Rocío Ronquillo: Planting Seeds

25th Anniversary

Mi Voz
Zulma Malpica
Pablo Lopez
Rocío Ronquillo
Pastor Juan Aguayo and
Father Tom
Merrill
Marlon Ferrey

Crisis Line: 651.772.1611

Mi Voz

Rocío Ronquillo: Planting Seeds

Rocío Ronquillo talks enthusiastically about her journey and describes herself as an adventurer. The terms truly apply, both literally and figuratively. As a tourist guide in Mexico she became familiar with the many cultures in her country. Spending time with indigenous women in the mountains, she saw their beautiful handwork and helped them open a market to sell it. Rocío has a strong desire to support and strengthen Latinas.

As a member of the Fuerza Unida Advisory Group, Rocío participated in leadership training. Each member of the group envisioned and created a project to benefit Latinas in the community, and Casa de Esperanza supported them in putting their initiatives into action.

Rocío's project was a series of eight talleres (workshops) with twelve Latinas of varying ages and backgrounds. Using training and experience that she obtained in her home country, Rocío is skilled at assisting women to understand themselves and take responsibility for their lives.

Her topic, To Know Yourself is to Love Yourself, presented universal themes that allowed each woman to assess her life. The group became a safe place where the women could share thoughts and feelings, identify their strengths and the tools they have to make changes in their lives, and find the support to make those changes.

The women met at Waite House, one of Pillsbury United Communities Centers, in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. After hearing the positive feedback from the group, Francisco Segovia, the center's Executive Director, invited Rocío to conduct a second, follow-up series with the women. He also challenged them to recruit women for another similar group. "We usually must look outside the community for resources," says Francisco, "it's wonderful that Rocío has the skills and heart to do the job . . . and she represents the community."

Rocío plans to continue to start new groups. "We are planting seeds," she says, and growth is indeed the result.

The relationship of the groups to domestic violence is clear for Rocío. "When I accept and value myself, I won't permit anyone to hurt me. I learn to set my own limits."

Rocío recognizes that as Latinas strengthen, they are able to take action. She knows that within our communities, there are Latinas who truly want to identify their skills, use them, and be a force in making the community a better place for families.