Women Rising Mujeres en Acción helps women overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. By Celia Jiménez W here some people might see struggle, leaders of the nonprofit Mujeres en Acción see opportunity. “Our main focus is to help women become economically self-sufficient and develop their leadership, so they can change issues that affect their families, so they can advocate for themselves,” says Maria Elena Manzo, founder and executive director of the nonprofit, which launched in 2015. (The name is Spanish for Women in Action.) Their goals are big and small, from getting a driver’s license to starting a business, enrolling in school or becoming leaders in their communities. “They talk about their goals and their dreams and then we help them overcome obstacles that stop them from achieving their goals,” Manzo says. Women sign up and receive peer support in areas including education, leadership skills and emotional well-being. They also get connected to other nonprofits or institutions that can help them advance. Manzo says she’s inspired when she sees women reaching their goals, like transitioning from being a farmworker picking strawberries to becoming a community health worker. “We have talents, and we have all that it takes. We just need somebody to invest in us,” Manzo adds. There are many success stories that started at Mujeres, including Celsa Ortega, a mother of four and a former farmworker. She is now a business owner who started her own organic farm, Induchucuiti Organic Farms. Another woman is Claudia Reyes, a Mixteco woman from Salinas. She joined Mujeres as a participant during the pandemic. A year later, she became a community health worker with the VIDA project. Now she leads Mujeres’ cohorts for Mixteco speakers. Reyes says when she joined the group she didn’t have any set goals. Little by little, and while talking with other women and learning new skills she saw herself doing something other than working in the fields. “Those opportunities made me feel like I could do it,” Reyes says in Spanish. “Working in the fields isn’t a bad job, but it’s hard.” Reyes adds that being part of Mujeres changed her and her family’s lives. Her eldest daughter, Maria Alexandra, 21, is one year away from graduating from university and is more involved in her community. When she first immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and saw injustices, Maria Elena Manzo (left) says she felt powerless. Now she helps others find and strategically leverage their power. DANIEL DREIFUSS Thank You To our donors, volunteers and shoppers for helping us support San Carlos School and our community members! We Graciously Accept: ✔ Household Items ✔ Clothing & Accessories ✔ Furniture ✔ Garden & Decor Items Please call with any questions or pickup requests Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm 480 Webster St., Monterey (831) 375-4780 With Heart Felt Gratitude—The Branches Team Help us restore Chautauqua Hall as a community resource that reflects the heritage of Pacific Grove montereycountygives.com/pgheritage 56 Monterey County GIVES! 2025 mcgives.com
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