Fifty years ago, a group of Mexican American women activists realized that in the struggle for advancement in the Hispanic community, the voices of women were at best barely mentioned and at worst, completely ignored. Out of that desire to be heard and to do good was born the Mexican American Women’s National Association (MANA).

“Fifty years ago. Can you imagine?” says Betty Baca, one of the group’s co-founders. “We were at the peak of the women’s movement, the civil rights movement. There were several of us Chicanas and we had a relationship with the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women (NACOPRW) but there were no other Latina women organizations, and the leadership in the Chicano movement was all men, and the leadership in the women’s movement was all white women.”

The concept for a national Mexican American women’s organization grew out of a series of brunch meetings with Baca and fellow Chicanas working in the nation’s capital. “We wanted to have a group that served our needs as Chicanas. And we wanted to make sure we made it a true membership organization, with chapters nationwide, and bring other women in.” The first organizing meeting in October 1974 attracted about a dozen women. Current membership is at least 25,000.

“We still exist after 50 years, and yes, we were the organizers, but the women who came after us did wonderful things like starting all of these programs. The group has continued and we’re making a difference all over the country. I couldn’t be prouder. You don’t know when you start something that you’re making history. We were making history in 1974. We had hopes and dreams and it’s come to fruition in ways we couldn’t have ever imagined. Those of us who are still here and witness how solid the organization is, couldn’t be happier.”

Another co-founder is Dr. Blandina “Bambi” Cardenas, who was in Washington, D.C., at the time working for then-Senator Walter Mondale and was MANA’s first organizing/founding chair. She says that it was a Senate hearing on welfare reform that made her realize the need for Latinas to get involved. “There were representatives from women’s groups, white women and African American women and men, and the Latino groups were all men, no Latinas. And this was an issue that was going to affect Latinas. Betty and I talked about it and we decided that the only way we were going to be invited to participate in those types of policy discussions was if we had an organization. There were very few of us (Mexican American Latinas) in professional positions in Washington at the time. We wanted to create a leadership development values-driven organization. There was a vacuum and we needed to fill it, and we did.”

MANA’s mission is one of promoting the political, economic, and social advancement of Latinas, as well as preserving their cultural heritage. The group is known for its advocacy, community service, and leadership development programs aimed at empowering Latina women across various sectors, including education, politics, and business. MANA is involved in in equal access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and educational support through scholarships that help access higher education for young Hispanics.

The nonprofit organization works to increase Latina representation in leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, and that includes leadership training and mentoring programs often aimed at young women, such as the Hermanitas program. It pairs middle and high school -aged Latinas with adult mentors who provide guidance, support, and advice on a variety of issues, including academic challenges, career planning, personal development, and cultural identity. By providing exposure to leadership workshops, community service opportunities, and personal development activities, the program prepares young women to become leaders in their communities and beyond and empowers them by helping them recognize their potential and the importance of their cultural heritage in shaping their future.

Another MANA initiative is AVANZAMOS, a leadership development program. It’s specifically tailored to help Latinas advance in their careers, offering career development workshops, mentorship opportunities, and networking events where participants can connect with established professionals in various industries.

Over the years, this and other initiatives have helped “MANA, A National Latina Organization” grow by leaps and bounds, with membership expanded from Mexican American women to include all Latinas – MANA also has men among its membership – and chapters nationwide. The chapters organize various events throughout the year, including conferences and workshops that bring members together and help foster a sense of solidarity and empowerment.

MANA’s President and CEO is Amy Hinojosa, who also presides over its sister organization, MANA Action Fund. As the representative of MANA, Amy currently serves as Chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and was named one of the 2022 Social Impact Women to Watch by the group NonprofitHR.

Hinojosa came to MANA to direct the Hermanitas program, moving up ten years ago to helm MANA itself. “It’s always important to get involved. We owe it to ourselves and our community to always stay informed and get involved and help. There was a time when we weren’t seen or welcomed and now we are welcomed at the table. Helping is what we do naturally, and we formalized it into an organization,” she tells LATINO Magazine.

“Some of the other initiatives include financial literacy education. We’ve been partnering and doing this for 30 years now, to help women understand their paychecks, how to save money, what they’re lifetime income looks like, saving for retirement, and how to do all that. Equal pay is very important to us; Latinas only make 51 cents to the dollar that a white male earns in the same job with the same qualifications, so understanding how to make the most out of your money is critically important.”

Hinojosa says one of the things she loves about MANA is its “ever-evolving growth” where past members of the Hermanitas program come back as professional adults to lead chapters or get otherwise involved in the organization. “They continue to make the organization successful because they saw the value for themselves. It’s the same way the community works: you help others because they helped you. MANA is a feeling, it’s a sentido, and you only know it when you’re in the orbit of someone who’s an hermana. It’s the same feeling you get with family.”

“This is never a greater need for MANA than today,” adds Cardenas. “The MANA chapters across the country have very vibrant, multi-faceted programs throughout the year. That’s a very powerful base for thinking how do we keep our community progressing. There’s a lot of ganas out there that we need to support.”

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of MANA, the national board of directors were committed to honoring the founders, celebrating the accomplishments of the organization, and looking toward a future where Latina equity is a reality. On October 3-5, 2024 the founders gathered with current and historical leadership of the organization, as well as hermanas, hermanos, and hermanitas from across the nation in Washington, DC. A noche cultural celebrated the founders and the history of MANA. Visits to the White House and the Department of Education highlighted the progress made by Latinas since those early days of the organization. And events were capped off with a Get Out The Vote rally attended by hundreds on the National Mall at the Sylvan Theater. Even though the organization was founded by Mexican American women who felt neither seen nor heard, the celebration and rally demonstrated that 50 years of mentoring, education, and advocacy have brought Latinas into the light. And they will continue to be seen and heard for the next 50 years and beyond.