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In 2005, Vivian Nieto and a group of close friends all experienced life-changing hardships. By coming together through death, divorce, and other adversity, Nieto and her friends could build on each other and help each other through difficult times.
They quickly recognized the power of a support system in dealing with such experiences. They also realized how happy they were to have each other and how much more difficult it would have been to be alone. They decided to do something to ensure that community members, especially women, have a support network.
They founded Amigas Punto Com, a non-profit organization that provides Latina women with a safe place to connect with other women and receive emotional and spiritual support in life changing times caused by loss or adversity. Nieto, president of Amigas Punto Com, recalled that the organization started with each woman donating $ 100 to get it going. “It was just friends helping friends in a time of need, and it has become a safe place that has helped thousands of women find emotional healing,” said Nieto.
Through weekly courses conducted in Spanish, the aim is to empower women by providing them with tools to face emotional states and identify the causes of those states. Topics include boundary setting, domestic violence, divorce, and rejection, to name a few. Amigas Punto Com supports women through an ongoing process of emotional, physical, mental and spiritual healing.
Before the pandemic, the organization also hosted conferences and seminars that were attended by hundreds of women. Nieto, who lives in Chula Vista, says one of the benefits of virtualization during COVID-19 was that Amiga’s Punto Com welcomed women from Mexico and around the world.
When asked why classes are only held in Spanish, Nieto described this as a loophole that she and the founders of Amiga’s Punto Com identified. “Abuse, injury, and trauma are cross-generational and common in Hispanic families,” she says. Her dream is to have a resource center where women can meet in person and learn the tools to understand how to deal with adversity.
“I want people to know that there is hope. Often times, people feel hopeless in emergency situations. There is hope. You just need tools and we will teach you these tools. “
The women who turn to Amigas Punto Com can attend meetings and courses for as long as they want. The idea is that women come to get resources and then apply what they have learned. Coupled with a support system from other women, the outcome can be life changing. And the friendships and connections, says Nieto, can last a lifetime.
Nieto said she believes that when you support and encourage people, people can thrive. “Your health is your responsibility,” she said, “but it is difficult to do this on your own. We are this support for women who need it. “
To learn more about Amiga’s Punto Com visit their Facebook page or https://amigaspuntocom.org/
About this series
Nancy Maldonado is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chicano Federation of San Diego County.
Someone San Diego Should Know is a weekly column written by members of the UT’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experience, accomplishments, creativity, or references.
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