¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Rally

The ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! is a public education initiative.

"As we continue to witness the effects of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in our community, we must renew our commitment to protect and empower every human being, particularly our youth. A significant number of Hispanic girls rank higher in rates of pregnancy, depression and suicide than any racial or ethnic group.

In response to this need, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) developed a bilingual campaign for hispanic girls ages 9-14 and their mothers and other caregivers. This public education campaign, called '¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina!' is designed to help them build self-steem, mental health, decision making and assertiveness skills, and to prevent the harmful consequences of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.

The ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! project encourages cultural pride by emphasizing the strengths inherent in the Hispanic culture. Campaign materials include posters, activity books, brochures and Web sites for young Latinas and their parents. The materials address belonging and adaptation, teach assertiveness and decision-making skills, and provide tips on becoming healthy and successful young adults. "*

The Catholic Family Center (CFC) introduced the ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! initiative to Rochester, NY in 2002. CFC had the lead of the rally in 2002 and 2004. There was no rally in 2003 because the schedule changed from the Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept./Oct.) to the Women Month (March).

In 2004 CFC approached Latinas Unidas to take the leadership of the ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Rally. In January 2005 Latinas Unidas accepted to take the lead, and the CFC continued to participate as the liaison between the committee and the creators (the federal government) of this initiative.

Because of the success of past rallies in Rochester, NY, and requests to widen the program to more girls, today the rally in our city includes workshops and activities for girls from ages 7 to 17.

The SAMHSA initiative for the ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! campaign ended in 2007 and are no longer sponsoring these events.

*(From the introduction of the program book for the 2002 ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Rally organized by the Catholic Family Center in Rochester, NY)