Latina A.R.M.Y. Announces Newest Board Member

Feb. 6, 2012 - PRLog -- New Haven, CT - The Latina A.R.M.Y., Inc. proudly announces the recent appointment of David Vargas to their Board of Directors as Treasurer.

David was born and raised in Bronx, New York to Puerto Rican parents.  He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in Bronx, New York and Colgate University in Hamilton, New York with a BA in economics. David is married with two sons and lives in Connecticut.  He enjoys physical training, baseball, football and cooking.  He is also an avid New York Yankee and Jets fan.  David comes to The Latina A.R.M.Y. with 30 years of experience in accounting and finance working with General Electric, Bairnco, Echlin and Pitney Bowes.  His vast experience includes auditing, general accounting, government contract cost estimates, finance, budgets and business case developments.   David is looking forward to supporting The Latina A.R.M.Y. in all its endeavors.  He is eager to support, strengthen and grow the organization.  

David joins the current Board of Directors: Board co-Chair Deborah Sabia, Hispanics Initiative Manager with Girl Scouts of Connecticut; Board co-Chair Yolanda Caldera-Durant, Program Associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation; and Secretary Cynthia Toscano-Lopez, MBA and business manager at Pitney Bowes.  

The Latina A.R.M.Y. is the first organization of its kind to offer free in-school empowerment workshops that promote self-awareness and encouraged girls to set healthy boundaries in their relationships, to identify their personal goals and develop concrete life plans.  The workshops are conducted by caring Latinas and non-Latinas who serve as role models to girls between the ages of 9 and 18.  The volunteers are women who faced a difficult challenge in order to meet a goal that resulted in a better way of life and because of their determination and hard work, they add value to society.  Given the changing demographics of Connecticut and other states, it is crucial for women to become involved in guiding girls as they begin to navigate their middle school and high school years. We can do this by sharing our stories and letting them know that we faced challenges and were able to overcome them to become the women we are today.

The Latina A.R.M.Y. is an all -inclusive organization established in 2008 in response to the crisis state of young Latinas in the United States.  Current statistics tell us that young Latinas (the fastest growing U.S. demographic group) hold the highest rates of: attempted suicide –one in seven young Latinas attempts suicide; teen pregnancy-more than 53% are pregnant or become mothers at least once before the age of 20 (more than double the national average); female high school drop-outs in the country (nearly double the national average).  Most researchers agree that this group finds itself between cultures and often cannot find positive role models who understand them.  The majority of girls who complete a Latina A.R.M.Y. program say they feel better about their future and benefit from higher self-esteem as a result of their participation.  To date, the organization has reached over 800 girls throughout the state of Connecticut and in the metro New York region.

# # #

The Latina A.R.M.Y., Inc., a national nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to celebrate and empower young Latinas by providing inspirational role models and introducing powerful life skills for personal excellence. Their goal is to empower 1 million young Latinas across the United States. The organization is interested in recruiting board members.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit: http://www.theLatinaARMY.org email info@thelatinaArmy.org or call (203)812-9901.