Monday, October 11, 2004

Dinners unite Hispanic women

Laura Ruelas
El Paso Times

Courtesy of Las Comadres Para Las Americas
This illustration of four women by artist Laura Lopez Cano is the logo for Las Comadres Para Las Americas.

Photo courtesy of Nora de Hoyos Comstock
The local chapter of Las Comadres Para Las Americas ate and mingled at the home of one of its comadres. Comadrazos are monthly informal meetings where Hispanic women can meet others, build friendships and network.

Interested in attending the Thursday comadrazo?

Visit www.lascomadres.org and click on "join," or call 525-7736.
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When you hear the word comadres, you might think of a group of Hispanic women talking, laughing and sharing stories. That's exactly the definition of comadrazos.

Comadrazos are monthly potluck dinners at which a group of women gather informally at a house to build relationships and mingle with area businesswomen, teachers, nurses, wives, daughters, grandmothers and women of all economic and educational backgrounds.

Two Austin women, Veronica Rivera and Elizabeth Garcia, began Las Comadres Para Las Americas -- an e-mail group for Hispanic women to share professional, social and cultural similarities -- in 2000. The group's mission is to unite Hispanic women, starting in their communities and then nationally.

"Veronica and Elizabeth were feeling a similar disconnection," said Nora de Hoyos Comstock, the third founder of Las Comadres. "They knew some people in town, but not many. It was difficult to meet other people, and they had little groups here and there, but there were other groups they didn't know how to connect to." To bridge that gap, they decided to get together and mingle with other Hispanic women. Las Comadres has grown to 1,000 members in Austin and 5,000 nationwide. Sandra Dominguez, 28, attended her first Comadrazo last November in San Antonio after a friend from high school, who was living in Albuquerque, told her about it.

"I had no idea what to expect," Dominguez said in an e-mail interview. "But I like to meet new people and try something different." At her first meeting, there were about 40 women, each with something unique to offer. De Hoyos Comstock developed groups in cities where she met women who seemed interested. "After we started the Austin group, we started one in Dayton, Ohio, then San Antonio, and Texas started taking off," she said. "Then it was Boston, Detroit, New York City, then all over. Now I'm headed to California and Florida."

Dominguez is now working with Ruth Saenz to organize comadrazos in El Paso. Las Comadres had its first comadrazo in February. The group has developed an evite list of Hispanic women in the community and from there the women can decide whether to attend the dinner. Women of all ages, are invited. Those invited to the comadrazos are encouraged to bring their daughters, sisters or any other women they think would like to be a part of the support group. "All you do is show up with a bit of food and an open mind," Dominguez said. "There are no dues to pay. You get there, mix and mingle, then introduce yourself and tell us what you do for a living." Las Comadres members agree that it's an informal way to build relationships and get to know others. For some women, the hard part is getting the courage to go to the dinner alone. "I showed up alone, with my fruit tray and six-pack of Diet Dr Pepper to a stranger's house," Dominguez said. "But I left with lasting impressions. I had a great time." Las Comadres will have its next monthly gathering Thursday. Hispanic women and women married to Hispanics are welcome to join.

Laura Ruelas may be reached at
lruelas@elpasotimes.com; 546-6354.