Saturday, January 26, 2019
Annual Dare to Dream Conference
6th thru 8th grade Latina girls and their mother/father/guardian and/or mentor get this chance to hear some amazing Latina women who share their stories of overcoming difficulties to achieve great things.
We’ve invited dynamic Latina women to tell you of their careers, and more important, how they got from where you are to where they are. We’ve also invited students and counselors from high schools and colleges to share their experiences with you. In the afternoon, you will participate in active, challenging team activities that reinforce the day’s messages.
Where
McAninch Arts Center
at College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
When
January 26, 2019, Saturday
8:00am – 3:00pm
The mother/father/guardian and/or mentor who attend the conference will be in different workshop sessions that will be conducted in Spanish. They will hear successful Latina role models address issues that concern them as women and mothers. In particular, they will get insights and tips about how to encourage their daughters and how to reinforce the conference message.
It is a day of information, inspiration, and is a celebration of our young Latinas and their futures! It’s actually quite magical to experience the energy, the spirit and the excitement as the day goes on.
Breakfast and Lunch will be provided
Registration is closed
HAVE A LOOK AT THE
Event Schedule
Girls: MAC & Berg Instructional Center (BIC)
Mothers Program: MAC
8:00 am – Arrive/check-in, Breakfast
9:00 am – Welcome: Susan Boyd and State Representative Kathleen Willis
9:10 am – Keynote: Cyndy Velazquez
9:35 am – Dr. Eiliana Silva – Suicide Prevention
10:00 am – Career & Campus Life Workshops – BIC
11:10 am – Lunch in SRC 1140/Resource Fair
12:15pm – Career & Campus Life Workshops – BIC
1:20 pm – Effects of Negative Communication– BIC
2:40 pm – Letter Exchange
Closer: Eira Corral Sepulveda
3:00 pm – Program Ends, Evaluations collected, Departure
8:00 am – Arrive/check-in, Breakfast
9:00 am – Welcome: Susan Boyd and State Representative Kathleen Willis
9:10 am – Keynote: Cyndy Velazquez
9:35 am – Dr. Eiliana Silva – Suicide Prevention
10:00 – 10:40 am – Presentation #1 Diana Diaz-Espindola. – Effects of Negative Communication
10:45 – 11:25 am – Presentation #2 Teresita Marsal-Avila. – Immigration
11:30 – 12:10 am – Presentation #3 Dr. Eiliana Silva – Suicide Prevention
12:10 – 1:05 am – Lunch in SRC 1140/Resource Fair
1:00 pm
**Program Moderator and panelists report to stage and setup**
1:10 – 1:45 pm – Presentation #4 Elizabeth Gomez de la Casa – Financial Aid/Adult Education
1:50 – 2:25 pm – Presentation #5 Dr. Laura Piniero – Women’s Health
2:25 pm – Letter Writing
2:30 pm – Break for moms
2:40 pm – Letter Exchange
Closer: Eira Corral Sepulveda
3:00 pm – Program Ends, Evaluations collected, Departure
THESE ARE
Our Speakers
Keynote

has been a police officer in the Village of Lombard, IL for nearly 29 years. Cyndy graduated from the Chicago Police Academy in 1990 becoming the first female recipient of the Outstanding Recruit Award. Working her way through the ranks, Cyndy served as a patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, patrol lieutenant and Commander of the Investigations Unit. Cyndy is currently the Commander for the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force, the first female to hold that title. Cyndy is also the first female to hold the rank of Deputy Chief at the Lombard Police Department.
Deputy Chief Velazquez has a master’s degree in Organizational Behavior and a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement Administration. Cyndy attended the Northwestern University School of Staff and Command. Deputy Chief Velazquez is a defensive tactics instructor and physical fitness instructor at the Suburban Law Enforcement Police Academy where she was named Instructor of the Year in 2013. Cyndy has also taught Rape Prevention.
Deputy Chief Velazquez proudly served in the United States Army and was granted the Outstanding Squad Leader Award.
Closer

is the Village Clerk of Hanover Park. Elected at age 23 in 2009, she was the youngest elected official in the State of Illinois. She was reelected in April, 2017 to her third term. Her leadership has focused on government transparency by using technology to make records accessible to village residents. She is Board Liaison to and a member of Hanover Park’s Cultural Inclusion and Diversity Committee. Eira graduated from DePaul University with degrees in Political Science and Latino and Latin American Studies, Community Service Studies, and Commercial Spanish, and has studied in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Nogales, Mexico.
Speaker

is a clinical therapist, clinical supervisor, and an educator. Eiliana finished her doctors in November with honors and won dissertation of the year award. She was the only Latina to graduate in her class. Dr Silva is a first-generation college student from a low-income home. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA. But things weren’t always easy for Eiliana to get to this point. Eiliana grew up with many struggles and obstacles. Her father was not in the picture, her mother was sick and doing everything on her own. “I never had the best shoes to wear to school, but my grandfathers words and encouragement meant so much more.”
She currently works at Streamwood Behavioral Health Hospital as a therapist and helps children and teens who struggles with mood disorders, depression, and PTSD. Dr Silva stated that although she had many struggles growing up, the only thing that made her strong was her education. “People can take away many things, but they can never take away your education.”
Schools
Indian Trail Junior High
Gurrie Middle School
School Distric 89
Marquardt Middle School
Hester Middle School
WoodDale Junior High School
U46 School District
Glen West Middle School
Blackhawk Middle School
Springwood Middle School
Northlake Middle School
Churchville Middle School
Algonquin Middle School
West Oak Middle School
Glenside Middle School
Jackson Middle School
Jefferson Middle School
Iroquois West Middle School
Hannah Beardsley Middle School
Chippewa Middle School
Hubble Middle School
Venue
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage 425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
The theatre is located on the College of DuPage campus, just west of Park Boulevard in Glen Ellyn, IL. Take Park Boulevard to Fawell Boulevard (22nd Street on Google Maps). Turn west and follow Fawell about ¼ mile as it curves right and left again. The COD campus is on your left. Turn into the parking lot’s first entrance by the green and white College of DuPage sign. The MAC will be directly in front of you. Parking is free in any of the lots.