Washington, D.C., June 25, 2003 - Thanks to the support of the General Motors Corporation, MANA, A National Latina Organization has been able to offer stipends to Latina student interns both in Washington, D.C. and at chapter sites across the country. These interns will not only provide support to chapters and the national organization, but more importantly, they will gain valuable work experience and networking opportunities to help in their professional development.

As an organization with a mission to "empower Latinas through community service, leadership development, and advocacy", through the internship program, MANA seeks to provide opportunities for Latina students by giving them a positive professional experience that will help them in their future academic and career paths.

This year, through the MANA-General Motors Internship Program, six local MANA Chapters have received funding for internships. Each chapter will provide a stipend to a Latina high school or college student. Chapters are responsible for their selections processes, and some have chosen members of MANA's HERMANITAS® Program as summer interns.

The six chapters who applied and received funding from this program are Bay Area MANA, MANA de Hidalgo County, MANA de Orange County, MANA de San Antonio, MANA de Sonoma County, and San Diego MANA.

At the MANA National Office in Washington, D.C., two Latina students are working as interns. Ms. Susana Puig of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a recent graduate of the University of Dayton who will begin a Master's Degree in the fall at the American University, is working as the Special Projects Intern. Among her responsibilities will be supporting MANA's AvanZamos® Program and assisting with planning the Las Primeras Awards Gala in September.

Ms. Jennifer Lopez of Commerce, California, a junior at Georgetown University is working as the Hermanitas® Intern, with support from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) of the Department of Health and Human Services. The majority of Ms. Lopez's time will be spent preparing for and assisting with the National HERMANITAS® Summer Institute, which will take place July 31 through August 3, 2003.

MANA thanks General Motors for its generous support for this internship program and for providing this valuable opportunity to Latina students across the country.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization, is a nonprofit, advocacy organization headquartered in the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. With chapters across the country, it is the oldest National Latina membership organization in the United States. MANA, whose mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy, envisions a national community of informed Latina activists working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics.

MANA also has the only national young Latina's mentoring program for girls 11 to 17, "HERMANITAS®" which brings over 200 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives.