For Planning Purposes: August 23 2021
Contact: Erin Williams | ewilliams@faithinaction.org | 202-748-0699
WASHINGTON – “Thriving In The Fight: A Survival Manual For Latinas On The Front Lines of Change,” written by Denise Padín Collazo, has been named as a three-time finalist for the International Latino Book Awards in the categories of Best Latina Themed Book, Best Transformation Book-English, and Best Audiobok. The book was published in February 2021 and is Collazo’s first book. Collazo is the Senior Advisor and Director of Institutional Advancement for Faith in Action, and has worked for the organization for over two decades.
“Denise has authored a book that has such relevance to the lives of Latinas in the work world and beyond,” said Faith in Action executive director Rev. Alvin Herring. “We are thrilled that her book has garnered this recognition. The work we do as organizers while trying to forge lives as people can prove challenging at times, and Thriving in the Fight proves that Denise not only identifies and understands the struggle, but is willing to share with others the wisdom she had learned along the way.”
Drawing on her own experiences of triumph and failure, along with stories from fellow leading Latina activists, Collazo discusses three keys to thriving in the movement for social change: leading into your vision, living into the fullest version of yourself, and loving past negatives that hold you back. She also lays out three signs that you may be surrendering: wishing for a future reality to emerge, wondering where your limits are, and waiting for permission and answers to come from others. As well, she explains how you can integrate family and work, step out of the background and claim your leadership potential, confront anti-Blackness in your own culture, keep focused on your ultimate purpose, and raise the necessary resources to keep fighting for justice.
Collazo is the first Latina, the first woman of color, and the first woman period to raise a family and stay in the work of community organizing at Faith in Action, an international progressive network of 3,000 congregations and 2 million members. A social justice leader and gifted speaker, Collazo’s work has been featured in the Miami Herald, Nonprofit Quarterly and Forbes.com, and she serves on the Forbes Nonprofit Council. She is a graduate of Harvard University, and resides in Puerto Rico.
The International Latino Book Awards will be held online in October, through their website www.LatinoBookAwards.org. To set up an interview or for more information, contact Erin Williams at ewilliams@faithinaction.org.
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Faith in Action, formerly known as PICO National Network, is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information, visit www.faithinaction.org.
Faith in Action is a 501c(3). Faith in Action and its affiliates are non-partisan and are not aligned explicitly or implicitly with any candidate or party. We do not endorse or support candidates for office.
