100 Latina Birthdays

Excerpt...A pioneer in the community health network, Ilda considers her advocacy and community building as part of her life’s purpose. "Now it’s my turn. I say, they helped me and now it is my time to help the community."In 2024, she won a Community Health Worker of the year award. The glass trophy is featured near a caricature of her and another promotora. Their nickname: “Las Sunshines” – which would be a great name for a Tejano music group.  As an advocate, Ilda has gone to the state house to demand that Illinois expand medical assistance for immigrants, regardless of legal status.  100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Excerpt...Beatriz"I know they called me a lesbian. They actually looked at me and said, oh, you are a lesbian. That just helped me bury it. And of course then after that I was over the top boy. Crazy. Partly because I was boy crazy, but also because I needed to show everybody that No, no, no, no, no. I wasn't a lesbian. I definitely liked boys."Carmen"How did this affect your mental health in those early years?"Beatriz"I hated myself. I mentioned I developed an eating disorder when I was 15. I wasn't diagnosed with anything, but I remember I ate quite a bit and I was overweight. I think now the therapist in me now thinks I was burying my feelings and I was eating my feelings."100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

She served for almost six years. The work was hard on her body, and the physical labor hurt her back, much of it due to her need to fit in. "Especially being a female, I think we have to kind of prove ourselves to be at the level of the guys. … I feel that I definitely had to grow a thick skin." Carolina recalls the jeering from male sailors, and the unwanted attention she received simply for being a woman. But she believed she had to endure it all.The push to power through is common, says Dr. Pamela Fullerton, a bicultural clinical counselor with Puerto Rican and German heritage. "We see this story line in us Latinas … constantly trying to prove our worth."100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Excerpt...Celina’s office in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood is a studio loft, with high ceilings and an open, airy feel. It’s clear that this is a place where healing begins. It’s bright, filled with plants, and has a peaceful ambiance.Celina Huerta: A lot of women are also learning that if they don’t want to have sex, and you know, their partner still wants to they’re learning like oh that’s sexual assault, I didn’t know that. Even with that, that's domestic violence. You were forced or you were pressured and now they’re feeling guilty and shameful for not wanting to have sex.Johanna found herself trapped by overthinking."I'm the problem. This is why he sleeps around. This is why he cheats. Because, porque si no, que necesidad tiene to look for it somewhere else, right? If it was good, he would be here at home. Getting it from me."100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Excerpt...Hilda mostly works in neighborhoods with higher Latino concentrations, such as Cicero, Pilsen and Berwyn.Half of the work is driving around the city to talk to people about what they have, where to go and to help people make the appointments. The other half is learning.  "O sea, tengo muchas actividades." ("In other words, I have a lot of activities.") Add to all that — caring for her family. Hilda is the mother of four. She is among the 86,000 community health workers in the U.S. and part of the 1,200 in Chicago. Nearly a quarter of these frontline workers in Chicago are Latina. Many of them between 40 and 60. Health navigators like her build trust across all areas related to health, she says. 100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Excerpt...Back in the small community room in Enlace Chicago, the group of women continues chatting about how menopause can take a toll on their intimate relationships. And then there’s a celebrity twist. "El ex de Shakira qué dijo? Que estaba con la muchacha, con Clara Chia, es que con ella tengo sexo diario… que dio a entender? Que con Shakira no, no? Shakira es más grande. A lo mejor Shakira estaba en la menopausia. ("What did Shakira's ex say? He was with the other woman, Clara Chia, because he had sex with her everyday… What did he mean with that? That with Shakira he didn’t, no? Shakira is older, maybe she was going through menopause.")100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Excerpt...Ana explains that guilt around sex is deeply ingrained, especially for women who’ve been taught to view their bodies as shameful or something to be hidden. "It’s sinful to even think about your body, and even things such as basic, as your genitalia, which is just another body part, your arm or your vagina or what have you." She says that stories passed down generationally keep women from questioning those narratives. That’s where her work helping women identify these damaging beliefs, and gently challenging them, begins.100LatinaBirthdays.com100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women, the Community Memorial Foundation, and VNA Foundation. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is the series’ fiscal sponsor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From healthcare to home care, education to service industries, Latinas are at the forefront of essential labor—but their contributions come at a steep cost. With one of the highest labor market participation rates in the U.S.—even surpassing pre-pandemic levels—Latinas are critical to the workforce, but their stories are often left unheard. How do overloaded schedules, burnout, and workplace safety issues impact not just health but mental well-being?  Reporter Julia Binswanger dives into the often overlooked work hazards, injuries, and environmental risks faced by Latinas in the workforce today.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Between 2015 to 2019, unsheltered homelessness increased among two populations: women and Latinos. Homelessness carries a social stigma, and getting help is difficult because people do not disclose how much they’re struggling. But housing insecurity—overcrowding, doubling up, and moving often—can be traumatizing and have life-long impacts on a person’s health and well-being.  In this episode, reporter Vicky Diaz-Camacho explores the cultural taboos of homelessness and the link between housing instability and overall health of Latinas.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Between 2015 to 2019, unsheltered homelessness increased among two populations: women and Latinos. Homelessness carries a social stigma, and getting help is difficult because people do not disclose how much they’re struggling. But housing insecurity—overcrowding, doubling up, and moving often—can be traumatizing and have life-long impacts on a person’s health and well-being. In this episode, reporter Vicky Diaz-Camacho explores the cultural taboos of homelessness and the link between housing instability and overall health of Latinas. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, we are sharing an episode from our Peabody-nominated series, 70 Million.  The newest season focuses on the ways that Immigration and Customs enforcement, or  ICE, detention impacts those in its custody who identify across the gender spectrum. We hope you like it. Many make the dangerous trek across South and Central America to arrive at the U.S. border to seek asylum and safely. But for some mothers, reaching the country is where their hardships begin. Reporter Inés Rénique connects with two immigrant mothers in NYC whose journeys only intensified as they sacrifice and work to support their families after arriving in the U.S. Find an annotated transcript at our website here. Find more information—including transcripts and resource guides—visit 70MillionPod.com (Here). Follow @70MillionPod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Being diagnosed with ADHD can feel like a complicated and isolating experience—but for Vanessa, her ADHD diagnosis as a 28-year-old Latina gave her much-needed clarity. Vanessa spent most of her life questioning why "simple" tasks were so challenging. She knew something was not right, so she sought out a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety disorders. In this two-part episode, reporter Carmen Marquez explores the challenges of receiving a correct ADHD diagnosis, the cultural misconceptions that prevent parents from acknowledging the illness, and how embracing a diagnosis can lead to self-empowerment and healing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Being diagnosed with ADHD can feel like a  complicated and isolating experience—but for Vanessa, her ADHD diagnosis as a 28-year-old Latina gave her much-needed clarity.   Vanessa spent most of her life questioning why "simple" tasks were so challenging. She knew something was not right, so she sought out a psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety disorders. In this episode, reporter Carmen Marquez explores the challenges of receiving a correct ADHD diagnosis, the cultural misconceptions that prevent parents from acknowledging the illness, and how embracing a diagnosis can lead to self-empowerment and healing.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nearly 80% of Latino youth suffer childhood trauma, but many don’t start actively healing and acknowledging adverse childhood events until later in life – often when they start showing up as physical symptoms – stomach pains, headaches, racing heart rates. Some Latinas are starting to recognize the inextricable link between the mind and body, and reconnecting to ancestral medicine to heal. But in the process of offering a deeper healing, compassionate practice to their communities, they are also discovering the depth of problems created by a Western medical system that centers profit over care. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nearly 21.4% of Hispanic and Latino adults report having a mental illness. In this episode, Juleyka Lantigua, the creator of our show, sits down for a roundtable discussion with two mental health practitioners to discuss some of the most prevalent mental health issues among Latinas and to unpack how Latinas understand and cope with their mental wellbeing. Generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD––the panel gets into it all. Gabriela Livas Stein, PhD, is Professor and Chair of Human Development and Family Sciences at UT Austin. and the Principal Investigator at CAMINOS Lab. Catalina Fortich, MS, LMFT, is a clinician in private practice and owner of Safe Place Therapy.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is Part 2 of a special two-part episode of 100 Latina Birthdays. After serving 10+ years in prison, Destiny and Diana had to adjust to a new life outside of prison. From finding a new job, to rebuilding relationships, and learning to regulate their emotions, returning to the community, their families, and their kids was often an overwhelming experience. Reporter Francesca Mathews investigates why Latinas impacted by the carceral system often struggle with isolation and cultural disconnection, and the negative impact on their physical, mental and emotional health.100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It's made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, the Field Foundation of Illinois, Pritzker Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is a series fiscal sponsor.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The negative health impacts of incarceration on Latina mothers and their families are profound and long-lasting, even beyond a release from prison. Destiny and Diana were incarcerated during their transition from adolescence into adulthood and motherhood, so they had to learn about their bodies and reproductive health, as well as their physical and mental wellbeing in the dehumanizing setting of prison. Francesca Mathews documents the journey of two Latina mothers impacted by incarceration, and dives into the health implications of the medical neglect, and the psychological and emotional trauma many women experience behind bars. She also speaks with medical experts, community organizations and counselors on the outside who are working to improve the wellbeing of women as they transition into the community and rebuild their lives. 100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It's made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, the Field Foundation of Illinois, Pritzker Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is a series fiscal sponsor.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Chicago, there are 77 community areas ranked by their social vulnerability index, a tool that helps explain how underlying health disparities can make some Latino neighborhoods more vulnerable in the face of environmental or man-made disasters. Reporter Francesca Mathews spends time in the southwest side speaking with residents and advocates, like organizers from the Chicago Environmental Justice Network and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, about the health impacts of past disaster on the local communities, and what government officials can do to help them be more resilient.100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It's made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, the Field Foundation of Illinois, Pritzker Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is a series fiscal sponsor.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The popularity of "magic mushrooms" or psilocybin is on the rise. While its use has been decriminalized in very limited contexts in some states, it remains illegal in most of the U.S. Journalist Carmen Marquez reports on Chicago and LA-based Latinas who are raising awareness about the potential of these psychedelics to heal, to nurture, and to connect us with our roots. 100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It's made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, the Field Foundation of Illinois, Pritzker Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Mujeres Latinas en Acción is a series fiscal sponsor.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is Part 2 of a special two-part episode of 100 Latina Birthdays. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, we suggest you do that first. Mariela "Ella" Vazquez had a hysterectomy at age 11, after being diagnosed with endometriosis. As an adult, like many Latinas with this condition, Ella had to learn not just how to manage her chronic pain, but how to speak about it openly with loved ones. Reporter Julia Binswanger documents Ella's personal journey and speaks with medical experts about why the pain of many Latinas endo patients is not taken seriously and the significant implications this can have on their health and wellbeing. 100 Latina Birthdays is an original production of LWC Studios. It is made possible by grants from Healthy Communities Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Woods Fund Chicago, the Field Foundation of Illinois, Pritzker Foundation, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. Mujeres Latinas En Acción is a series fiscal sponsor.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.