Contact: Daisy Aponte
(202) 833-0060
manacatherine@aol.com

Washington, D.C., March 11, 2005 – Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) announced that the membership elected Belda Garza from Detroit, Michigan to the National Board of Directors for a three year term. Samantha Salazar a high school senior in San Antonio, Texas and three year member of the Hermanitas® Program was elected to a one year term. The 2005 Board of Directors elected Evangeline (Vangie) Elizondo from MANA de San Antonio as the new Chair of the Board of Directors. Dr. Sandra Rodriguez (MANA del Norte, NM) was elected Vice Chair, Bridget Gonzales (MANA de Nation’s Capital, DC) was elected Secretary and Dr. Jose (Pepe) Estrada (Wal-Mart, AR) was re-elected as Treasurer.

Ms. Elizondo currently serves as the President of the MANA de San Antonio Chapter in Texas. She was elected to serve in 2000 and reelected in 2003. A strong advocate for women, Ms Elizondo is a founding member of various Hispanic organizations including MANA. She is retired from the federal government and from the State of Texas government.

“Having served as the first elected President of MANA, I am proud to have been elected once again to lead MANA in its next level of growth. As Chair of the MANA National Board of Directors, I look forward to continuing our efforts of empowering Latinas and expanding the organization to increase service to our community and continue to advocate for an equal and just society for the benefit of the Hispanic community and all our country,” stated Ms. Elizondo.

Ms. Belda Garza is a long time member of MANA and currently serves as the co-President of MANA dA lot of e Detroit. She is a respected community activist who became the first Latina elected to the Michigan legislature and then re-elected for a second term. Ms. Garza serves on the Detroit Independent Schools Board of Directors and currently serves as Special Assistant on Hispanic Affairs to the Mayor of Detroit. She previously served two terms on the MANA National Board of Directors.
MANA, A National Latina Organization welcomes Ms. Belda Garza and Ms. Samantha Salazar to the Board and congratulates the new officers of the organization.

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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.