Stories
The writers featured in these cuentos are promotores de salud who work with the CCmáS (Cuidándonos Creceremos más Sanos/Growing Healthier Together) program at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. Each writer reflected on how their identity, their experiences, and their role as a promotor/a are woven into their work with reproductive health and justice. Please be aware that some of these stories include general references to domestic violence, sexual assault, thoughts of suicide, or pregnancy loss.
Angeles
Angeles Soria Rodríguez, Mexicana from Morelia Michoacán, is a mother, wife, homemaker, leader in the community, health promoter for around 18 years at different organizations, promoting healthy communities, wherever it is needed. She likes to be involved in work activities that are social and she really enjoys spending time with the community and her family.
Image: Angeles reading CCmáS manuals in front of flowers.
Elida
Elida is a health promoter originally from Guerrero, México. She has lived in Wisconsin for 22 years, the majority of which she has done what she enjoys the most: helping without expecting anything in return, and very quietly. She does not like to go on about herself. First, because there is a supreme being that sees and knows what she does and returns Blessings to her. Second, because she has always said that who you help is who should say who you are and what you do. On the other hand, she promotes “The value of Equality” in many aspects of life because she is sure that as human beings we have this value. And she always remembers the people, and that a position in whatever area (work, economics, migration, religion, etc) does not make us better or worse than others, nor does it give the right to be humiliated. Because even if we decide to simply be (a cleaner, dishwasher, driver, etc.) we can be the best and we deserve the same respect. What is important is that in all that we do, “We always do it with Passion and with Heart.”
Image: Different genders, ages, and tastes, but the same Value.
Gaby
Gaby is a health promoter in Milwaukee who is bilingual (Spanish/English). Her family is from Guatemala, and she was born in Los Angeles, California. She moved to Milwaukee when she was 5 years old. She has around 8 years of experience working on projects to help her community. She has one son and an incredible husband. She loves to travel and eat lots of tacos. She loves her work with the Latino community and enjoys being a health promoter.
Image: An eagle flying in the clouds (Shutterstock 2022).
Joshy
Joshy Castillo-Torres is the Health Promoters' Coordinator at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. Her mother decided to write her name with a silent h in the middle and that's why it is pronounced Josi but written as Joshy. Joshy is a journalist, she wouldn't study anything else, and if she was born again, she would do the same thing. She was born in the United States but grew up in Nicaragua with her mother's family, and she considers this country to be her true country. She has two spectacular sons and one 12-year-old granddaughter who is daring just like her grandmother. She is addicted to chocolate, good stories, and does not put up with hypocrisy.
Image: Joshy on a bicycle in Los Angeles.
Kendy
Kendy is a married woman, born in México in the city of León Guanajuato, who is also a health promoter that advocates for victims who suffer from domestic violence and sex trafficking. With a beautiful and brave mother, six wonderful sisters and only one brother, she’s in love with life and grateful to God for allowing her to be a mother of three precious girls and a boy. She is passionate about listening to stories about real life, learning from them, helping others, and her specialty is talking. With a great virtue to be unique, she doesn't like to imitate anyone and loves being HERSELF, dreaming big is something that characterizes her and the sky's the limit. She is risky, daring, outgoing, cheerful, loves adrenaline, and her favorite moments are spending time with family to cry, laugh, and share their triumphs and failures together. Being with her family are moments that she is most thankful for in life.
Image: A photo of Kendy when she was a little girl.
María
María is a bilingual, Spanish/English, first generation Mexican, who arrived in Waukesha, WI, from Atotonilco, Durango Mexico at the age of 7. She is an activist, who for more than 38 years has fought for every person to be able to live in an equitable and inclusive society, promoting the Reproductive Justice movement so that we can all thrive and not just survive.
Image: A view from Maria's desk.