Mavra was born in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Regina Vogel and Harry Steinberg.  Because her parents divorced, her childhood was spent between Brooklyn and Miami Beach, Florida.  Her father, a business owner,  and her mother, who held a variety of jobs, were both immigrants to the United States in their teens.  Mavra's family was Orthodox Jewish.

After high school she first enrolled in Brooklyn College; then attended NYU for one term.  She earned her batchelors degree from Hunter in 1966; majoring in speech and theater and minoring in education. Mavra began work on her Masters in theater at Brooklyn College and  took all her courses but left before  writing her thesis because her thesis advisor was making advances. 

Mavra was a lifelong advocate for women's rights and civil rights. She worked to create opportunities and support systems for women and families. In Brooklyn, she started a free daycare center that she successfully persuaded the City of New York to fund.

She served as President of the Morris County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), where she worked to advance gender equality and support women's rights at the local level. Mavra also created and produced a local television show in New Jersey called New Directions for Women, which focused on issues affecting women and gave voice to topics often overlooked in mainstream media.

Mavra was married to Robert DeRise for 32 years; and together they raised two daughters,

Victoria Maria DeFrancesco Soto was born in 1978  to Victoria and Joseph DeFrancesco in Southern Arizona on the U.S.- Mexico border and that is where she grew up.  She is of Italian, Jewish and Mexican descent.

She describes herself as a student council nerd beginning in middle school who, by the time she reached college, realized how much she enjoyed political science and that she could, in fact, do this as a profession.

DeFrancesco Soto earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona's W.A. Franke Honors College.  Then she applied to and was accepted by Duke University as a graduate student.  She graduated in 2007 with a Ph.D. in political science under the mentorship of Dr. John Aldrich and Dr. Paula McClain. 

While completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Rutgers University and an assistant professorship at Northwestern University, she discovered a passion for applied careers in political science. In particular, Victoria became deeply interested and involved in civic engagement and bridging the community and university realms.  She was appointed assistant dean at the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, while serving as a contributor at NBC News and Telemundo. Following her time at the LBJ School of Public Service, she became dean of the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas.  Victoria is the first Latina dean at a presidential institution and is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administrators.

An award-winning professor, Victoria is deeply passionate about the intersection of curricular and community-based learning and cultivating dynamic classroom environments that are responsive to our real-world context. As the dean of the Clinton School, Victoria grounds her passion to support the next generation of public service leaders in the expansion of diversity, equity and inclusion inside and outside the classroom.

Victoria has served on the board of Mi Familia en Acción and Forward Arkansas, and she has been active in the Volcker Alliance Dean’s Summit. She was recognized as one the 100 Women of Impact by the Arkansas Women’s Foundation and received the Las Primeras Award by MANA.

She enjoys sharing her experiences in careers in political science and mentoring the next generation of scholars.

 

Hispanic culture, foods and art are woven into the very fabric of our nation. So it is appropriate that we show our love for these by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.  The  National Museum of the American Latino offers more information plus access to a wonderful virtual musical journey.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.

Today, the Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This makes up 18.9% of the total population and is the largest racial or ethnic group. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. It began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later in 1988. The month-long celebration provides more time to properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latino Americans have made in the United States.

Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October. The timeframe of this month is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community. Key Independence Days celebrated within Hispanic Heritage Month include:

• September 15 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
• September 16 – Mexico
• September 18 – Chile
• September 21 - Beliz
• Latinas and Latinos have always held significant roles throughout our country’s history, dating all the way back to the American Revolution. Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the integral part the Hispanic/Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy.
• 
   Representation matters. Latinos and Latinas continue to shape our nation as business owners, activists, artists, public servants, and more. From serving in the U.S. military to being champions in the fight for civil rights, Latinas and Latinos remain strong leaders and changemakers.
   
  It’s crucial to make sure that the contributions of the Latino community are showcased, and that Latinas and Latinos have a voice. According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, one in every four children in the United States is Hispanic/Latino. A recent study found that Latino history is largely left out in high school textbooks that are used across the United States, despite the increasing percentage of Latina and Latino students. This also comes at a time when the economic output of American Latinos would rank fifth in the world if the community  were an independent country. As the country continues to increase in diversity, it’s necessary for all citizens to learn more about American Latino experiences to recognize and value the many contributions Latinas and Latinos have made.
• Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique voices and experiences of Hispanic/Latino Americans and recognize their history, journeys, and achievements. Through these celebrations, we can all help to inspire younger generations and bring communities together.

• Hispanic Heritage Month also provides opportunities to showcase the cultural influences the Latino community has had on the United States. From entertainment and sports to business and science, Latinas and Latinos enrich our society.

  As athletes, Latinas and Latinos have been game changers. For example, over the years, the Latino community has helped to shape America’s favorite pastime—baseball. As of opening day in 2023, about 30 percent of Major League Baseball players are Hispanic/Latino. With the accomplishments of past players like Roberto Clemente and present ones such as Francisco Lindor and Javier Báez leading the way, the sport will continue to evolve.

  Latinas have also shaped baseball history, serving as players, broadcasters, and team owners. In the 1990s, Linda Alvarado purchased the Colorado Rockies and made history as the first woman to ever win a bid to buy a team. This purchase also resulted in her becoming the first Hispanic MLB team owner. The contributions of Latinas like Alvarado and others, such as baseball player Margaret "Marge" Villa and sportscaster Jessica Mendoza, have forever transformed the game of baseball.

• Content courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino 

• For more stories of remarkable women, see HERSTORY https://womensvoicesmedia.org/

Have you heard this name before?  Odds are, if you haven't, you will in the not too distant furure.

Perez Sanchez is a 12-year-old Mexican child prodigy with an IQ of 162 - higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.  Her mother says she started to learn algebra at age three and had finished high school at age five.  Perez Sanchez then enrolled in Mexico's National Polytechnic Institute where she earned two degrees in systems and industrial engineering.  She is now working on her master's degree. 

When she was age seven, seeing a picture of Stephen Hawking at her Doctor's office, inspired her to pursue a career in engineering and space exploration.  Her dream is to become an astronaut.

For more stories of remarkable women, see HERSTORY on womensvoicesmedia.org

 

 

This month the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs celebrates it's one hundred and twenty-ninth anniversary.  Founders of the NACWC included an illustrious group of nineteenth century Black women:  Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin,  Harriet Tubman, Margaret Murray Washington, Frances E. W. Harper, Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Victoria Earle Matthews, Josephine Silone Yates, and Mary Church Terrell (who served as the organization's inaugeral presedent.).  It's founders are honored on July 21st, Founders Day.

The NACWC pursues social justice through a national network of clubs for youth and adults.

The following are excerpts from it's website describing it's mission and work:

Our mission is to empower women of color, uplift families, and promote racial harmony through dedicated service, education, and scholarship assistance. We strive to protect the rights of women and youth, improve the quality of life in homes and communities, and advocate for civil and political rights for all citizens. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that African American women can excel in every field and foster inter-racial understanding for a more just and harmonious society.