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Spotlight Listing

NVC graduate becomes second Latina mayor of Woodland, CA

How does a young Latina woman make the journey from young Mexican immigrant to high school graduate, to community college graduate, to college dropout to holder of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, to parent, working professional and mayor of a California city of 63,000 people? The answer, according to Mayra Vega: Hard work, giving back and asking for mentorship.

Community leader Blanca Huijon gained guidance and confidence at Napa Valley College

Upon meeting Blanca Huijon, executive director of Napa’s Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors), one is struck by her poise and confidence, honed over the course of 11 years at the nonprofit, which provides health, social service and education resources to Spanish-speaking community members. Her bio on the organization’s website calls her an “independent woman, daughter, sister, visionary, community organizer and experienced advocate for the Latino community.”

Long road for respiratory therapy student ends at Mayo Clinic

The way Sydney Kauppinen tells it, she never expected to end up with her dream job as a neonatal/pediatric respiratory therapist at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.