Conference to Stress Careers for Latinas

A daylong conference today in Moorpark is targeting young Latinas, encouraging them to look to a range of future careers.

The conference organized by Moorpark Project Pride--an after-school program for at-risk youth--and sponsored by the local Presbyterian Church, is aimed at the young women because minority women are more likely to drop out of school and give up on career goals, said Project Pride director Alberto Rios.

“There’s more pressure on young women to drop out because of such things as an unwanted pregnancy or because of family expectations,” Rios said. “We want to show them that they have alternatives and choices.”

The conference will feature inspirational talks by two local sisters--optometrist Lorraine Chaparro and psychologist Linda Chaparro. The conference will also feature a presentation by community activist Juana Gutierrez, who co-founded Mothers of East Los Angeles.

The conference will be rounded out with career workshops, as well as information on women’s issues. Rios said UC Santa Barbara students and recruiters from the county fire and sheriff’s departments will also be on hand to answer questions.

The conference begins at 8 a.m. and is scheduled to last until 3 p.m. Girls ages 14 to 19 are welcome at the event, which will be held at the Moorpark Project Pride office on the site of the old Moorpark High School activities room at 280 Casey Road.

If it can raise the money, Project Pride hopes to sponsor more Latina women’s conferences, Rios said.