The women I have chosen- to honor this 2023 National Women ’s History Month are not familiar names but have many women’s accomplishments and achievements. Each is a woman of courage, commitment, and character. They represent a newer generation of Latina women who are demonstrating that they are representing and carrying the water up a steep hill for future generations of women. Each is dedicated to advancing the history of all, mainly women of color, in our White, male European dominated society. These Six and a Half Women demonstrate to the world that “women of color and all women matter.” These Six and a Half women are not widely known, but they serve as role models for their peers.
Erica Marie Méndez, BSN, RN, is a singer, actress, mentor, mother, and entrepreneur. Growing up, she lived with her mom, older brother, and two younger sisters in an impoverished neighborhood in Philadelphia. She attended Saint Veronica Catholic School and Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts before entering Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg University (ESU) on a full merit-based scholarship. After earning a 2nd degree from West Chester University in nursing and working as a nurse, she partnered with Erica Hammel, a highly trained Botox injector and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University. Erica aims to build her medical spa, Lips and Drips. She aims to teach other nurse entrepreneurs how to enter the aesthetics practice.
Rebecca Tabárez-Romero, BS, is a Quality Documentation Specialist at Bayer Corporation. Born in Philadelphia, she mostly grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, where her parents moved to escape the dysfunctional Philadelphia drug-infested neighborhood the family was living in. She attended the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where she served as president of the ESU Latin American Association (LAA). Her parents, teenage sweethearts, faced many challenges, but with a strong work ethic and excellent parenting, they raised Rebecca and her siblings. Rebecca attended East Stroudsburg University on a full-merit scholarship, and her passion for animals steered her into biology. During her winter and summer breaks, she was an adoption coordinator at the Humane Society of Berks County. Upon graduation, she worked in OTC and cosmetic manufacturing for five years as a Laboratory technician. She moved on to the position of Quality Documentation when she landed her current job with the Bayer Corporation. Rebecca was recently married to her high school sweetheart, Samuel Romero. They share three dogs and three cats and keep a pristine, decorated home.
Rania Tabárez is a junior at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, majoring in art and design. A graduate of Reading High School, she received a merit-based scholarship to the ESU. A strong and determined advocate for quality educational opportunities for all children and their families, Rania is an exceptional college student who balances her stellar academic responsibilities with many extracurricular activities and a job as a resident manager in the student dorms. In addition, she challenged the gender divide by running for prom King while her male partner ran for prom Queen.
Mariah Taína Matias is a First-generation master’s level student at Lehigh University Pennsylvania in earth and environmental sciences. As one of the few women in this field of study, she has traveled to Greenland, Iceland, Peru, and Costa Rica to conduct research. She has won many awards for her research and presentations. Her life experience of growing up in a single-parent household in a challenged Philadelphia neighborhood, where she attended the Community Academy, prepared her as a chaperone for high school students in various European countries. Aside from her academic endeavors, she has enjoyed working toward the conservation of endangered species.
Asia Matias graduated from Philadelphia Academy Charter School, where she excelled academically, athletically, and socially. Asia received a full scholarship to Neumann University School of Nursing. During high school, she worked at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children as a Pulmonology CF Secretary.
Brianna Rojas Cappacetti attended Northeast High School, where she emerged as a responsible young Latina woman with a bold vision for her future and a knack for a sustainable life, strong community ties, and professional customer service skills that have served her well in running her teeth whitening business.
Verónica Santina Rojas is a first-year high school student known as the “Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador” of Kingsway Regional High School in New Jersey. Since she was very young, Verónica has shown a vocation for helping people of diverse backgrounds work together on issues of common interest. She won many academic and community service awards, received the 2022 National Liberty Museum Young Heroes Award, and featured in the Atlantic City Blog as a Latina under 40. In addition, she was in her middle school choir and performs at the Williamstown Tower Theater twice a year.
I am so proud of these women, my granddaughters and my 14-year-old daughter.
