Mission Statement
Latina Fifty-Plus is a non-partisan Bronx based 501(c) (3) non-profit, pays tribute to Latinas fifty years of age and up who were pioneers. They shaped their careers in a time when Latina women were venturing onto pathways where very few Latinas were seen or accepted. This program acknowledges the trailblazers who were among the first in their profession. By creating this venue which expresses public appreciation for Latina women over fifty, they will have the opportunity to tell their personal narratives. They can provide a historical perspective on what it was like to have lived in a time when Latina feminism was not the norm or tolerated.
These career-minded professionals were the pioneers who fought to dispel commonly held stereotypes of Latinas, some of which are still with us today. By honoring these Latina pioneers, we are honoring our history as women of a certain generation who laid down the steppingstones of change for future generations of Latinas. These are the women who mentored and inspired younger women to pursue their own dreams and realize their own goals.
In honoring these women the annual event highlights the selected Latina Women over Fifty who are invited to a community gathering where they have an opportunity to speak about their journeys of challenges and accomplishment. The women will be honored in their specific field, be it community activism, education, law, or the arts. The inaugural Latina Fifty-Plus luncheon was held on Saturday, June 21st, 2014 at Fordham University, Bronx Campus. The logo and artwork are in partnership with artist/community activist, Mia Roman. The Latina 50 Plus Award was created and designed by artist, Olga Ayala. My selection of these business venues is to incorporate the growing entrepreneurial businesses owned and managed by Latina Women. The Awards are in the following categories: Art, Community Service, Education, Healthcare/Medicine, Law and Literature.
Since 2014, Latina 50 Plus as awarded 42 Honoree Awards, 5 Lifetime Achievement Awards and 5 Latina 50 Plus Scholarships. Latina 50 Plus has been endorsed by award winning authors Julia Alvarez and Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa. Sponsorships: AARP, BronxCare Health Care Systems, Goya Foods, and New Presbyterian Hospital.
Maria Aponte -Founder and President Latina 50 Plus
Latina Fifty-Plus is a non-partisan Bronx based 501(c) (3) non-profit, pays tribute to Latinas fifty years of age and up who were pioneers. They shaped their careers in a time when Latina women were venturing onto pathways where very few Latinas were seen or accepted. This program acknowledges the trailblazers who were among the first in their profession. By creating this venue which expresses public appreciation for Latina women over fifty, they will have the opportunity to tell their personal narratives. They can provide a historical perspective on what it was like to have lived in a time when Latina feminism was not the norm or tolerated.
These career-minded professionals were the pioneers who fought to dispel commonly held stereotypes of Latinas, some of which are still with us today. By honoring these Latina pioneers, we are honoring our history as women of a certain generation who laid down the steppingstones of change for future generations of Latinas. These are the women who mentored and inspired younger women to pursue their own dreams and realize their own goals.
In honoring these women the annual event highlights the selected Latina Women over Fifty who are invited to a community gathering where they have an opportunity to speak about their journeys of challenges and accomplishment. The women will be honored in their specific field, be it community activism, education, law, or the arts. The inaugural Latina Fifty-Plus luncheon was held on Saturday, June 21st, 2014 at Fordham University, Bronx Campus. The logo and artwork are in partnership with artist/community activist, Mia Roman. The Latina 50 Plus Award was created and designed by artist, Olga Ayala. My selection of these business venues is to incorporate the growing entrepreneurial businesses owned and managed by Latina Women. The Awards are in the following categories: Art, Community Service, Education, Healthcare/Medicine, Law and Literature.
Since 2014, Latina 50 Plus as awarded 42 Honoree Awards, 5 Lifetime Achievement Awards and 5 Latina 50 Plus Scholarships. Latina 50 Plus has been endorsed by award winning authors Julia Alvarez and Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa. Sponsorships: AARP, BronxCare Health Care Systems, Goya Foods, and New Presbyterian Hospital.
Maria Aponte -Founder and President Latina 50 Plus
Maria Aponte - Founder and President
MARIA APONTE is a Poet/Performance Artist/ Community Arts Activist/Educator. Maria's works includes addressing racial discrimination and women’s rights in Latino Theatre . She has written and performs her two one woman shows, Lagrimas de mis Madres an autobiographical play based on the women in her family, and I Will Not be Silenced based on the life of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Maria performs her work at colleges/universities/ conferences locally and nationally. She has been featured on Bronx Net, News 12, NBC Latino and WABC-TV. Maria has been published in The Marymount Review, the literary magazine of Marymount Manhattan College. She studied at the Iowa University Summer Writer’s Workshop. Her one woman show, Lagrimas de Mis Madres was published by Marquette University and Western Michigan University in Caribe Revista de Cultura y Literatura. She has been published in Phati’tude Literary Magazine’s issue; ¿What’s in a Nombre? Writing Latin@ Identity in America, The Nuyorican Women Writers Anthology published in Voices e/Magazine, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College- CUNY; an online literary journal, editor Dr. Nancy Mercado.
In May 2013 Maria’s first book, Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella won 2nd Place for Best Poetry in English at the International Latino Book Awards. Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella is listed on RockThoseReads selected books about Harlem by Total Equity Now. Maria’s second book, The Gift of Loss her memoir, won 2nd Place for Best Autobiography at the 2017 International Latino Book Awards. Maria has her Masters in Latin American/Latino Studies from Fordham University. Maria is the former Assistant Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion and Career Counselor in Career Services at Fordham University. Maria recently retired from Fordham University, but will continue to work with students in the Bronx Community in other programs.
In June 2014, Maria launched Latina 50 Plus a 501 (c)(3) non- profit dedicated to Latinas 50 and up who dedicated their lives to career fields in Arts, Community Service, Education, Healthcare/Medicine, Law and Literature. Since 2014, Latina 50 Plus has hosted networking events that included components in wellness and professional development. Latina 50 Plus has honored 26 Latina 50 Plus, given out 2 scholarships in Education and 3 Latina 50 Plus Dr. Evelina Antonetty Community Service Scholarships. The highlight of Latina 50 Plus is the Latina 50 Plus Luncheon/Award Ceremony that honors a Latina 50 Plus in each of the career categories mentioned above. Maria is the Founder and President of Latina 50 Plus.
Awards:
2019 Fordham University Archbishop Hughes Metal for 20 years of service
2018 The New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc Special Recognition for Career Achievement Service to the Hispanic Community
2017 Honorary Madrina El Museo Del Barrio Three Kings 40th Parade The 9th Annual Taino Awards Guaitiao/Friendship Award for Community
Comite Noviembre Lo Mejor de Nuestra Communidad
2016 Bronx Times 25 Bronx Influential Women June
In 2010, Maria received the V-DAY Award for special recognition for her work with women in the arts from the Eve Ensler Foundation for “someone who has suffered or witnessed violence, and then does extraordinary work to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else in their community.
In 2010, Maria received the V-DAY Award for special recognition for her work with women in the arts from the Eve Ensler Foundation for “someone who has suffered or witnessed violence, and then does extraordinary work to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else in their community.
For more information please visit her website
www.mariaaponte.com
Maria Aponte - Founder and President
MARIA APONTE is a Poet/Performance Artist/ Community Arts Activist/Educator. Maria's works includes addressing racial discrimination and women’s rights in Latino Theatre . She has written and performs her two one woman shows, Lagrimas de mis Madres an autobiographical play based on the women in her family, and I Will Not be Silenced based on the life of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. Maria performs her work at colleges/universities/ conferences locally and nationally. She has been featured on Bronx Net, News 12, NBC Latino and WABC-TV. Maria has been published in The Marymount Review, the literary magazine of Marymount Manhattan College. She studied at the Iowa University Summer Writer’s Workshop. Her one woman show, Lagrimas de Mis Madres was published by Marquette University and Western Michigan University in Caribe Revista de Cultura y Literatura. She has been published in Phati’tude Literary Magazine’s issue; ¿What’s in a Nombre? Writing Latin@ Identity in America, The Nuyorican Women Writers Anthology published in Voices e/Magazine, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College- CUNY; an online literary journal, editor Dr. Nancy Mercado.
In May 2013 Maria’s first book, Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella won 2nd Place for Best Poetry in English at the International Latino Book Awards. Transitions of a Nuyorican Cinderella is listed on RockThoseReads selected books about Harlem by Total Equity Now. Maria’s second book, The Gift of Loss her memoir, won 2nd Place for Best Autobiography at the 2017 International Latino Book Awards. Maria has her Masters in Latin American/Latino Studies from Fordham University. Maria is the former Assistant Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion and Career Counselor in Career Services at Fordham University. Maria recently retired from Fordham University, but will continue to work with students in the Bronx Community in other programs.
In June 2014, Maria launched Latina 50 Plus a 501 (c)(3) non- profit dedicated to Latinas 50 and up who dedicated their lives to career fields in Arts, Community Service, Education, Healthcare/Medicine, Law and Literature. Since 2014, Latina 50 Plus has hosted networking events that included components in wellness and professional development. Latina 50 Plus has honored 26 Latina 50 Plus, given out 2 scholarships in Education and 3 Latina 50 Plus Dr. Evelina Antonetty Community Service Scholarships. The highlight of Latina 50 Plus is the Latina 50 Plus Luncheon/Award Ceremony that honors a Latina 50 Plus in each of the career categories mentioned above. Maria is the Founder and President of Latina 50 Plus.
Awards:
2019 Fordham University Archbishop Hughes Metal for 20 years of service
2018 The New York League of Puerto Rican Women, Inc Special Recognition for Career Achievement Service to the Hispanic Community
2017 Honorary Madrina El Museo Del Barrio Three Kings 40th Parade The 9th Annual Taino Awards Guaitiao/Friendship Award for Community
Comite Noviembre Lo Mejor de Nuestra Communidad
2016 Bronx Times 25 Bronx Influential Women June
In 2010, Maria received the V-DAY Award for special recognition for her work with women in the arts from the Eve Ensler Foundation for “someone who has suffered or witnessed violence, and then does extraordinary work to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else in their community.
In 2010, Maria received the V-DAY Award for special recognition for her work with women in the arts from the Eve Ensler Foundation for “someone who has suffered or witnessed violence, and then does extraordinary work to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else in their community.
For more information please visit her website
www.mariaaponte.com
Board of Advisors
George Acevedo Business Advisor
Wendy Angulo Writer Essayist & Cultural Arts Curator
Social Media/Marketing
Social Media/Marketing
Maribel Gonzalez Proprietor of the South of France Restaurant
Business/Official Caterer
Yvette Martinez Co-Founder of ¡Retumba! All women’s folkloric dance group.
Nonprofit Advisor
Nonprofit Advisor
Mia Roman Founder and Designer Yo Soy Mia Fashion
Creative Arts Advisor
Creative Arts Advisor
Sponsors
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4132999