one of 20 regional chapters throughout the 
United States operating under the auspices of the MANA National Latina 
Organization. MANA, short for hermana, or sister in Spanish, was 
founded in 1974 by Mexican-American women and was later expanded to 
include Latinas of all descent. Today, it serves as the single largest 
organization of Latinas in the United States. MANA provides an 
important voice for women at local, State, and national levels.
  The San Diego Chapter of MANA, founded in 1986, has played an 
important role in the civic development of San Diego's large Latina 
community. In 2000, Latinas made up 12.5 percent of San Diego's 
population of more than 2.8 million. MANA de San Diego encourages its 
members to actively participate on boards, commissions, and with civic 
and educational organizations in order to improve the quality of life 
for all San Diegans. Each year, MANA de San Diego recognizes local 
women in the law, education, government, and education at a ``Brindis'' 
or toast event. The ``Brindis'' not only helps to raise money for the 
scholarship program but brings together successful women and students.
  Through a variety of programs, such as the mentorship program 
``Hermanitas,'' MANA de San Diego empowers Latinas and encourages 
educational pursuits. The program exposes young women to arts and 
culture, higher education opportunities, careers, and leadership 
opportunities they might not otherwise experience. Hermanitas 
participants tour major universities in San Diego to help them 
visualize where they can attend school. Since 1991, MANA de San Diego 
has given more than $140,000 in scholarships to Latinas. This is 
particularly important given that Latinas drop out of high school at a 
higher rate than any other group in the United States. In addition, 
MANA de San Diego promotes increased awareness of Latina health issues 
through its Annual Women's Health Fair.
  Recently, MANA de San Diego partnered with Girl Scouts San Diego- 
Imperial Council to create the Cesar Chavez Community Service patch. 
The purpose was to create a patch to honor and encourage Girl Scouts to 
learn about Cesar Chavez. Girl Scouts throughout the Nation will be 
able to earn a new patch in recognition of outstanding community 
service. The students in the Hermanitas program worked closely with 
their mentors and the council to design this patch. Together, they 
created the rules to award the patch.
  Organizations such as MANA should be recognized for the critical role 
they play in strengthening the Latina community in California and the 
United States. I salute the women of MANA de San Diego for their 
passionate commitment to the advancement of Latinas and tireless 
efforts to improve the broader San Diego Community. I wish the 
organization great success in the future.

                          ____________________