Female Leadership Academy- Impact Stories, Class of 2008

FLA Graduation ~ Class of 2008

“Being a member of the Female Leadership Academy, of this wonderful group of women, has been an experience that I know will stay with me for the rest of my life. These past few months have helped me get in touch with my inner feminist as well as help others understand the importance of making a difference in their own community. This 8 month journey has taught me to speak up for what I feel is right and for those who can’t as well as other more simple but important skills such as how to be a more organized and how to prepare myself for social justice related experiences. These women have taught me the importance of coming together and standing up for issues that effect us all but most importantly how to build relationships based on trust, compassion and understanding in order to reach a common goal.”
-Ana Suarez


“Being in the Female Leadership Academy has been an awesome experience! I learned so much about reproductive issues, our human rights, economic justice, etc. I feel so fortunate to have met wonderful women like Erin, Patsy, Graciela and all the helpful mentors and our guest speakers of course! The Female Leadership Academy has opened my mind to new ideas, possibilities and goals. It has also helped me realize that I am just as important as anybody else. I am a stronger woman now than I was before this academy. This was a great experience for me.” “Love the skin you’re in!”
-Vanessa Suarez


“This overall experience of being in the Female Leadership Academy has definitely made a long-lasting impact on my mind. I have learned so many different things about feminism, as well as growing stronger as a feminist myself. I feel that there are so many different issues going on around the world that I have been able to get involved in through ACT and I am grateful for those opportunities. As a participant, I pushed myself in being as active in ever event that was out there to make some sort of change in the valley. I couldn’t thank Erin or my mentors more for giving me this great opportunity to leave my footprint in society through the FLA.”
-Britney McFarland


“When I first heard of ACT and FLA, I was ecstatic. I had just had an editorial published in the Visalia Times Delta which was basically my coming out as a feminist. Word spread around myspace and ACT found me. I wanted the chance to lobby and distribute leaflets and FLA was so much more than what I expected. Education was largely what we went through, and it’s what was needed to inform us why we stand for what we stand for. Of course, what good is education if we don’t implement it in some way? We also took a day trip to Sacramento to lobby against the proposed Medi-Cal cuts, as well as put on our own social justice event, Valley Rally. One of the most valuable things I learned was that I can mesh activism with my passions and everyday life. I can continue being myself and being comfortable in the skin I’m in; and continue to break societal norms of beauty, using my clothing line. I know deep down inside, that all women are beautiful and they can be what they want to be.”
-Elizabeth Yada


“The Female Leadership Academy has been a great learning experience. During the course of these two years I learned that I have something to say and that my opinion is as important as anybody else’s. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the most hard working and motivated activists in my community. I think it’s safe to say that thanks to this group I’m no longer afraid to go out there and speak my mind.”
-Claudia Garcia


“FLA has been an unforgettable experience for me. I have met so many amazing people through this program that have taught me so much about myself. It is incredible to see how many leaders there are in our local communities, all fighting for a common cause. Standing up for what they feel will better the lives of others. It has been astonishing to see how many people are taking action everywhere. On first impression, I couldn’t find a single thing in common. Soon enough I began to recognize that even though I didn’t always share a common sexual orientation, ethnicity, or race didn’t mean we didn’t share common views. The academy has helped me to become a more open minded, yet strong individual. It’s also inspired me to take action and acknowledge issues I am passionate about.”
-Korri Faria


“I feel very privileged and lucky to have been a part of this program because I realize that an opportunity like this unfortunately doesn’t come to everyone. Through the experience and activities of this program I’ve learned valuable skills and knowledge which I feel will lead me to be the woman I always dreamed of being; strong, confident and independent-minded and at the same time aware of the world; it’s flaws but more than anything it’s possibilities. It’s so inspirational to meet people with similar aspirations and values. Through this program, I’ve discovered that tangibility of change and the strength and ability within ourselves which enables us to create a better world for ourselves and those who we care about.”
-Adriana Orozco


“This is my second year participating in the Female Leadership Academy. Being my second time through the program, I am amazed at how much the academy has evolved in the past few years and how much more I gained the second time through. This year, beyond educating myself, I have learned how to apply my knowledge in order to benefit my community. I was able to learn how to write an editorial, discovering how to voice my opinion in the paper. On the radio show, “The F Word,” I learned about talking on the radio. In helping organize FLA’s Valley Rally, I experienced what it takes to put together a community awareness project. When FLA visited Sacramento on Planned Parenthood’s Capitol Day, I received the lol on grassroots lobbying. FLA has provided so many avenues to spread my newly gained knowledge. In this way FLA has impacted my life.”
-Jordyn Kruse


“Leadership, awareness, public speaking skills, organizational skills, life-long friends, where do I begin? There is just so much the FLA has done for me. When I first started the FLA, I felt like I found home. It just seemed like there was no one in Visalia that felt the same way I did. To most of my family, friends, and some of the people at school I was just some “radical thinker,” when all I was after was really just equality… I still do not understand how this is radical, but what I do understand is that I and other around me have the power to create change and raise awareness on issues that are important to us. During the Academy I had the opportunity to organize a rally in front on COS for Equal Pay Day. To me the rally felt like a success the minute I made someone aware of the wage gap between women and men. The fact that we got media coverage was just a plus… a great plus because I was able to get the message to a lot more people. That was great. Also, the fact that my editorial got published was also really good because that was another way of getting the word out.”
-Isela Gonzalez


“The Female Leadership Academy has been a catalyst for change in my life. It has opened my eyes to different issues that affect my life as a young woman. It has allowed me the opportunity to become a member of the community that is working toward the equal rights for everyone. Because of this program I am lucky to say that I have more knowledge about the adversity that I face as a young woman. I also obtained the instruments to not only fight them head on, but also to educate others about the injustices that occur every day. In the end, the Female Leadership Academy has made life better and showed that knowledge and hard work can make me feel fulfilled.”
-Holly Thompson


“Wow!! Words can not describe what the FLA has done for me. I have been in the Female Leadership Academy for 2 years and in my first year I learned so much. The one that hit home for me was that despite what people say you do have a voice. My second year I just had a BLAST!!! The girls in the FLA help reinforce the concept that in numbers you can achieve anything. Like I said before I love how we all come from such diverse backgrounds and have completely different opinions and still be able to come together and say our main goal is to achieve equality. So thank you, FLA for making me comfortable in my own skin.”
-Lisa Alvarado

“My experience in the Female Leadership Academy has been an eye opener for me. It introduced me to some amazing people as well as topics that weren’t part of my existence. I got a better understanding of reproductive health, the water problem that we are facing in the valley and the importance of being a feminist. Throughout the course of this program I felt like if I grew as a person. Having the opportunity to interact with other feminists and standing up for what we believe in. I am thankful for the opportunity for being part of such a great program.”
-Maria Garcia

Marching at Planned Parenthood's Capitol Day