#BreakingTheSilence at #LATISM13 {LATISM recap part 1}

On September 18, 2013 (on my 38th birthday) I stepped into The Waldorf Astoria for the very first time. For the 2nd year in a row, I was honored to be named one of LATISM's Top 100 Blogueras. And also, for the 2nd year in a row, I attended the LATISM conference.

I laughed, I cried, I learned and most of all I was inspired by the many voices of LATISM13. The women and men I met were courageous in breaking the silence and sharing their stories - from immigration, mental health, finding balance, obesity, chronic illness and special needs.

I wanted to share some of my highlights with you.

1. I got to meet the President of Iquana Films and film maker, Maria Aqui Carter. Carter's, recent documentary, REBEL, tells the untold story of Loreta Velazquez - a Civil War soldier and spy. Carter says "In a world where our Latino children grow up knowing little of Latino contributions to this country, it is imperative that we recuperate the stories of the incredible Latinos in American history, particularly biographies where we can connect with individual stories."

2. The Panel that should have been sponsored by Kleenex because by the end of the 60 minute session, there wasn't a dry eye in the room: "Work, Life and Balance: Se Puede," moderated by Helen Troncoso. The speakers included: Vicky Barrios, MSW, Jeannette Kaplun, Michelle Herrera Mulligan and Cynthia Santiago. The women spoke candidly and passionately about their personal lives, families and careers. One of my favorite takeaways from this panel was what Jeanette Kaplun said "I believe you can do it all, just not all by yourself and not all at once."

3. The Panel that inspired me to break the silence: "Mental Health: Breaking the Silence in the Latino Community" moderated by Pauline Campos. The speakers included  Helen Troncoso,  Pauline Campos, Nelly Maseda, Jes Sofia Valle and Ane Romero. Pauline Campos nailed it when she said "We are a family-oriented culture. But our tendency to sweep tough stuff under the rug needs to stop."

For years, I have struggled with depression, insecurity and anxiety. If you've been reading my writing for a while, maybe you've seen traces of it here and there. Last year, I hit bottom and decided it was time to get help. During my first therapy session, I explained everything I had gone through over the last 5 years and she said, "It sounds like you've experienced a lot of loss..." Seeing a therapist has been the best decision I could have made - not only for myself but for my family. Yet I found myself ashamed of being in therapy. I only told my closest friends (and it took me months to tell my mother). I hid it, as if it was weakness with me. 

It was during this panel that I had the courage to stand up and tell a room full of strangers that I had been in therapy for the last year. Seeking help for mental health is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of courage. In the coming months I plan to share more of my mental health journey here. 

4. Meeting Pauline Campos and hearing her story truly inspired me. She is funny, fearless and passionate about raising awareness on mental health in the Latino community. Her blog Girl Body Pride empowers women and girls to love their bodies and accept themselves just the way they are. 

5. One of the best parts about attending conferences is connecting with my online friends in real life! It's always such a treat to see Jeannette Kaplun.  What can I say about Jeannette that hasn't been said a million times over? She's an award-winning journalist, author, TV host, spokesperson, public speaker and Latina blogger. Jeannette is just a genuine person and I'm grateful for her support and her friendship.

 Who inspired you at LATISM13? 
  

from top to bottom, left to right: (1) Maria Aqui Carter  (2) Helen Troncoso, Jeannette Kaplun, Maria Herrera Mulligan, Cynthia Santiago, Vicky Barrios (3) Helen Troncoso,  Pauline Campos, Nelly Maseda, Jes Sofia Valle, Ane Romero (4) Pauline Campos (5) Jeannette Kaplun

More LATISM photos and inspiration to come this week! 

#DonateAPhoto & Help Protect a Child from Bullying | #JnJ

Earlier this month I attended the LATISM conference in New York City. While there, I stopped by the Johnson & Johnson's suite. Aside from their products that I love, I admire that J&J uses social media for social good and encourages YOU to do the same. 

With their new Donate a Photo app, you can help make a difference.

For every photo you share, Johnson & Johnson donates $1 to a cause you want to help - which does things like fix up a public park, get medicine for an infant, or help kids play sports safely. You choose the cause you want to help, Johnson & Johnson makes it happen.

You can donate one photo a day, every day. With a photo a day, you’ll make a difference by raising money and awareness for causes you care about. Share with your friends and you’ll help your causes meet their goals faster.

October is Bully Awareness Month and I am donating my photos to help prevent a child from bullying. What cause do you want to help?   

Find out more about the Donate A Photo app - HERE. The app is available for iOS and Android. 

My Immigration Story: I Am Not an Immigrant, I Do Not Look American

My parents were born in Puerto Rico in the 1940s. For those that don't know, Puerto Rico is a small island in the Caribbean. The island became a United States territory in 1917 and Puerto Ricans became United States citizens.  

My parents arrived in New York in the late 1950s (obviously, not together - they were children and they hadn't met yet). They arrived by plane without passports; they arrived as United States Citizens. My mother spent her early years in downtown Manhattan (Chelsea), my father in The South Bronx.  

I was born on September 18th in Bellevue Hospital. If you know anything about Bellevue, it probably explains a lot about me. (That's NYC humor...) My mother likes to tell the story of how I was almost born in a New York City cab. It was the age before cell phones and beepers. My father was at work and couldn't be notified that his second child was about to be born. 

By definition, we are not immigrants. We are American.

But we don't look American. Not by some American standards. Our hair, eyes and skin is too dark. Our names are too long. Our clothes are too colorful. Our language is too loud. And our food has too much sazón.

I am not an immigrant but so often I feel like a foreigner in my own country. 

And there are times when I don't know where I fit in. 

I may not have a true understanding of the immigrant experience. But I understand the immigrant plight. The want for more. The need to do better. The desire to keep going even when society seems against you. The dream of opportunity. 

This country was built by immigrants. It was built on a dream - millions of them.

It's what I love about America. It's the land of opportunity. And New York - it's a city of bright lights and big dreams.  

No matter what country we are from, no matter what language we speak, no matter what color our skin - we all have a dream. And we should all have the right to pursue them. 

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." -
Norman Rockwell painting in United Nations

***

  

I am honored to have been recognized by LATISM as a Top Bloguera for the 2nd year in a row. Today the Top 100 2013 Blogueras visited the United Nations to discuss immigration issues. We were encouraged to share our immigration story. And later this week, we will attend the Latism13 Conference.

Life Beyond Diagnosis | I'm Speaking at #LATISM13

I am really excited about this year's Latinos in Tech Innovation & Social Media (LATISM) conference. This year is going to be extra special. 

This year is LATISM's 5th year and they are returning to New York City! Which means it's only a subway ride way for. And it's at the Waldorf Astoria.

It's September 19 - 21. My birthday is on the 18th so I get to celebrate my first days of my 38th year with some of my favorite bloggers.

I'm SPEAKING! I am truly honored for the opportunity to speak at LATISM.

I am truly grateful for all the opportunities LATISM has given me. I was recognized as a Top Bloguera and invited to a White House press conference. I was awarded the Best Latina Health Blogger at the LATISM12 Conference.   

Last year I was excited to present on the Blogging 101 session. But this year, I'll be on a panel discussing a passion much closer to my heart.  

Beyond Chronic Illness and Special Needs: Life Beyond Your Diagnosis
Saturday, September 21 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm

I'll be with four amazing Latinas: Eileen Carter-Campos, Christina McGeough, Eliana Tardio and Laurita Tellado. To learn about them and more on the panel topic click HERE.

To view the full agenda visit - http://conference.latism.org/agenda/

I cannot thank LATISM enough for giving me the opportunity to share my journey, to tell my son's story and to inspire others to share theirs. It is important that we do this. In the world of mainstream bloggers, a Latina blogging specifically about autism is rare. Two years ago when I attended the BlogHer Healthminder (Special Needs) day - I realized I was the only Latina in the room. A room of maybe 80 women - all special needs bloggers. I was the only one. And it bothered me. Because I know there are many Latina moms walking in my shoes. We need our stories heard too. 

So if you're a Latina Blogger and you blog about autism or raising a child with special needs - let a sistah know in the comments okay. Leave a link to your blog. I'd love to see you representing at a blog conference. And if you're in the NYC area - I hope to hug you at LATISM.  

But until then...join us for the weekly #latism Twitter Party tonight (Thursday) at 9:00pm EST! We’re talking HEALTH at #latism13!

I'm Hosting a Twitter Party for Global Motherhood #InspireCare

Did you know that in the United States, the infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the industrialized world? And that for the first time since the 1950’s, that rate is on the rise. That doesn't seem at all possible in the year 2012, but unfortunately - it is.  
Johnson and Johnson's has partnered with organizations like Save the Children, Pro Mujer, and Text4baby as part of their Global Motherhood Initiative.

Join us tonight (11/29) to learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s Global Motherhood initiatives which focus on saving and improving the lives of women and children globally. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, share stories, be inspired and spread the word about social good through social media.

Details:

• Date:  Thursday, November 29^th, 2012
• Time:  9 pm- 10pm EST
• Hostesses: @LaliQuin @independantmami and @rubydw
• Hashtags: #LATISM #InspireCare
• To join: http://www.tweetchat.com/room/latism 

A while back I wrote about the woman who inspires me to care. And then, this woman inspired a nation simply by doing her job.

It's my first time hosting a twitter party and I'm pretty excited that it's for Johnson and Johnson. Hope you join us! So follow me on twitter at @LaliQuin and let me know who INSPIRES YOU to CARE?
  

The Reality of the Latino Vote

Are you wondering about the breakdown of the Latino vote?

There's been a lot of media coverage about why Latinos voted for Obama. I mean, I know why I voted for him.

I live in The Bronx - a borough with a significant Latino population. And on Election Day, The Husband, The Boy and I went out to vote as a family. (Don't worry, there was no voter fraud funny business - The Boy didn't vote.) And when we reached our polling site, the line wrapped all around the block. (It was pretty cold that night. I wasn't wearing socks.)

There was a guy who came behind us and was annoyed by the length of the line. He said something about it being bad. And The Husband turned around and was like "Are you kidding? This is great! Every election should be like this."

The Husband is right. (I may live to regret writing those words.) EVERY single election should have the same turn out. We should always have to wait on block long lines to vote - not only every four years. 

Because when Latinos show up at the polls - we are a force to be reckoned with. There is power in numbers people. The GOV better recognize!

So how did Latinos vote? Check out LATISM's cool infograph breakdown:

 

I'm at Speaking at #LATISM12 Today - Blogging 101

Want to start a blog but don't know how? 

Are you new to the world of social media and trying to navigate?  

Today at Latism please join us at the Blogging 101 Q&A session. 

I'll be on the panel with Ruby Wright of Growing Up Blaxican, Monique Frausto of Blogs By Latinas and Curves and Chaos, and Uchi Davidson of Latin Foodie. 

And look! I even made a powerpoint presentation...

#LATISM12 - I'm Going. I'm Speaking. I'm Nominated! And I'm Rubbing Elbows with the Authors

(top to bottom/left to right) Mariela Dabbah, Deborah Deras, Ana Flores, Sujeiry Gonzalez, Jeannette Kaplun, Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, Alberto Sardinas, Sabrina Vourvoulias

By this time tomorrow, I'll be on my way to Houston, TX for the LATISM'12 conference.

I am bursting with excitement! 

I am excited to see my friends. 

I'm excited about working with Johnson & Johnson and sharing their 'global motherhood' initiatives! You can read about that HERE.


I'm excited to be speaking on Blogging 101 panel/workshop on Friday at 2pm. The agenda is HERE.

I am SUPER EXCITED to be nominated for a LATISM Award! I am nominated for the Best Latin@ Health Blogger Award. You can vote for me by just clicking HERE. 

And I'm excited to be rubbing elbows with published authors. As a grad student who is THIS CLOSE to an almost to graduating. I'm thinking thesis. I'm thinking I want to be published. And I am eager to learn from those who are willing to share their knowledge. They will be selling and signing their books during the Friday and Saturday lunchtime - about 12:30.

So who are the published authors of LATISM?  
 
MARIELA DABBAH
Author, speaker, and founder of The Red Shoe Movement, an initiative to invite women to wear red shoes to work on Tuesdays to show their support for women career advancement, Mariela has authored several award winning, best-selling books to help Latinos navigate the American system, including Poder de Mujer. As an international speaker, Mariela has presented at General Electric, Citigroup, AIG, Exxon/Mobil, HBO, Goldman Sachs, Verizon, JPMorganChase, McDonald’s,Harvard, Yale and Columbia, Multicultural Women Conference, among others. As the National Spokesperson for McDonald’s Latino Education program for several years, Mariela presented workshops for parents and students across the country. Also, in 2009, Mariela created Latinos in College, the first all encompassing platform to help Latino student succeed in college (www.latinosincollege.com).

DEBORAH DERAS
Deborah Deras is the Principal of Synergy Unlimited LLC, a professional training and development company providing motivationals speakers, trainers and life coaches to organizations and Universities. She is committed to empowering Latinos to develop leadership skills to thrive in their careers, live on purpose and be powerful contributors in their communities. A sought after international speaker, author and leadership trainer, her book, Confessions of an Adrenaline Addict, has transformed lives worldwide to empower, Type A personality types to achieve success with ease and grace. Deras has also served as an expert/guest writer for Latina, Catalina and Immigrant
magazines. She is currently the West Coast technology expert for Verizon Wireless touring the nation empowering Latinos to transform their business, career and life through technology.

ANA FLORES
Founder of Latina Bloggers Connect, a boutique social media agency where she creates strategic digital campaigns connecting brands and bloggers, Ana L. Flores has over 15 years of experience as a content creator and television producer, with a specialty in the U.S. Hispanic industry. After becoming a mom, she co-founded SpanglishBaby, the go-to online community for parents raising bilingual and bicultural kids, which was chosen as a Must Read Mom’s Blog by Parenting Magazine, as well as Babble’s Top 100 Mom Blogs of 2011 and Babble’s list of Top 50 Twitter Moms of 2011. Her most recent honors include being named one of “6 Bloggers to Watch” by USA Today’s Hispanic Living and Best Latin@ Social Network Leader at LATISM 11 Awards. SpanglishBaby’s success led Ana to co-author her first book, “Bilingual is Better.” Ana is now also a regular blogger on Babble Voices.

SUJEIRY GONZALEZ
Sujeiry Gonzalez, often referred to as “The Latina Carrie Bradshaw,” is a funny and vibrant relationship expert and writer that tells it like it is – with just a little more sass and ton of laughs. Rocking the relationship market since 2006, she’s been featured on Galtime, Cupid’s Pulse, YourTango, VOXXI, Divine Caroline, Yahoo Shine, Latina Magazine, Mamiverse, and JDate, among others. Her comedic personality, unique voice and irrefutable talent have also granted her the opportunity to share her relationship highs and lows with a number of media channels, including:  PIX Morning News, The Kari Adams Show, and Mega 97.9FM. Sujeiry’s newest coup is SY PLay Things – an online lingerie store that values women and the power of self-first. There’s also the launch of Love Trips: A Collection of Relationship Stumbles - a poignant and witty collection of personal essays, in which she chronicles her relationship stumbles, serving as the ultimate what-not-to-do relationship book for women. 

JEANNETTE KAPLUN
An award-winning journalist, internationally recognized parenting writer, and leading Latina blogger, Jeannette Kaplun has over 17 years of experience on TV, radio, online media and as a published author. She also provides insights into the Hispanic market and helps leading brands reach Latinas in the US. Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Chile, Jeannette is truly bilingual and bicultural. Currently she is busy launching her newest project for Hispanic women, HispanaGlobal.  In 1999, she cofounded Todobebé, and co-hosted the Emmy-nominated network TV show ¡Viva la Familia! de Todobebé for four seasons on Univision. Before that, she hosted the Todobebé show on Telemundo. She is also the author of Todobebé: Todo lo que necesitas saber para el primer año de tu bebé (Rayo, 2006) and blogs for Babble Voices. Most recently, she was named a Social Media Fellow by the UN Foundation. 

YVETTE MARQUEZ-SHARPNACK
Mother, wife, cookbook author, graphic designer, blogger, and food enthusiast from Denver, Colorado, Yvette was raised in El Paso, Texas and has developed a deep passion for promoting her grandmothers old-world northern Mexican recipes and mothers comforting south of the border home-style dishes. Her blog and published cookbook, Muy Bueno, blossomed into much more than a place to file her family recipes. She now works as a recipe developer with IMUSA and Avocados from Mexico.
Besides her blog, Yvette has also been featured in Latina Magazine, and the websites of Paula Deen, The Pioneer Woman, SAVEUR, and Gourmet.

ALBERTO SARDINAS

“So what’s your story and what did you learn from it?” is Alberto Sardiñas’ most important question to people everywhere he goes. Each night, this Univisión Radio host takes calls from listeners who look to him as a friend with whom to share their life experiences of uncertainty, sorrow, hope, or happiness on his nighttime show, “Íntimo.” Thousands of people listen to him nightly and watch him as a contributor on network television shows (Despierta America, Tu Desayuno Alegre and others), and his articles are frequently published in leading magazines and blogs. As the author of the book “The Power of Your Story,” Alberto shares 40 of the most powerful, real-life, short stories told to him by his listeners, in addition to personal experiences he had never shared before. Each anecdote is followed by a conclusion that emphasizes the lesson learned. Alberto has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications from the Catholic University Andrés Bello in Caracas.

SABRINA VOURVOULIAS
Born in Bangkok, Thailand and the daughter of a Mexican-Guatemalan artist and an American businessman, Sabrina grew up in Guatemala and moved to the United States when she was fifteen. She is the managing editor of Al Día News, Philadelphia’s leading Spanish-language newspaper and writes for www.pontealdia.com in Spanish and English. Along with her blog, Following the Lede (www.followingthelede.blogspot.com), which was was nominated for a Latinos in Social Media award in 2011, Sabrina writes speculative poetry and short and long-form fiction. Her writing has appeared in Dappled Things, Graham House Review, Scheherezade's Bequest at Cabinet des Fées, La Bloga's Floricanto, Poets Respond to SB 1070, Crossed Genres Issue 24, among others. Her novel, Ink, was published by Crossed Genres Publications Oct. 15, 2012.
 

My Mom. My Inspiration. #InspireCare

Growing up, my mom and I didn't always agree. I didn't understand her. She didn't understand me. She was old school. I was not. There were times I cringed when we were compared. And I spent most of my teenage years trying not to be like my mother.  

Then I grew up. Got a job. Moved out on my own. I got married...had a baby. I don't think I truly understood my mother, until I became a mother. Becoming a mother,  made me look back on my childhood in a completely different way. 

I looked at my mother in a completely different way.  

I realized that if I wanted to be a good mother to The Boy, I needed to be more like my mother.

My mother went without so that I could have. Growing up, I may not have had everything I wanted but I had everything I needed: a clean home, clean clothes, a hot meal. 

My mother was always more than willing to do everything for me, so long as I went to school and got good grades. She spoiled me in ways I could not understand, she did so much for me and expected nothing in return. Not even a thank you.

Over the last decade, I have watched my mother become the primary caregiver to my grandparents. And whenever anyone in our family needs help, she's always the first to offer. She gives so selflessly and she leaves me often in awe.  

During my pregnancy, I read countless of parenting books. Books on feeding, sleeping and parenting. But my first lesson on being a good mother, a good all around person came from my mother. 

I am not one of those people who longs to relive their younger years. But I wish I could go back in time and appreciate my mother a little more and to say thank you more often.

My mother and I still don't always agree. She is old school and I am not. We do not have the same taste in clothes, furniture or politics. She will still criticize the way I cook and clean. I'm okay with our differences. And I thank her every chance I get.  

But when it comes to being a mom, her advice is the one I'll always seek out first. For me, she is the measure of motherhood I want to live up to. She inspires me to the best mom I can be.  

  

***

For more than 125 years, Johnson & Johnson has been committed to serving the health care needs of others - especially mothers and children. Their history as a brand is pretty fascinating. Many of the products we take for granted, the products that are simply part of our every day lives - are because of Johnson & Johnson.   

It is estimated that Johnson & Johnson and its partners touch more than one billion people’s lives each day through health care products, services and various programs. 

This year at the LATISM 2012 conference, Johnson & Johnson will be showcasing some of these initiatives under the theme “global motherhood.” And I am so honored to be chosen to help raise awareness about important issues and some solutions that make a difference.

Johnson & Johnson has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. My mom always purchased Johnson & Johnson products. Now that I'm a mom, it's the brand I trust for my own family. And as a company, Johnson & Johnson's share many of the values my mother tried to instill in me. They are the same values I want to pass along to my son.

Johnson & Johnson is a company who is committed to:

• Saving and Improving Lives
• Building Health Care Capacity
• Preventing Diseases

If you are attending LATISM, I would love for you to stop by the Arboretum II Suite to talk with Johnson & Johnson and their partners about the work they do. I'll be there too! 

Together we can help them spread the word through social media about the challenges that mothers face around the world. 

You can inspire mothers like you to join them in helping other mothers by raising awareness about important issues and some of the solutions that make a difference.

BUT - You don't have to attend LATISM to learn more about Johnson & Johnson's endeavors to make the world a better place for mothers and children around the globe.

If you're on Twitter follow them @JNJStories and their #InspireCare hashtag.
I'll be tweeting throughout the conference.

Visit them on Facebook - Johnson's Baby. Or go directly to the website by clicking HERE

Note: These photos represent a few of the many programs supported by Johnson & Johnson and its partner organizations to serve the health and well-being needs of communities and people around the world. To read more about these programs and others that help us care for those in need, please visit our website: http://www.jnj.com/connect/caring/. 

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions shared are my own.

What The Heck Do I Pack for LATISM? ¡Ayúdame!

By this time next week I'll be en route to Houston, Texas for the LATISM 2012 Conference. I am beyond excited.

And I am extremely honored to be fully sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. 

Johnson & Johnson has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. My mom always purchased J&J products. And now that I'm a mom, it's the brand I trust for my own family. But it's only since I've started blogging that I've learned that Johnson & Johnson really is a company who cares. They care about their employees, their costumers and the global community. I'm looking forward to learning more about their give back initiatives and sharing with you.

But before I can do that...I need to pack. And while I'm excited to be going, I'm not so excited about trying to figure out what to wear. It's Houston, so it's warm. And it's only for a few days...

But there's the LATISM Gala Awards and the Pijama Party. And that's where I'm stumped.

I mean...have you been to a Latino party? We are a people - especially the ladies - who like to Dress to the Nines.*

I'm not really a fancy girl (though, I can fake it pretty well).

The last thing I want to be is underdressed is for the Awards. But I also need to be practical. It can't be anything that needs ironing (I don't do ironing). And it needs to be something pretty that I will feel comfortable in (i.e. something that hides the bulge around my belly). I've pretty much described absolutely nothing in my closet right about now. I refuse to spend money on something that I will most likely not wear again. I'm also determined to lose weight and refuse to go up another size (which is why I am squeezing into my clothes and spending most of my day sucking in my gut).

As for the Pijama Party...WTH? I don't think I own a pair of pj's that I would or could wear out in public. I may need to buy pj's. But at least I'll know I'll wear the pj's again.

Then of course J&J offered me a polo shirt to wear for one of the days. Which is fine but this probably means, I'll need to wear jeans. And did I mention I put on weight and that I'm having trouble fitting into my pants? So whenever I wear pants I usually wear a shirt that hides the muffin top. I'm crossing my fingers that the polo is super stretchy. 

Sure there's other stuff that goes into prepping for a blog conference other than what to wear. But I'll let my amiga Ruby of Growing Up Blaxican tell you how best to prep - click HERE. 

 
* just a little trivia: the term "dress to the nines" comes from England when sailing ships were used. As the ship would come into the harbor all sails would be flying, all nine of them. And all the sailors would be dressed in dress uniforms lined up on either side of the ship. The modern connotation is to have put on your finest clothing and jewelry, almost as if you were being visited by royalty.          

I'm Going To #LATISM12 and 5 Reasons Why You Should Too

Ever since I met the lovely ladies of LATISM back in May for the Top Bloguera Retreat and briefly reunited with them at BlogHer I have been trying to figure out a way to make it to the LATISM conference in Houston, Texas. 

Unlike BlogHer, the conference where it's easy to get lost in a crowd of 5000+ people, I knew LATISM would be the conference for me: intimate, familiar, inspiring. 

I may have also wanted to go because a conference means I get to sleep in a hotel room without a six year old foot in my face but I digress...

And now I am so excited to say that I'M GOING! Thanks to LATISM and the wonderful folks at Johnson & Johnson, I get to go to LATISM12. I am so grateful and honored for this opportunity to be a representative for Johnson & Johnson's philanthropic mother-orientated initiatives. And I cannot wait to share more in the weeks to come.
     

Here are 5 reasons why attending LATISM12 is important to me. And they may be important to you too.   

5. To Learn. This may seem obvious but whether you're an experienced blogger or a novice  there is always something to learn. Maybe you haven't quite embraced Pinterest or Google+ plus freaks you out. Maybe you haven't discovered that 'oh yeah, there's an app for that.' Maybe you want to hone your photography skills or improve your writing or grow your audience. Or maybe you're thinking about turning your blog into a book.  

Check out the agenda.  LATISM focuses on Education, Health, Technology and Business. And there are some pretty amazing sessions going on with something for everyone regardless of your niche. 

4. Connect with Brands. It's only in this last year, that I've connected with brands. It can be intimidating to approach a brand blindly but LATISM attracts major brands. And they're there for one reason - to connect with bloggers and social media influencers. 

3. To Meet Your Blog Buddies IRL. One of the best parts about attending conferences is that you get to meet your favorite bloggers and tweeps in real life. Over the last year, I've got to meet some pretty fabulous and inspiring men and women of social media. So for me, LATISM is more like a family reunion - with hashtags and instagram filters.  

2. To Network.  The sessions are great, the parties are fabulous but it's those one on one moments that will make the difference. LATISM is the place to talk about new ideas, to brainstorm, to meet, greet and smile, to make new connections. A social media conference like LATISM are where projects are born and inspiration can be found. 

I will be taking serious notes during the Pitch 101 session. I'm friendly and nice but pitching  and networking is a challenge for me. I'm shy, I get nervous - I need to work on that. I know LATISM will make a difference. And what I learn about networking at LATISM, I can take with me where ever I go.      

1. To Be Inspired. The opportunity to attend LATISM is inspiring. I mean do you know who will be speaking at LATISM? It's pretty impressive.

One of the key note speakers is Sandra Cisneros. SANDRA CISNEROS! Do you know what that means? For me? 

I grew up in a home filled with books (my father worked in a book factory) but not a single one was written by or about a Latino. 

I've worked in Corporate America for almost 20 years, I am always the minority. 

I have spent the last few years in graduate school, hearing how difficult it will be for me to become published because I'm Latina. 

The opportunity to meet an award winning, internationally known Latina author at a Latinos In Social Media conference is something I could have never even dreamed about as a little girl. And while I may not be a little girl, it's never too late to stop dreaming.  

So I hope that you can make it to LATISM this year, because if we haven't met - I would love to. And if we've already met, I would love to see you again.  But even if you can't make it this year...follow us on twitter #LATISM12. Hopefully it will inspire you to join us next year. 

To learn more about the LATISM conference click HERE