I was hoping to use this journey to strengthen my understanding of who Sandy Riojas is, but instead found that her wisdom would help me understand not only myself but also others like me. I found a real connection between Riojas and her inherent desire to highlight the state of young Latinas or “Latinitas” – as she so affectionately refers to young adolescent and teen girls in Rhode Island. I’ve always known of Riojas’ passion and devotion towards Latinas, but as our conversation deepened, the root of these emotions emerged.

Born into a Mexican-American family, Riojas was raised during the tumultuous 1960’s under the influence of an older sister who was a political activist and her strong, assertive grandmother. They taught her that education was the key to making personal and societal changes. The Texas native has worked as an educator for 30 years in Texas, Oklahoma and Rhode Island. Now a self-professed Rhode Islander, Riojas is active in the community, focused on building equity to close gaps that adversely affect youth, women and communities of color.

Riojas’ concern lies with understanding the future of “Latinitas” in Rhode Island. “What will life be like for them? Will it be better? Who will mentor them? Who is mentoring them now?”

I couldn’t help but reminisce about the time when I was a “Latinita” and the barriers and turmoil I encountered in my adolescent and teenage years. Without a mentor, those days were filled with distrust and confusion that forced me into isolation and depression. Being a “Latinita” puts us in a vulnerable state, because we have to learn to adapt to dual cultures, the one we inherit and the one we live in.

Hearing Sandy speak about the need and desire for mentors, role models, and positive reinforcement was as motivational to me as organizing a direct action to win social justice. Here is a woman who despite her struggles or in spite of them, continues to work towards a better tomorrow.

Lessons learned from her paternal grandmother allowed her to acknowledge her value. With an enthusiastic smile and a glimmer in her eyes she recounts, “Grandma always said to me, ‘Mi hija – education is a way for women to survive.’”

Riojas continued with the staggering statement, “Did you know that “Latinitas” are the fastest growing demographic in the U.S.? By the year 2050, 1 in 4 U.S. women will be of Hispanic descent. 53% of these young Latinas become pregnant or mothers at least once before the age of 20 and have the highest female high school dropout rate in the nation [42%].”

Riojas asked, “If this is what is happening to our young Latinas today, how will they survive tomorrow?”

These statistics emphasize the need for women like Riojas and me to do all we can to provide guidance to today’s young Latinas. If we are looking to ensure not just the survival of this fast growing demographic, but our collective potential as Latinas, then together, we must help provide the resources that will enable young Latinas to expand their contributions to our community.

Throughout our conversation Riojas kept alluding to the need for Latinas to “break into the pipeline.” She says, “We need more Latinas in elected office, as educators, as lawyers, in essence, in mainstream society.”

In listening to Riojas, I understand she is talking about bringing our Latina uniqueness, gifts, intellect and passion into the mainstream, not allowing current mainstream stereotypes to limit us. She continued, “For this reason, I see the value in mentoring and understanding our young Latina girls.” The value placed in the abilities of young Latinas to become an integrated and integral part of mainstream society would allow for the growth of role models, mentors, and ultimately expanded cultural understanding and acceptance.

In the meantime, she is doing what she can to stress the importance of deepening our understanding of the state of young Latinas in Rhode Island and the U.S. She is currently mentoring two women that form part of the Latina Leadership Institute, a program coordinated by the RI Latino Civic Fund.

The two women – Osmary Rodriguez and Dora Cooney – are working on a project that will aid them in their own mentoring of “Latinitas” by expanding their understanding of what it means to grow up a Latina in mainstream U.S. culture.

As a new era of even more significant ethnic and cultural diversity approaches, it is encouraging to know that women like Riojas, Rodriguez and Cooney are working to ensure we acknowledge and understand the challenges our young “Latinitas” face.

As I wrap up my interview with Riojas, I’m reminded of the inspiration and hope she inspires in other Latinas to learn from our past struggles while we build a better future for our “Latinitas.”

As Rodriguez says, “With Sandy’s encouragement and help, we hope to start the ball rolling to encourage, motivate and assist our “Latinitas” who are our future, to succeed in whatever path they choose. Bringing awareness to the challenges our young women face is the first step in opening doors so that as Latinas we can all move forward together.”