Reflections
on
1st Annual Worldwide
COMADRAZO(sm)
April 22-23, 2005
Austin, Texas
(Nora Comstock; May 2005)
This event was wildly successful…beyond my most
incredible dreams. I think we shocked even ourselves at how most
things fell in place. But we also have our attending comadres
to thank and a few brave compadres who came to support their partners.
If something needed doing, they did it. They rolled up their sleeves
and worked in the kitchen, helped move tables to clear the middle
floor for the evening event and then back for the next day’s continuing
showcase. We helped each other bring products from our cars to
the showcase floor and so on. We helped clean up, but of course!
Ah… I get ahead of myself…
Before telling you the whole story…I’d like
to introduce Laura
Lopez Cano and Marisol
Deluna who have donated
their work to Las Comadres.
I commissioned the Las Comadres Para Las Americas
painting from Laura Lopez Cano in 2003 and we unveiled it in May
of that year. Everyone loves this painting and we had a poster
of it made to give to our hostesses and to offer to you as your
gift for a donation of $35 (includes
shipping and handling), a small donation
to help us pay expenses. Laura has graciously given me all rights
to that image.  And
this year fashion designer Marisol Deluna, founder of Deluna by
Design, Inc. (New York, Paris, and Buenos Aires), created an
incredibly beautiful silk scarf based on the images in the
Lopez Cano painting. The colors and the design are exquisite.
Marisol has donated her talent to help us raise funds to offset
some of our expenses as we continue to grow.
Now, back to the party…
Las Comadres was going to be five years old
and it seemed fitting that we celebrate the event. The idea of
a national comadrazo was suggested by several comadres: some in
Austin and some in other cities and our anniversary year seemed
a perfect time to bring everyone together. As I visited
the various comadre networks and told stories about each to the
other, I kept hearing a yearning to meet each other. As
the idea took hold in my mind, I realized that the fabulous experiences
I had staying in your homes, meeting your families, sharing your
lives briefly, and bonding with you should be duplicated in Austin
for you and your hostesses here so that you got not just a sense
of the adventure but the carino we have for each other and the
willingness to help each other out. These experiences of sharing
would make Las Comadres an even stronger national organization
that will grow into countries outside the mainland U.S.A.
We made the fantasy real when in January an
email message was sent system wide asking comadres to choose preferred
dates. The weekend of April 22-23 was chosen and we sent out a
save the date notice.
From the beginning the event was conceived of
as a huge comadrazo, the basic event we have monthly in each network
city, not a conference by any definition. But the idea was hard
for some mujeres to grasp. They kept asking about the speakers
or the panels but there would be no speakers and no panels, nothing
like this had been done before…that we know of. It was a non-conference
put on by a group of volunteers who believed in an idea.
I had some general ideas and some specific ideas about what should
happen and I planted the seeds and the volunteer planning committee
made it happen, adding their own spice as they created the event.
For example, we home-hosted every visitor! Maybe one or two stayed
in a hotel but the rest of our comadre guests stayed in our homes!
What a blast! I am still hearing about the friendships that were
made and the treatment that was beyond fabulous. They all can’t
wait until next year! What, are we crazy? Yes, next year…stay
tuned for date choices!
For more more information on the planning committee,
their finished product (and what you may have missed!), and a
listing of sponsors- here's a link to the complete program (in
PDF format) of the event: National
Comadrazo Program.
A key component for the success of the event
was the location. Austin Community College, Eastview Campus,
a beautiful new campus in East Austin that became our comadrazo
site. This campus (as are all community college campus) was a
natural place for such an event…but next year we will be too big
for this space…bummer. The provost of Austin Community College,
Dr. Tyra Duncan-Hall, the campus manager, Juanita Mendez,
and our main contact, Driana Gonzalez, and all the staff
and security guards were the most incredibly helpful and kind
people we could have worked with. We are most grateful to all
of them.
While in San Diego launching Las Comadres in
that city, I learned about a business of the comadre hostess for
that first event. She and several partners have an international
company that works with entities (schools, companies, groups)
to create an organizational sense of community. They use music
to create teams and teams/groups to create the words of songs
that express the unity of the whole. Gloria Williams offered
RedZebra’s talent
to Las Comadres so that we could write our song and make our mark
on the hearts of comadres from everywhere.
We accepted the offer and Gloria Williams and
Ollie McDonald (who came from England to be with us) and
a large part of the RedZebra team came to Austin to enchant us
with our own words and their musical wizardry. The song we wrote
together is about the heart, the core, of the Las Comadres strength
and vision. Comadre Annabelle Arteaga deserves the credit for
the introduction to RedZebra.
Basically, we planned an event where we would
celebrate all comadres (~225) who came and those who could not
but were with us in spirit: we showcased our businesses and our
talents for each other. Our goodie bags were brimming with gifts
from comadres and compadres from all over. We had 60 tables and
77 vendors (some share a very small space).  We
started the day with a salsa aerobics session and ended the day
with a soothing Nia workout.
This was followed by a several hour break before dinner and the
talent show each evening. And throughout the day there were many
opportunities to meet the comadres who were participating in the
event: “platicas a la carrera” (modeled on the speed dating model),
roundtables on topics suggested by comadres, and the Products
& Services Showcase.
One of our local newspapers, ahora
si!, planned to run a cover story on the Las Comadres
Para Las Amercias 1st National Comadrazo but through
divine intervention a new pope was chosen that week and we were
pre-empted. But we will grace the cover on May 12, 2005!
Our comadre Lissette Calderon, editor/publisher
of the new and fabulous Cuerpo
Magazine gave us coverage in her first edition: an ad
for the national comadrazo on the page facing her introductory
address to her readership. What an incredible gift to us.
Comadre Sylvia Martinez, of Sylvia
Martinez Media, (a nominee as TV writer for Imagen Awards)
and her colleagues prepared a fabulous short movie clip of what
Las Comades is all about. They used pictures from past comadrazos
from around the country and original interviews with comadres
in New York City. Comadres were all choked up when they
saw it…especially me! This will be used as part of an introduction
for new networks to the Las Comadres Para Las Americas.
On Saturday night, April 23, we sang our song,
the one our group wrote for Las Comadres. THAT brought tears to
our eyes. The performance was incredible. 
And we ended the evening with musical performances
that made everyone jump up and dance! Imagine that!
The talents shows, the fashion show…oh my gosh…we'll
have a special page for them.
The fabulous food, the generosity of our sponsors,
even the spirit of our volunteers…we are awed by it all. They're
all listed in our program
for you to know about. And you know how we thank them, right?
You go to their establishments, buy their products and say thank
you. Please introduce yourself as a comadre to the owner/manager.
We want them to know we have been there to thank them!
Mil gracias to all for coming, for believing,
for being a part of Las Comadres, and to our volunteers
for their tireless giving to make this dream come true.
nora
Reflections
From some of of the volunteers:
From: Magdalena Blanco, Program
Chair
National Comadrazo 2005
As a 3 year member of Las Comadras, my goal
at this National Comadrazo was to expand my network base as well
as build new friendships. My Expectations were exceeded and my
goals accomplished. I had an AWESOME time! There aren't enough
words in the world to describe how wonderful I felt. I met so
many fabulous, loving, giving, and caring women; whom interacted
like one big family of sisters. I shared personal experiences,
triumphs, accomplishments, tears, and new ideas with my comadres,
my mother, my young daughters, and even my husband who volunteered
during the nightly entertainment. This is definitely and without
a doubt the best & most unique conference/convention/comadrazo
that I have ever attended.
From: Geri Luna Wilson ,Chair of the
Fashion Show and Chair for Special Projects.
As Chair of the Fashion Show I felt it my responsibility
to present the Latina in every shape, size and age range.
It was very important for me to know that all my Comadres in the
audience could look at the model protraying her most beautiful
self, and totally identify with her. Initally, my response
for models was rather sparse, so I submitted a request to Nora
to shoot an E-mail to all the comadres and invite them to contact
me if they were interested in participating in the Fashion Show.
Madre Santisima, I had E-mails coming from left and right.
Yet, for the most part, if I approached a comadre in person and
asked if she'd model for me,she was absolutely blown-away by the
mere concept. But the women who were initally the most hesitant
were the women that absolutely came into themselves and let go
on the stage. I saw a glow and sense of self-beauty in these
women that I'd never seen before. Almost as if they's fantisized
about modeling when they were young girls but never, in the wildest
dreams , ever thought they'd be on a runway...wearing designer
clothes...wearing performance make-up...having all eyes in the
audience on them and them alone. Being a witness to
that moment and feeling responsible for giving them that momemt
was a gift of undescribable porportations. My heart swelled
with joy and happiness for them. Every hour I spent coordinating
it, planning it, designing it...was all worth it because of that
moment!
As Chair of Special Projects I was responsible
for making 2 maps and a Wall of Honor. One map was to indicate
where we, as comadres were from...where our roots originated.
That map did not turn out exactly as I'd planned it because the
heading on the map asked, "Where do you life?" That was
a type-o that was not even noticed until it was too late to fix.
Next year I'll get it right.
The other map was to indicate where in the United
States we, as Las Comadres, were established. I did this
by integrating the Wall Of Honor with the information I had on
where we were established. My daughter helped me with these
projects and devoted literally many hours of many days researching
each and every Comadre who'd ever hosted a comadrazo...ever, and
in every city. She is very creative and very meticulous
so it took much more time than perhaps it needed to; but, it made
her happy and gave her a sense of contirbution and accomplishment.
All in all, it was one of the most physically
and emotionally demanding experiences I've had in many years....but
the most rewarding and fullfilling as well. As cliche as
it sounds; I felt truely bonded with these women because I knew
that we were all giving our very best and sacraficing many hours
of our days to pull this off. I knew that, collectively,
we were depending on each link to be strong and committed...and
it was. I now have a deeper and richer sense of what it
means to be a comadre...to give and to give "con ganas".
I have to stop now and go blow my nose cuz with
all the passion I got misty and mocosa!
Geri
From: Martha Duffer
I had the opportunity to work with Magdalena
on the Program Committee. This included developing Round
Table talking points, securing facilitators for the Round Tables
and compiling information from other committees/comadres for the
Program Booklet. Magdalena was awesome in her commitment and dedication
to leading this committee and worked long hours with almost no
sleep the last week to make it all come together. This committee
created the opportunity for me to meet amazing Comadres and learn
about their work prior to the Comadrazo as we contacted them about
the possibility of facilitating Round Tables. From marketing
professionals to writers and from psychologists to community political
leaders we learned that Comadres are everywhere doing exciting
groundbreaking work. At the National Comadrazo putting faces
to names was a delight as I met people I had been talking to through
phone and e-mail.
The Round Tables at the Comadrazo, although
smaller than we had originally anticipated (many people were just
thrilled to be with each other and kept sharing in the exhibitor's
hall), could not have been more perfect. Women came together
and shared their brilliance, accomplishments, fears, hopes, and
challenges in multiple areas of their lives. The discussions
were animated and vibrant as we grappled with core issues affecting
our lives as Latinas such as family, cultural expectations, friendships,
spirituality, relationships, supporting each other in professional
realms, life transitions, personal growth, creating our own businesses,
building healthy communities, political and legislative involvement,
health, self-care, and empowerment. There was much laughter
as well as many tears as we shared our hearts with each other
and learned from one another. In one group, everyone in
the room was brought to tears as one of our Comadres shared a
challenge in her life and the brave road she has walked. In another
group we learned how a Comadre became aware of an injustice and
worked to address it through her community, culminating in her
getting legislation passed through the state legislature that
successfully resolved it. Many Comadres throughout the two
days shared with me how much it meant to them to have had the
opportunity to share in this way and be inspired by our stories.
Comadres were excited to learn new health tips
from each other and encouraged by stories of each other's successes.
Many talked about ways they were going to go back and incorporate
something they had learned into their daily lives. Some
who were dealing with very difficult life situations told me that
sharing them in the group had given them the strength they needed
to continue forward. For many, this was a life changing
experience offering hope, support and new possibilities.
For me personally, I was deeply moved by the
power of sitting in a room of Latinas all of different ages, socioeconomic
backgrounds, education levels, beliefs and countries, all respecting
and supporting each other, learning from each other and drawing
strength from each other. I was replenished by our shared
resilience, perseverance and wisdom and inspired by our stories
of growth, courage and incredible successes against seemingly
insurmountable odds. I was reminded that coming together
in this way is a revolutionary act and together we can build a
world of peace and social and economic justice. Learning
to listen to each other. Creating the space for our differences
to strengthen our efforts. Learning to learn from each other.
Together.
From: Celeste Guzman Mendoza
The Comadrazo wasn't just a gathering of professional
Latina women, but a full-out pachanga with like-minded and -bodied
spirits. Running the lights for the evening presentations,
I saw Rita Vidaurri perform who is in her 80's and then Dominique,
who is 16 years old, followed her. Red Zebra coordinated
a drum and rhythm workshop and presentation where women from their
50's to young girls of five and six years old all played together
on the same stage, the same music with various beats. This
was the first Comadrazo -- our varied selves all humming it up
to a good vibe that left me charged and ready for my work and
purpose.
From: Sandy McCullers
As soon as I got home on Sunday, I began to
miss everyone and all the special times we shared! I have NEVER
experienced anything of this magnitude and I have to say that
I experienced some soul healing and the sisterly love I've never
had! The experience has changed me and I look at everything so
differently now, I feel that I'm not alone and that someone is
there for me somewhere!
Gracias Nora for building on that small idea
and vision.
I can't wait to get started in Plano,Frisco,McKinney!
Just let me know when & where and I'm soooo there!
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