New Latino group to provide voice for area women

LYNN – A new Latino Neighborhood Association, Las Nuevas Voces de Lynn, or the “New Voices of Lynn” has allowed local women to do just that – speak up about issues that matter to them.Concerns such as safer and cleaner streets have been discussed by the 10 Latino women in the group who have learned to interact with police and local neighborhood associations to achieve their goals.Maroli Licardie, executive director of Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, said the goal of the new group is to educate women through a civic engagement program.”We got a small grant last year from the North Shore Medical Center Community Foundation and we wanted to form a neighborhood organization,” she said. “The women are mostly mothers of young children, and we are hoping to get more women to join.”Licardie said the new group has connected Latinos in the city with state and local government institutions and other community organizations to improve and create safer neighborhoods for those living in the city.”We know that Latinos don’t always have access to programs because of a language barrier, so this new group has given women the chance to speak up and find their voice,” she said. “They can talk among themselves and find the issues that concern them.”The official announcement of the new group will be tonight in the community room of the Lynn Housing Authority at 10 Church St., from 6-8 p.m. The public is invited to attend.”We’re hoping to get more people in the community involved,” she said. “A lot of the education has been happening from the Lynn police, and they have been just wonderful.”Licardie said Las Nuevas Voces would continue to work with other groups in the city to connect, educate and inform families and children of important resources available to them in the city that work to help keep them healthy and safe.”Las Nuevas Voces is very excited to have the opportunity to help the community become a better place to live for all residents and hope to inspire others to participate in civic initiatives within their own community,” she said.The group has also received funding from Oiste, the Miller Foundation, and volunteer support, as well as sponsorship from the Lynn Police Department and the Lynn Housing Authority.