Honoring Patti’s Legacy: 5Qs for Patti from Liliana Muñoz

After more than twenty years at the helm of Esperanza United, Patti Tototzintle is retiring. To preserve her wisdom and lessons learned, we are organizing a series of conversations between her and the friends, leaders, and colleagues she’s worked with along the way. This month, we have junior at DePaul University, Liliana Muñoz. A graduate of our youth leadership program, Fuerza Unida Amig@s Youth, Liliana has been involved with Esperanza United since she was 11 years old and spent part of her summer interning with our communications department. She’s here now talking with Patti about the importance of youth leadership, the role of community in preventing gender-based violence, and the changes they’ve both experienced over the years.

LILIANA MUÑOZ: How have Latin@ youth been vital to Esperanza United’s mission of ending gender-based violence? 

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: Great question. So, while we were founded to ensure Latinas in crisis were supported and provided shelter, we also recognize that many Latinas, regardless of their age or if they’re currently experiencing abuse or not, want to understand domestic violence and take a leadership role in building healthy relationships for themselves and their communities. We also see the power in the leadership of Latina girls and their ability to share what they learn with friends, family, and other students.

We knew all of that early on and our youth leadership program just grew from there. The girls can participate in leadership training, go to an overnight camp in the summer, and plan and implement a conference for Latina girls each year. And along the way, the girls asked why we weren’t working with Latino boys as they also needed the same information. We listened and today, we have separate and group activities – the youth conference is one example of when we come together.

LILIANA MUÑOZ: When did youth initiatives become a part of Esperanza United’s programs? And how did that strengthen Esperanza United as an organization? 

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: Esperanza United has worked with youth since at least since the late 80’s and early 90’s through after-school programming. It was good programming, but it was not yet focused on really engaging youth fully.

In about 2003-2004, we evaluated youth programming, and the evaluator highlighted the research on the benefits of youth peer education. So we got our youth participants involved in the development of ¡UBICATE!, a Latin@ youth focused film. They helped write the script, act in video, and run the set. Soon after, we created a Latina girls peer education program, with Latina girls from Harding High School in St. Paul. They were quickly giving presentations and training to other youth in local schools and community programs.

We are a better, more credible organization because of our work with youth, first with girls, and now inviting Latin@ youth of all genders. Past participants, who are now in college, come back to assist with the overnight camp and/or other activities.  We have staff that started as peer educators. Liliana, you are one of the peer educators that continues to be engaged with the organization in a number of ways and we’re grateful for it! I’d say we are definitely a stronger mission-driven organization today because of our youth programming.

LILIANA MUÑOZ: How has Esperanza United’s approach to youth programs changed over the years and what key milestones stand out to you?

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: A significant milestone was when we shifted from staff-led presentations to youth leadership development and peer education. We worked with our first cohort of girls for about three years to get them read, so the next shift was when we broadened out to bring in Latina girls from different schools. The overnight camps, the annual girls conference, and then Latin@ youth conferences were other shifts.

In 2012, after a comprehensive listening process with over 120 Latinas, we named our community engagement work Fuerza Unida, and the Latin@ adults and youth that participated in programming became Fuerza Unida Amig@s. During COVID, we shifted to be whatever the youth and their families needed us to be. By then we were working with five or more schools in the classroom, so that stopped. We were also working with the parents of many of the students, providing information on topics such as healthy communication or healthy relationships and whatever topics the parents requested. We assisted with some technology equipment, desks, groceries. 

We have always believed that we need to listen, to reflect, to adapt as needed, and to not be afraid to modify further if needed.  The youth programming is not stagnant, we could never reach or engage youth if it was.  The annual conference is a good example.  It used to be in-person, but due to COVID, it shifted to an on-line event. The creativity and technology that was implemented was remarkable.  Now, it is in-person again and it’s exciting to see how the youth leaders organize it each year.

LILIANA MUÑOZ: What has been your favorite memory of Esperanza United’s youth programs? 

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: Oh, one is hard. The first one that comes to mind is the work and result of the film, ¡UBICATE! It was a very challenging, yet wonderful experience, for everyone involved and the film was shared widely across the country over the years. Another is the youth conferences. I have such a great sense of pride whenever I was in the midst of youth’s work and participation. I remember the first girls’ overnight camp I attended—to see all the girls engaged in various outdoor activities and then have educational sessions in between, was so remarkable.  One thing that is really special about the camp is meeting with parents when they come to pick up the girls. I was able to do that a few times and the parents were so appreciative that their daughters had this opportunity, and they greeted their daughters with such joy and pride. It’s really special.

LILIANA MUÑOZ: One of Esperanza United’s core values is Latina leadership, and I’ve certainly experienced how the organization lives that out. Why is “Latina leadership” so important to the movement to end gender-based violence? 

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: The voices of Latinas of all ages are critical. We bring a unique perspective given our diversity and experiences. Latin@ families have been in what is the United States for centuries, and others are immigrants that have come from many countries over many years. Latinas have a high connection and commitment to familia and comunidad.

Esperanza United has been engaged informally and formally in this work for many decades. And we know what works and doesn’t work in cultural communities. We know that community can make a difference, and that bilingual and bicultural advocates and community allies are critical to advance the work. We also know that prevention, community engagement work with women, youth, and men, building their capacity, and listening and learning from them makes a huge difference in this movement.  Latinas can lead with a bold voice and collective strength to guide what still needs to be done in this work and in the broader movement – that’s why Latina leadership is so important.