History of The Latina
A.R.M.Y. Inc.
The Latina A.R.M.Y, Inc., (TLA - Accomplished Role models
Motivating Young Latinas), a nonprofit 501c(3), was
established in 2009 to support the positive life
development of young Latina girls.
Our mission is to celebrate and empower young Latinas by
providing inspirational role models and introducing
powerful life skills for personal excellence. Our goal at
TLA is to improve outcomes for struggling, low-income,
first and second generation Latina girls ages 12 to 18.
TLA developed a two-session group program model, which was
written by co-founders Dr. Carmen Marcano-Davis, a licensed
clinical psychologist and Nancy Roldán Johnson, the
organization’s creator and Executive Director. Program
sessions were facilitated by a trained Latina A.R.M.Y.
staff and/or volunteer role models and were generally held
6-8 weeks apart. Girls were engaged in exploratory
discussions and activities in four main skill areas (JARS);
Journaling thoughts and feelings, banishing negative
thoughts - Affirmations, setting personal boundaries Rules, and Setting, planning and achieving goals. Over
1,000 girls have participated in TLA’s original program
model, and demand for our workshops exceeded the capacity
to provide workshops requested both regionally and
nationally.
“… always punctual and very professional [The Latina A.R.M.Y. volunteers] bring
a powerful message to a captivated audience every time they present. …Many
of the students are very willing to share stories and feelings due to an excitement
these women are able to elicit in them. Many students cannot wait to return to the
second session to share the successes they have had implementing what they
have learned.”Dr. Francisco Soto, Assistant Principal at Hill Regional Career
Magnet High School, New Haven, CT
“Many of the staff don’t know Spanish or don’t understand the culture, so we
have a hard time helping (the Latina students). They need to see that there are
professional women out there who have come from different countries who have
made it. Then they’ll believe that they can do it, too.”Lisa O’Leary ESL Teacher
West Haven High School, CT
The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. P.O. Box 713 Shelton, CT 06484
info@theLatinaArmy.org / www.TheLatinaArmy.org
The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. P.O. Box 713 Shelton, CT 06484
info@theLatinaArmy.org / www.TheLatinaArmy.org
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La Mariposa
A Personal Empowerment Program
for Adolescent Latinas
THE LATINA A.R.M.Y., INC. INTRODUCES
A NEW 12 WEEK PROGRAM FOR
LATINA GIRLS AGES 12-18
LA MARIPOSA IS A CULTURALLY RELEVANT, GENDER RESPONSIVE AND
TRAUMA INFORMED PROGRAM MODEL WITH A FRAMEWORK
GROUNDED ON EVIDENCE BASED PRINCIPLES
The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. P.O. Box 713 Shelton, CT 06484
info@theLatinaArmy.org / www.TheLatinaArmy.org
La Mariposa:
A Personal Empowerment Program for Adolescent
Latinas Ages 12-18
Grant funding received from the Annie E. Casey
Foundation and Hispanics in Philanthropy Funders’
Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities made it
possible for us to partner with experts in the field of
effective gender-specific programming to evaluate our
workshops and training methods and make program
enhancements that result in positive outcomes for our
participants.
The original 2-session workshop program has been
enhanced to include research-based elements of effective
programming for girls, added cultural competency
features, and additional sessions to ensure that girls
fully learn the skills we are offering. It can be
offered as an intervention or prevention program.
The new model is twelve sessions and can be facilitated
as an intervention or prevention program once per week
for twelve weeks, or twice per week for six weeks.
The new program model known as La Mariposa will teach
girls valuable skills that will:
 Help girls develop healthy relationships with
themselves, others and their community
 Provide girls with compassionate and culturally
sensitive facilitators to share success stories and
to listen to them
 Provide girls with an understanding of the value and
importance of education in the development of their
aspirations
 Develop personal empowerment abilities
 Reinforce a sense of pride and connection with Latina
culture
By engaging girls in twelve interactive workshop
sessions, where facilitators teach personal empowerment
skills (JARS – Journaling, Affirmations, Personal Rules
and Setting Goals), girls will learn about the power
within and the ways in which they can lead the direction
of their lives. All workshops are facilitated in a
relational, strengths-based, trauma informed and
The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. P.O. Box 713 Shelton, CT 06484
info@theLatinaArmy.org / www.TheLatinaArmy.org
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culturally competent manner.
The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. P.O. Box 713 Shelton, CT 06484
info@theLatinaArmy.org / www.TheLatinaArmy.org
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La Mariposa Twelve Week Curriculum
Outline
Session 1: Nuestro Mundo / Our World - Group Introduction
Introduction To The Program Purpose, Leaders’ Story,
Establishing Group Culture
Session 2: Mi Mundo / My World - Journaling
Introduction To Journaling and Gratitude Practice
Session 3: Mi Vida / My Life
Story of La Mariposa, Guided Visualization: Mi Vida en 5 Años /
Me in 5 Years
Session 4: Mi Futuro / My Future
Development of A Vision Board and Sharing Presentation
Session 5 Mi Verdad / My Truth - Affirmations
Power of Positive Self-Talk and Affirmations
Session 6: El Que Dirán/ What They Would Say – Personal Rules
Messages in Girls’ Lives, Rewriting Messages, and Establishing
Personal Rules
Session 7: ¿Que Quiero Yo? / What do I Want? - Gender Roles &
Wellness
Practicing Personal Rules and Guided Meditation
Session 8: Mi Realidad /My Reality
Gender Role Expectations – Stomp it Out and Mi Verdad/My
Truth Poem
Session 9: En La Lucha / In The Struggle
Arbol de Mi Vida /The Tree of Me
Session 10: ¡Soluciones! / Finding Solutions!
PODER Problem Solving Worksheet, Lavar Mis Manos/Wash My
Hands
Session 11: ¿Porque No Yo? / Why Not Me? –Setting Goals
Career/Interest Survey and Mis Metas - Goal Setting Activity
Session 12: ¡Si Se Puede! / I Can Do Anything!
Practicing JARS, Mi Regalo – My Gift Sharing Activity, and
Certificates & Celebration!
The Latina A.R.M.Y. Inc. P.O. Box 713 Shelton, CT 06484
info@theLatinaArmy.org / www.TheLatinaArmy.org
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