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Resume and Cover Letter Writing with Madison College Need to update your resume? Then join us in this judgment-free space, where you won't be judged for your spelling or anything! In community with the Madison College Writing Center! This is an engaging and informative Resume and Cover Letter Writing with Madison College, is designed to equip you with the essential skills to create compelling job application materials. Whether you are entering the job market for the first time, seeking a career change, or looking to enhance your existing application documents, this class is tailored to meet your needs. Fun Fact: our Founder is a Madison College Writing Tutor! YES! She and the staff of the MC Writing Center will help you with keywords and formatting that will stand out and make it through the bots that review our resumes! Light Beverages + Childcare will be provided! Sign up now--space is limited to the first 15 people who sign up. ***BRING YOUR LAPTOP ***Printing is free and available ***FREE Wifi ***ESL Friendly! What You Will Learn: How to craft a standout resume that highlights your skills and experiences Techniques for writing a persuasive cover letter that captures attention Tips for tailoring your documents for online submission Common mistakes to avoid in your application materials Insights into what employers look for in resumes and cover letters Who Should Attend: Job seekers at any stage of their career Individuals looking to update or revamp their existing resumes and cover letters Students preparing to enter the workforce Event Details: Date: Thursday, July 30 Time: 5-7 PM Location: Midwest Mujeres Center FREE Supported by Old National Bank, Family Foundation Grants by Piece-Jacobson Family, and all of the women who are supporting us on a monthly basis: Olivia Buenorostros Dr. Giselle Argento-Berrio Esther Ama S. Elise Gresch Kate Mascio Paula SteinHorst Aida Leflore Marta Carrion Karla Pinon Evelyn Galindo Kaziah Anderson Tainara Zanini Sonia Rondon Holly Marley-Henderson Penelope Pack Traycee Mayer Rosa Ed Paquita Purnell Marlena Matos Jeliel Pena de First Tomy Tepepa Mary Perez Graciela Laguna Monica Weitzel Juliana Johnson Silvia Gomez Vanessa Cook Michelle Mckoy Shirmeil Duncan Fenandaa Alayo Antonella Diaz Thank you to our supporters! Because of you, we are able to offer these workshops with food and childcare for free! and circulate money in our community. 306 E Wilson St #2e, Madison, WI 53703, USA July 30, 2026 5:00 PM Join us on our members app to stay updated and keep in touch. Download & Join

by Araceli Esparza, Founder and Executive Director For many women, especially immigrants, first-generation Americans, mothers, caregivers, and entrepreneurs, the American Dream can feel like something always just out of reach. But what if the dream isn't waiting for you in the future? What if you're already building it? At Voices & Dreams Academy, we believe the American Dream is not just one story. There are many stories. It lives in the courage to start a business, return to school, speak up for yourself, care for your family, create art, and imagine something bigger for your life. My Journey: A Personal Reflection This year, as we explore the theme, The American Dream Through the Eyes of Women from the Americas, I want to share my own story. Like many women, my American Dream did not begin with success. It began with loss, uncertainty, and the painful reality of starting over. In 2011, my family experienced a tragedy that changed the course of our lives. My husband was robbed at gunpoint in the Sierra Desert in Mexico. We were moving there to start a turkey farm and to be closer to family. We lost everything. What carried me through was not money or status. It was culture, community, and the lessons I learned as a Mexican woman about resilience, faith, and collective care. Along the way, I discovered that every time I started over, I was also becoming someone new. What began as a journey to rebuild my own life eventually became something much bigger. I wasn't just starting over. I was building a community and breaking the isolation of Latinas living in the Midwest. This is my American Dream story. What if the American Dream wasn't a house, a title, or a paycheck? What if it was finally being heard? For generations, women have been told what the American Dream should look like. Yet for many of us, especially women from the Americas, the dream has never fit neatly into a single definition. Redefining the American Dream Sometimes the American Dream is immigrating to a new country and building a life from scratch. Sometimes it is being the first in your family to graduate from college. And sometimes it is finding the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship, rebuild after divorce, or start a business after years of putting everyone else's needs before your own. It may be motherhood. It may be caregiving. Sometimes it looks like returning to school at 50, launching a side hustle at 60, or finally believing that your voice matters after a lifetime of being told to stay quiet. For some women, the dream is surviving discrimination and refusing to let it define them. For others, it is creating opportunities for the next generation that they never had themselves. The truth is that there is no single American Dream. There are millions of them. Celebrating Our Stories They live in our kitchens, our workplaces, our small businesses, our community centers, and in the stories we carry with us. Stories of sacrifice. Stories of resilience. Stories of joy. Stories of reinvention. At Midwest Mujeres, we believe these stories deserve to be celebrated, shared, and heard. Voices & Dreams Academy: Your Story Matters This year's Voices & Dreams Academy invites women to explore the American Dream through their own lived experiences. Through storytelling, coaching, community, and personal reflection, participants will uncover the moments that shaped them and transform those experiences into stories that inspire, connect, and create opportunity. Because your story is more than a memory. It is evidence of your resilience. It is a record of your becoming. And it may be exactly the story someone else needs to hear. Join us on this journey! Apply for our next Voices and Dreams Academy! Join Us!

By E. Vera, Blogger, Educator, and Writer At Midwest Mujeres, we believe that every woman deserves the opportunity to live, lead, and tell her story with dignity. During Pride Month, we celebrate the resilience, creativity, and contributions of LGBTQ+ people across our communities and recognize that the fight for belonging, safety, and opportunity is deeply connected to our mission of reducing isolation and expanding access to education, leadership, and economic mobility. We are honored to share this essay written by Emiliano Vera, which explores a lesser-known history of Mexico as a place of refuge for people fleeing oppression. From freedom seekers escaping slavery to LGBTQ+ people searching for safety and community, this piece invites us to consider what it means to welcome, protect, and stand alongside one another. We hope it sparks conversation, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for the many stories that shape our shared history. We hope you enjoy reading our Pride Month Blog! While often caricatured as a backward and lawless narcostate by US media and politicians, Mexico has served as a refuge for people fleeing oppression for over 500 years. From Jews avoiding the Inquisition in Europe during the 1500s, to political refugees escaping the US-backed fascist dictatorships in Spain and Latin America during the 20th century, Mexico has long welcomed those with nowhere else to turn. Over the past 200 years, thousands of people have fled the US in search of freedom in Mexico. In honor of Juneteenth and Pride month, I want to focus on two groups who have found refuge in this country’s vast altiplanos, deserts, mountains, and forests: enslaved Black Americans before the Civil War, and LGBTQ+ Americans today. Our Proud History It’s a fact rarely taught in schools that the main reason the US stole Texas and the West from Mexico was to expand the slave plantation system, as well as eliminate the threat of a good example provided by its then-larger and more prosperous southern neighbor. Antislavery was one of the founding principles of Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810, expanded by the Afrodescendant independence leader, José Maria Morelos. By the time of the Texas rebellion (launched by slave-owning illegal immigrants from the US), slavery had already been completely abolished in the young Mexican Republic for 6 years, decreed by Mexico’s first Afrodescendant President, Vicente Guerrero, in 1829. The steady flow of enslaved people from the US South across the border to freedom heightened tensions between the two countries that ultimately broke out in war. Even after the border was pushed back nearly a thousand miles to the Río Bravo, up to 10,000 people escaped through the Underground Railroad’s southern route. Mexican authorities repeatedly refused to extradite freedmen back to the US, and their settlements were protected from slave raids by the Mexican army and local militias. Their descendants live on to this day in communities like Nacimiento de los Negros in the border state of Coahuila. So while we commemorate Juneteenth as the day the enslaved people of Texas were the last to learn of their emancipation, just on the other side of the river, their relatives had been living in freedom for decades. Fast forward 150 years, and armed thugs are once again breaking down church doors, ripping families apart, and violently forcing people to work without pay. This time, it is ICE instead of slave patrols. Rights won from decades of struggle are being taken away, and one of the groups on the chopping block are LGBTQ+ people. The Pride Movement Last year’s murder of King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss in broad daylight while protecting his husband put a famous face to an increasing wave of violence faced by a community that is barely celebrating 10 years of nationwide equality. Advocacy groups such as the Trevor Project and the Transgender Law Center note an upsurge in queer people fleeing increasingly discriminatory laws in the South and Plains states. Once again, Mexico is becoming seen as a desirable destination for those watching their rights slip away in the US. While Mexico still has a long way to go to fully protect its own LGBTQ+ citizens, marriage equality is recognized nationwide by a Supreme Court ruling in 2022, discrimination based on sexual preference is banned in Article 1 of the Constitution, and gender affirming care can be accessed through the public healthcare system, legal protections that are not guaranteed everywhere in the US. The Unlikely Refuge Though discrimination and violence remain a reality for the community, especially in rural areas, many queer Americans have found a new life in places such as Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Mérida, joining queer migrants from other countries in Central and South America. There are no hard statistics on the number of LGBTQ+ migrants to Mexico from the US yet, but queer social media and chisme increasingly suggest many people are starting to stay long term and many more are keeping a close eye on the US situation…should things continue to head south, they will as well. Just as the free Black descendants of refugees from US slavery settled down and became an integral part of Mexican society, so too can LGBTQ+ migrants from the US become more than gentrifying temporary “expats” and contribute to the rich diversity of Mexican culture. As the struggle deepens in the US, Mexico remains a tolerant country, ready to offer a helping hand to those in need. And for that, all Mexicans, no matter which side of the border we are on, should feel proud.

Immigrant and Community Resources for people in need of support, resources, and assistance in the Madison, Wisconsin area and surrounding communities. Wisconsin Immigrant Resources Information and Support for Immigrants in need Empowering Women Through Community Created from years of community requests, this resource page connects you to trusted organizations supporting immigrants and marginalized communities. It’s a volunteer-powered, evolving list to help you explore, donate, and get involved locally. Join Us Community Resources Immigration and Education Services Basic Needs Financial Assistance Community and Identity Support Health and Wellness Partnerships and Sponsorships Programs and Workshops Payments and Registration Events and Accessibility Programs and Workshops 01 Immigration Legal Resources Catholic Multicultural Center Provides a variety of legal assistance such as citizenship applications, work authorization, and travel documents. Address: 1862 Beld St, Madison, WI 53713 Call: 608-441-0114 Website: https://catholiccharitiesofmadison.org/cmc/immigration-legal-services-2/ Centro Hispano – Madison Community resources that include videos and legal documents. Address: 2403 Cypress Way, Madison, WI 53713 Call: 608-255-3018 Website: https://www.micentro.org/ Community Immigration Law Center If you have an immigration question or problem, call and leave a message if no one answers. Someone will return your call within 24 hours. Address: 944 E Gorham St, Madison, WI 53703 Call: 608-640-4444 Website: https://cilcmadison.org UW Immigrant Justice Clinic Provides legal services such as filing applications for humanitarian relief available to non-citizen victims of crime, persecution, and human trafficking, or defending non-citizens facing removal in Immigration Court. Call: 608-890-3753 Website: https://law.wisc.edu/ijc/ Rise Law Center Culturally relevant legal representation to meet your family law, protection orders and immigration needs. Address: 1400 E Washington Ave #262, Madison, WI 53703 Call: 608-256-1015 Website: https://riselawcenter.org/ Vera Court Neighborhood Center Free Consultations with attorneys practicing family law. They do not offer legal representation, but instead offer an opportunity to ask questions. Address: 614 Vera Ct, Madison, WI 53704 Call: 608-246-8372 Website: https://www.veracourt.org/family-law-clinic National Immigrant Justice Center Advocacy and legal services for asylum seekers and long-time community members. Address: 111 W Jackson Blvd Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60604 Call: 312-660-1370 Website: https://immigrantjustice.org/ Amigos en Azul Dane County Law Enforcement agencies dedicated to helping the Latino community. Call: 608-228-4038 Website: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsInBlue Immigrant Legal Resource Center Working with and educating immigrants through training, coordination of legal assistance, and advocacy. Call: 415-255-9499 Website: https://www.ilrc.org/ Voces de la Frontera Provides clinics and referrals to attorneys. Address: 1602 S Park St, Madison, WI 53713 Call: 414-643-1620 Website: https://vdlf.org/legal-services/ Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Contains resources for legal service providers as well as relevant information for immigrants. Address: 201 W Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703 Call: 608-422-7000 Website: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/findlegalservices 02 What ESL and learning resources can you use in Madison? You can connect with Literacy Network for in-person and virtual ESL classes. Address: 701 Dane St, Madison, WI 53713 Call: 608-244-3911 Website: https://www.litnetwork.org/ Madison Public Library also offers reading materials to help you learn English and other languages. Address: 701 Dane St, Madison, WI 53713 Call: 608-266-6300 03 What is Voices & Dreams | Voces y Sueños? Voices & Dreams (Voces y Sueños) is Midwest Mujeres' eight-week storytelling and leadership academy for Latina and Black women, culminating in a public showcase event in Madison, Wisconsin.

Join Midwest Mujeres on Nov 8th for our annual storytelling graduation for our Voices & Dreams | Voces y Sueños Academy—an empowering storytelling event where Latina and Black women share their journeys of resilience, money, and liberation. Experience art, joy, and community on November 8, starting at 5:30 PM at Goodman Center, Madison, WI Milwaukee Midwest Mujeres We educate. We connect. We amplify. Women transform. Communities thrive. Our mission is to empower women to confidently embrace leadership roles, amplify their voices, and foster opportunities for growth. By creating spaces where women learn together, share their experiences, build supportive networks, and develop practical leadership and entrepreneurial skills, we help them increase their confidence, economic mobility, and community impact. MKE Sub form * First name * Last name * Phone * Email Submit | Apúntate Hoy! This is a transformational experience. The Milwaukee Mujeres Academy is a five-week storytelling and leadership program in which participants work with coaches to build confidence, strengthen their voices, and grow professionally. It all leads up to our annual showcase event, where bold stories take center stage. Ready to find your voice and own your story? Join us. If we can tell our story, we can increase our pay or our economic standing. Let us show you how. I want to Join! Voices & Dreams Academy es un programa de cinco semanas enfocado en liderazgo y storytelling, en el que las participantes trabajan con coaches para fortalecer su confianza, encontrar su voz y crecer personal y profesionalmente. Todo culmina en nuestro evento anual de noviembre, donde las historias valientes toman el escenario. ¿Lista para descubrir tu voz y adueñarte de tu historia? Únete a nosotras. Si podemos contar nuestra historia, podemos aumentar nuestros ingresos y mejorar nuestra situación económica. Déjanos mostrarte cómo. ✨ Be part of a movement that redefines wealth—not just in dollars, but in dignity, social capital, and solidarity. — Tennisha Loggins, CEO of Loggins Family businesses, Janesville, WI ✨ Encuentra inspiración y valentía para utilizar tu propia historia como una herramienta de crecimiento. — Gina Guerrero, New Latina Childcare Provider, and Business Owner, Madison, WI Watch last year's recap video! This show has been a networking success; many connections have been made, and women are able to meet new supporters, mentors, and coaches. ¡Mira el video resumen del año pasado!Este evento ha sido un éxito en términos de networking; se han establecido muchas conexiones y las mujeres han podido conocer a nuevos aliados, mentores y coaches. I want to Join! Paquita Purnell Be Bold Take the Mic was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Our cohort was filled with phenomenal women from all walks of life. I enjoyed learning from our cohort leaders and guest speakers about how to command the stage and overcome our fears of public speaking. Yazmin Lopez "Being part of Midwest Mujeshas been a huge game changer for me I have found a community to be apart of! Thank you!!" Karina Sucasaire "This experience gave me the strength to face my fear of public speaking, even though English is not my first language. I can't believe I did it! There were times when I wanted to quit, but thanks to Midwest Mujeres' guidance and experience, I decided to keep going." Get on the Waitlist Together, we’ll celebrate our stories as riches and reimagine wealth in terms of dignity, connection, and possibility. Don’t miss this magical evening of storytelling, community, and transformation. No te pierdas esta noche mágica de narración de cuentos, comunidad y transformación.

Midwest Mujeres focuses on education, employment, and mental health. This project is dedicated to recruiting women with barriers to re-entry work from a long pause or formerly incarcerated women. The groups or facilitators we work with are skilled in holding spaces that foster safety for women, especially women of color. We create circles where the women can use our platform to create campaigns to support their business events and gain support as they embark on a new social media channel.   Learn about us and discover how YOU can collaborate with Midwest Mujeres. About Midwest Mujeres Midwest Mujeres (Midwest Women) is a mentorship collective for multicultural women entrepreneurs. We educate Latinas and Black women on storytelling, networking, mentoring, and marketing. We empower women to build their businesses to close the wage gap for all women. Our members gain exclusive coaching calls and mentoring to help them reach their dreams. In our community cohorts, we work with organizations to empower Latinas to free their voice in community event planning and invite them to participate in our annual event, "Yo Quiero Dinero!" We create a culture of belonging for everyone who wants to celebrate equity, unity, and empowerment for women. What is the thing that brings us together? Our Stories! Learn. Read. Activate. Read our Annual Report and Support the Movement! Collaborate Meet the people we Collaborate with us to empower the participants of Voices and Dreams Academy! Program Coordinator Joanna Roldan Women Circle Keepers Joanna Love and Olivia Buenorostro Executive Director Araceli Esparza, MFA Community Manager Marta Carrion Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager Yajaira Brooks Blog Writer for Midwest Mujeres Fernanda Alayo Faculty Johnathan Delgado, Stage Manager Website Designer and Consultant Carla Medina of Iris Designs Voices and Dreams Faculty Qiana Holmes, Empowerment Coach Faculty Prenicia Clifton, Speaking Coach Faculty Gregg Potter, Speaking Coach Faculty Miriam Hall, Mindfulness Coach Faculty Olivia Buenrostro-Soto, Financial Wellness Advocate Faculty Katie Myers, Business Coach Interested in Collaborating? Click Here Leflore Accounting We share offices with Leflore Accounting and able to refer wraparound tax services for our community. Financial Education Partner Old National Bank was our financial education partner for Voices and Dreams Academy 2025 MyArts Theater Madison Youth Arts Theater has been the home for Yo Quiero Dinero for four years. Advisory Board Meet our board and volunteers! Yo Quiero Dinero Team Johnathan Delgado, Yazmin Sulem Lopez, Liz Camacho, and Giovanni Aleman Sotelo "Together, we will close the wage gap for all!" Aida Leflore CEO of Leflore Accounting Services | Accounting, Bookkeeping & Tax Services Aida excels at streamlining financial processes and ensuring regulatory compliance. "I'm an avid volunteer who enjoys spending time with my community." Paula Steinhorst MBA, PMP, Prosci, CSM Senior Enterprise Portfolio Governance & Project Delivery Professional "I love giving back to our Latina Community and helping women build the confidence, connections, and opportunities they need to succeed." Monica Weitzel Community Engagement & Partnerships Leader | Hospitality Professional "Grateful for the opportunity to contribute and support an event that brings so much energy and economic impact to the southern Wisconsin region." Mallory M. Rodriguez, ChFC® She prides herself on a strong commitment to precision and client satisfaction. Mallory excels at streamlining insurance processes and ensuring that your home, life, and auto are secure. "I'm an avid volunteer who enjoys spending time with my family and supporting our Wisconsin community." Maria Elena Matos -Schultz Maria is a Peruvian-trained Clinical Psychologist with nine years of hospital and private practice experience who continued her lifelong commitment to care in Madison through frontline eldercare service as a Resident Assistant and Certified Nursing Assistant. "My commitment has always been to care for people, whether through psychology, caregiving, or simply showing up with compassion where I am needed most." Susan Pierce Jacobsen Susan has over 30 years of experience in leadership, relationship cultivation, and business administration. In addition to the Village Diaper Bank, Susan has served on the board of Carbone Cancer Center, Friends of UW Hospital and Clinics, Rape Crisis Center, American Family Children’s Hospital, JDRF, Badger Chapter American Red Cross, and the River Food Pantry. "I love contributing to our community by supporting leaders on best practices and strategy!" Frequently Asked Questions 01 What is Midwest Mujeres? Midwest Mujeres is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that educates and empowers Latina and Black women entrepreneurs through mentorship, storytelling, leadership training, and networking, with the goal of closing the gender wage gap. 02 Who does Midwest Mujeres serve? Midwest Mujeres primarily serves Latina and Black women in Wisconsin, but no one will be turned away. We support entrepreneurs, first-generation professionals, immigrant women, and women navigating career transitions. 03 What programs does Midwest Mujeres offer? Programs include the Voices & Dreams (Voces y Sueños) storytelling and leadership academy, membership coaching, networking events, and a community resource page for immigrant and Latino families in Wisconsin. 04 How can I get involved with Midwest Mujeres? You can become a member, sponsor an event, attend a networking event, or apply to the Voices & Dreams Academy through the Midwest Mujeres website.