Celebrating The Book of Awesome Latinas: Because Storytelling Is Resistance

Join authors Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda and Mirtle Peña-Calderón for a powerful evening celebrating The Book of Awesome Latinas: From Passionate Pioneers to Unstoppable Innovators.

Moderated by Viridiana Ponce — business consultant and co-founder of Jefas PDX — this dynamic conversation will explore why storytelling is more than reflection; it’s resistance.

This book is a love letter to past and present Latinas who made history regardless of what stood in their way. At a time when our communities are navigating fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty, gathering to remember our legacy is both grounding and galvanizing.

Ashley and Mirtle will share the story behind the book, reflect on the women featured in its pages, and discuss how reclaiming and amplifying our stories can inspire advocacy, leadership, and collective action today.

The evening will include:

✨ A moderated conversation
✨ Select readings
✨ Audience Q&A
✨ Book signing

Come to feel seen.
Come to learn.
Come to be reminded that our stories have always mattered — and always will.

*Seating at Annie Bloom's is first-come, first-served. We appreciate your RSVPs so that we can best prepare for the event and if you'd like to go ahead and pre-order your copy from the bookstore, you can do that

“A necessary and joyful correction to the historical record… More than a celebration of the past, this book fuels hope and power for generations to come.” —Katya Echazarreta, Founder of Fundación Espacial and Mexican and American electrical engineer, science communicator, and Citizen Astronaut

The Book of Awesome Latinas is an inspiring collection of profiles that highlights the achievements of over 70 extraordinary Latinas and Latine femmes from the United States and Latin America.

From the foremothers who blazed trails and broke barriers, to today's women warriors across a wide range of fields, including but not limited to medicine, literature, politics, civil rights, space exploration, and the arts. The Book of Awesome Latinas presents 74 portraits of powerful and inspiring role models for chicas poised to become the superwomen of the future.

Each person featured in this book has broken barriers, defied expectations, and made a lasting impact within their communities. Through their courage, resilience, and steadfast determination, they will serve as powerful role models for the next generation, proving that when representation is lacking, we must be brave and bold enough to be the first.

It features pioneers such as Frida Kahlo, who changed the art world forever with her bold biographical portraits; Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican woman to visit the stars; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken justice warrior and advocate; and America Ferrera, whose powerful monologue on womenhood in Barbie resonated across generations and creeds.

Other incredible women featured are:

June Beer: An Afro-Nicaraguan naïve artist, who gained national and international acclaim for her works depicting African and feminist themes. She was also the first woman poet on Nicaragua's Atlantic coast and wrote in Moskitian Creole, English, and Spanish.

Gabriela Mistral: A Chilean poet and educator, who became the first Latin American author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Rigoberta Menchú: An Indigenous Guatemalan woman and human rights activist, who made history as the first Indigenous woman to run for president of Guatemala.

Chiquinha Gonzaga: A Brazilian composer, pianist, and the first woman conductor in Brazil. She was the first pianist of "choro" and author of the first carnival march, "Ó Abre Alas."

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: A philosopher, poet, and advocate for gender equality in New Spain (now modern-day Mexico) during the Baroque period (1600-1750).

Berta Cáceres: A Honduran environmental activist, Indigenous leader, co-founder and coordinator of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras.

Dolores Huerta: A civil rights activist and labour leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers union and championed workers' rights.

Nuria Piera: A Dominican journalist specialising in investigative journalism.

Sonia Sotomayor: The first Latina member of the U.S. Supreme Court, who continues to influence the nation with her legal wisdom and commitment to justice.

Argelia Laya: An Afro-Venezuelan schoolteacher, women's rights activist, guerrilla fighter, and politician.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa: A NASA astronaut who became the first Latina in space and later served as the first director of NASA’s Johnson Space Centre to be of Hispanic or Latino descent.

Marta Vieira da Silva: Known mononymously as Marta, she is a Brazilian-Swedish professional footballer and regarded by many as the greatest female footballer of all time.

Rita Moreno: A legendary actress, singer, and dancer who is the only Latina to have won a PEGOT (Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award), solidifying her legacy in the entertainment industry.

If you liked books such as Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Story of a Warrior Butterfly by Leila Cobo, ¡Viva Latina! by Sandra Velasquez, Mamá Didn't Raise a Pendeja by Carolina Acosta and Aralis Mejia, Rad Women Worldwide by Kate Schatz, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, orThe Book of Awesome Asian Women by Karen Wang Diggs, you will want to read The Book of Awesome Latinas.

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Host or Publisher Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda