Mission Statement:
Equipping Latina women and their families through art, culture, education, and entrepreneurship

Expande Business Connection

Expande Business Connection is a monthly networking and business development initiative that brings together Latino entrepreneurs, financial institutions, government agencies, business support organizations, and industry experts to create meaningful opportunities for growth. Through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Forsyth Tech Small Business Center, Women’s Business Center of North Carolina, local banks, chambers of commerce, and community partners, entrepreneurs gain direct access to resources that are often difficult to navigate independently. These events have connected hundreds of business owners to financing opportunities, technical assistance, business services, and valuable relationships that contribute to long-term business sustainability and economic mobility.

LESP – Expande Your Entrepreneurial Mindset

The Latino Entrepreneurship Success Program (LESP) provides practical business education designed to help aspiring and existing entrepreneurs develop the mindset, skills, and confidence needed to build sustainable businesses. Through collaborations with the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina, Forsyth Tech Small Business Center, experienced business advisors, and community leaders, participants receive training in business planning, marketing, financial management, leadership, and growth strategies. The program has empowered hundreds of Latino entrepreneurs to formalize businesses, strengthen operations, improve financial literacy, and pursue entrepreneurship as a pathway toward economic self-sufficiency and generational wealth.

Latino Business Day

Latino Business Day is one of the region’s premier celebrations of Latino entrepreneurship and economic development. This signature event brings together entrepreneurs, corporate partners, government agencies, community organizations, educational institutions, and business leaders to recognize and elevate the contributions of Latino-owned businesses. Through collaborations with partners such as the Forsyth Tech Foundation, Greater Winston-Salem Inc., local government agencies, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations, Latino Business Day creates opportunities for networking, business exposure, resource sharing, and community engagement. The event highlights the growing economic impact of Latino entrepreneurs while fostering stronger connections between businesses and the broader economic ecosystem.

The Güipil Festival’s visits were a huge success, offering students a rich bilingual cultural and artistic experience, all while integrating social-emotional learning. See guipilfestival.com for videos and pictures.

THE BOOK CLUB

The Güipil Book Club – Tacos y Libros is a monthly gathering at the South Side Library each month that brings young adults, children, and their families together to explore authentic stories that inspire through the power of storytelling and journaling. Each meeting, held on a Tuesday evening, is complemented by delicious, traditional Latino foods like tacos or empanadas, making it a welcoming cultural and literary experience.

The book club offers a safe and inclusive space for participants to share, learn, and grow as a community. Our mission is to foster a love of reading and writing in Spanish, promoting cultural pride and a sense of unity within the Latino community. Through this enriching literary journey, we aim to inspire young Latinos and their families to thrive both educationally and culturally.

Join us for this unique adventure where literature meets culture, all while enjoying great food and meaningful conversation in a supportive and celebratory environment.

THE SUMMER READING ADVENTURE

The Güipil Summer Book Club is an extension of the Güipil Festival, providing school-aged young adults in Forsyth County with an engaging and reflective literary experience. Supported by the generous ARPA grant, the book club offers a space for young adults to dive into powerful stories that inspire and challenge their perspectives, fostering both personal growth and cultural pride.

In July, the Güipil Summer Book Club hosted two enriching sessions. The first took place on July 11th at the South Side Library, where 16 young adults, primarily from Parkland High School, joined 3 volunteers for an insightful discussion on the book «Dear America.» The gathering ended with a community meal, deepening the sense of unity and shared purpose.

The Güipil Summer Book Club has successfully engaged 28 individuals throughout the month of July, and continues to provide a welcoming space for young Latinos to explore literature, share their stories, and build community.

THE SUMMIT

The Mujer Valiosa Creative Summit is a transformative event focused on the power of storytelling as a tool for personal growth and healing. Aspiring and established writers participate in interactive workshops and expert-led sessions designed to inspire and equip them with practical tools for writing and marketing their stories.

Rebeca Segebre, President of Editorial Güipil and award-winning author, opens the summit by sharing insights from her book, You Were Born to Write It, offering valuable advice on owning and promoting personal narratives.

Workshops include a session led by Santiago Reales on using writing to heal from trauma, helping participants channel personal challenges into meaningful stories. Lee Thompson, a veteran in the publishing industry, provides marketing strategies for writers to successfully promote their books and inspire change.

The summit empowers writers to take control of their narratives, fostering both personal healing and professional growth.

MUJER VALIOSA AWARDS:

Let’s Get Mujer Valiosa Awards Ceremony at the Güipil Festival

The Let’s Get Mujer Valiosa Awards ceremony, held during the Güipil Festival, was a momentous occasion where we celebrated the remarkable achievements of our Güipil authors and their influential works. This special event honored authors whose stories have made a profound impact on readers and communities, with a highlight being the presentation of the prestigious Güipil Impact Award.

The awarded authors have not only told compelling and thought-provoking stories, but they have also shed light on critical social issues, challenged prevailing societal norms, and offered transformative perspectives. Their works reflect the core mission of Güipil books—to inspire change through literature.

During the ceremony, attendees had the unique opportunity to hear personal reflections from the authors as they shared their writing journeys and the significant impact their books have had on their readers. The event underscored the power of storytelling and the role of literature in fostering community and cultural growth.

This year’s Güipil Impact Award recipients exemplify the very best of what literature can achieve, and the Let’s Get Mujer Valiosa Awards continues to serve as a platform for recognizing and promoting the voices of these remarkable authors.

End-of-Year Volunteer and Latino Community Celebration

Our End-of-Year Party for the Latino community was a joyful and festive event, bringing together nearly 200 attendees to celebrate the holiday season with tamales, hot chocolate, and holiday cheer. The gathering was filled with warmth and community spirit as families and friends came together to mark the end of a successful year.

A special highlight of the event was the recognition of our 2023 Valuable Woman volunteers. Each volunteer was honored for their invaluable contributions throughout the year, receiving a certificate and a heartfelt gift in appreciation of their dedication and service.

The festivities not only celebrated the holiday season but also fostered a sense of unity and gratitude within the community. It was a wonderful evening filled with laughter, connection, and appreciation for the incredible efforts of our volunteers who help make our programs possible.

Welcome to Mujer Valiosa, where we believe knowledge is the key to unlocking our true potential. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of literature and education, we are proud to serve the Latino community from Winston-Salem, NC, to the world.

At Mujer Valiosa, we know that reading is a powerful tool that can transform lives. That’s why we are committed to promoting writing and reading in both English and Spanish, and to bringing families together through the shared experience of literature. We believe that reading is not only a way to improve language skills, but also a means to foster deep connections and understanding between generations.

The featured authors of Guipil Publishing serve as leaders in this community, using the theme of their book as a foundation. All Guipil books are beautifully woven, authentic stories, crafted from ideas to paper and written by Latina women in the United States.