UNO – It only takes ONE

The UNO team continues to grow! Welcome Natiq Onafowokan, our new summer intern from the Urban Alliance. He will help us prepare for UNO’s Carrera De Los Muertos 5K as we lead up to the race in November. A rising senior at King's College Prep School, Natiq is on the Varsity Track & Field and Cross Country teams. We’re excited to have him on the team! #partnerships #YouthDevelopment #TeensMatter

Love to give back to girls' programs and narrow the gender equity gap? Want to honor the cultural Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos? Believe in the importance of mental and physical health through physical activity? Did you know Pilsen's Carrera de los Muertos achieves all of the above, along with 6,000 dedicated runners? Now in its 17th year, we are seeking sponsors committed to girl empowerment, cultural and community engagement, and improving the mental and physical health of our residents. Join us in making a difference and supporting this vibrant, impactful event. Let's work together to empower young girls, celebrate cultural heritage, and promote a healthy lifestyle in our community. Reach out to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

Early Bird Rate Ending Soon! Don’t miss your chance to join the 17th annual #CarreraDeLosMuertos 5K. The Early Bird rate ends this Monday. Be part of one of the largest community and cultural 5Ks in Chicago! Last year, we had over 6,000 participants. The course runs through #Pilsen neighborhood, offering a meaningful way to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. Sign up today and celebrate with us! UnoRaceOfThedead.org UNOChicago.org #Community #DayOfTheDead #MexicanCulture #HealthandWellness #5K

On Saturday, we were thrilled to have our partner #ABCPilsen Athletics kick off the Summer Weekend Basketball Girls League. So exciting to have women coaches and ref for the girls to look up to. This is a great opportunity for girls from Pilsen and neighboring communities to get involved with a community athletics program - and it’s FREE for Girls Mpowered participants! If interested in joining the league this summer, register today! http:/https://lnkd.in/gCR9pzbn #cantBeWhatyoudontSee #mentorship #PlayLikeAGirl #Pilsen #Community #girlEmpowerment #girlsInSports #youthdevelopment #teamwork

Executive Director, Maya Solis and Senior Program Manager, Solskin Gomez-Krogh attended Day 1 of the Nonprofit Participatory Evaluation Cohort at AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits in collaboration with The Praxis Institute. Together they will be empowered with the skills and knowledge to develop and implement robust evaluation strategies. #enhancingimpact #Bestpractices #leadByExample #youthDevelopement #CollaborativeLearning #BestPractices

We are growing! Please join us in welcoming our new Office Manager, Cynthia Castillo! Raised in Pilsen and Little Village, Cynthia brings more than 25 years of administrative and customer service experience to the team. We’re so excited she’s joining the UNO team to manage our day-to-day office operations. Welcome, Cynthia!

On May 6, Elisa Lara from VNA Health visited one of our Pilsen schools to impart invaluable wisdom to the girls. She shared her journey as an immigrant, highlighting the perseverance required to learn a new language while pursuing her educational and career goals in nursing. 🩺 Her talk served as a powerful reminder of the significance of self-care as we navigate challenges and pursue our dreams. #GirlsMpowered #ItOnlyTakesONE #SelfCare #HealthCareers

Continuing to celebrate GirlsMpowered's Spring accomplishments 🎉 In April, all our cohorts participated in roundtable discussions on 'Building My Network and Relationships.' 🌐 We were honored to have five dynamic Latinas share their career paths and networking insights: Maria Elena Medina, Caroline Sanchez Crozier, Isabel Navarro, Daniela Villa and Angie Unzueta. These inspiring leaders emphasized the importance of building strong networks for both business and personal growth. As Sonia Sotomayor said, 'The Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever.' Their stories ignited a spark in our girls, empowering them to cultivate their own networks and pursue their dreams, by engaging others in the path. #GirlsMpowered #ItOnlyTakesONE #Networking #Empowerment"

It has been a busy Spring, on April 30, GirlsMpowered brought our second year Pilsen girls, back to Microsoft. Having visited last year, it was wonderful to see how familiar and comfortable they felt in Microsoft space – a testament to the power of exposure in building familiarity. During this visit, they learned about high school and college choices, emphasizing that it's never too early to start planning. The girls were deeply inspired by the experiences shared during the fireside chat with Paige Michals and Jasmine Macklin. 👋 A heartfelt thank you to Nisaini R. for hosting us at Microsoft and believing in the program. #GirlsMpowered #MicrosoftVisit #ItOnlyTakesONE #GirlsInTECH

On April 10, right after Spring Break, Valparaiso University hosted the UNO GirlsMPowered cohort from St. Francis de Sales High School! It was a beautiful Spring day, with blooming trees and tulips adding a colorful carpet to our visit. 🌹 Our visit was exceptional. Five students gave small group tours exploring the Center for the Arts, the chapel, library, and Harre Union. The girls learned about important factors to consider when exploring colleges, such as types of schools, application deadlines, FAFSA deadlines, and scholarship opportunities.  They were also treated to a dining hall lunch experience, which they thoroughly enjoyed.  Special thanks to Lucia Lopez, Executive Director of Valpo’s Access College, for inviting us and helping coordinate this opportunity. Thank you also to all the Valpo staff and students for their warmth and hospitality. Your support is invaluable in opening doors to higher education for our girls! 🌟 #ValparaisoUniversity #UNO #ItOnlyTakesONE #GirlsMPowered #HigherEducation #Gratitude