Con Mi MADRE

In 1992, a state demographer indicated that a Latina baby girl had less than a 1% chance of getting a college education. This grave statistic and the rapid increase of Latinas/os in Texas, influenced the development of Con Mi MADRE, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to increase the number of young Latinas pursuing and succeeding in post-secondary education. Con Mi MADRE began in 2008 as a product of the Junior League of Austin's Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program. The Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program began in 1992, working with only 6th grade Latinas and their mothers to empower the girls to stay in school, graduate, and go on to pursue post-secondary education. As the program grew, they began to serve young Latinas from 6th-12th grades. Currently, Con Mi MADRE provides education and support services for young Latinas and their mothers from 6th grade through post-secondary completion. Young Latinas and their mothers enroll into Con Mi MADRE together and are offered an array of services including: mother-daughter conferences, college visits, campus meetings, community service activities, counseling, and mentoring throughout the year. Young Latinas in our program tend to come from low-income households and are the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education. Con Mi MADRE opens up a world of possibilities for these girls, exposing them to opportunities they may not otherwise have and that they never thought possible. We are starting our first and new expansion site in El Paso and we are excited to deliver our services in the Sun City!

Con Mi MADRE is unique in that it focuses on strengthening the mother-daughter bond while providing support and educational opportunities for both daughters and mothers. Con Mi MADRE's continuum programming allows participants to decide which projects and services meet their needs. Services for girls are age and grade appropriate and topics address the social, mental and academic barriers that prevent them from attaining their educational dreams. Services for parents work to create a family culture that values education, embraces a college degree as an achievable dream for their daughters, and supports parents in raising a young Latina. All services, activities, and materials offered by Con Mi MADRE are bilingual and presented in a culturally competent manner, honoring the girls' Hispanic heritage.