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Explores the disappearance and death of hundreds of maquiladora workers in Juarez . Two female archetypes, La Malinche and La Llorona are used to convey the unjust working conditions and inequities found in the maquiladora plants in Juarez and the mistreatment, disappearance and death of hundreds of women in the state of Chihuahua.

^{available /}^{new cd of music from rio}

Proceeds from the sales will help to fund future productions. Click here for CD.

YouTube excerpts of Rio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lt94w7hwFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yB1apMl5dA

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benefits}

^{Nuestras
Hijas de Regreso a Casa &}

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^{two organizations
working on behalf of the maquiladora workers}

WHO ARE WE?

We are a repertory troupe of Latina women based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. We call ourselves Las Meganenas (The Big Girls). We believe that, as women, we hold a unique position in society, that of Storytellers. It is through this oral tradition that a cultures values, beliefs and spirituality are passed along. It is how we teach others about ourselves, and how we learn about each other. Using theatre performance pieces related to global issues, we strive to help audiences experience the trauma and inequities of those who are unable to tell their own stories.

STATEMENT:

In order to heal, trauma and inequity must be more than private agonies. When we take responsibility as a community, we are better able to heal each other and ourselves. The rift between rich and poor continues to grow, and society continues to travel to terrible places. For that reason we can no longer remain silent. Using our words, song, laughter, and tears, we hope to raise awareness in order to encourage social responsibility.

VISION:

In 2005 we received a grant from the McCune Foundation for production and travel, and were awarded a second grant for 2006. Our plan is to use our experiences, our imagination and our art to expose the cruel, the unjust, and the unacceptable realities we face in the world today.

We have recorded an audio CD of the music from our first piece Rio de Lagrimas / River of Tears. Proceeds from the sales will help to fund future productions.

WORKSHOPS / "CUENTOS"

Las Meganenas have developed an interactive "ART AS ADVOCACY" workshop component to our production called "CUENTOS". Target audiences include high school and college students and community awareness groups. The workshops are for groups seeking new modalities through which to express their own socio-political concerns.

Telling our stories can transform our lives and our communities. But what if we have so many stories we don't know where to begin? What if we aren't professional artists or writers? "CUENTOS" (a storytelling workshop) is based on our belief that every person has a story to tell and is innately creative.

To provide a space to network and build relationships
To help participants to identify the individual and communal stories they want to tell
To explore the various tools that help tell a story

TROUPE BIOS:

Soledad Marjon Hindi: Soledad has an MFA in photography, is the playwright for Rio. She is a well known photographer whose work has been shown throughout the United States and Mexico. She decided that she was tired of making art that was mostly, just pleasing to the eye. Native New Mexican. http://www.jbean.com/Soledad/photo.htm

Vivian Fernandez: Vivian has been playing and performing music ever since she can remember. She is the Meganenas' music director, arranging songs, creating background music, and performing on cello, guitar, and vocals. Originally from Cuba, Vivian holds a PhD in Educational and Clinical Psychology. When not performing, she works as a psychotherapist, behavioral researcher, and professor of Counseling.

Apryl Sandoval: Apryl has a BA in Cultural Anthropology and is currently working on an MA in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She has traveled extensively throughout Mexico and Central America and has researched the negative effects of US policy on the Latin American community. Native New Mexican. Valerie Borrego: Valerie has performed with Las Meganenas since January 2005. Her hope is that their message is heard far and wide to bring these atrocities to an end. She appreciates the experience and hopes to continue performing socially conscious raising pieces. In her other life she is a CPA and owns an accounting practice in Albuquerque, NM. Native New Mexican.

Sabina Zuniga-Varela: Sabina is a founding member of Teatro Nuevo Mexico. Through her work in outreach with TNM she found Las Meganenas and joined as director and understudy. She taught middle school in downtown Abq., and recently began working on her MFA in theater at the Univ. of Southern California at Los Angeles. Native New Mexican Michelle Otero: Michelle has unique experience and a personal mission that will greatly help us realize our objectives. As a Fulbright Fellow in Oaxaca, Mexico, she taught creative writing workshops for women survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Her essay collection, Malinches Daughter (Momotombo Press) based on this work, is now in its second printing. http://www.womenwriterscollective.org/michelleotero.html Native New Mexican. Alicia Lueras Maldonado: A Chicana and native New Mexican, born and raised in the South Valley in the community of Atlixco. She holds B.A.'s from the University of New Mexico in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish, with emphasis in photography, film and dance. Alicia is a photographer, filmmaker, actor and social justice organizer.

We operate as a non-profit group called Las Meganenas under the umbrella of The Center of Southwest Culture.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

The McCune Foundation , The Center of Southwest Culture, Teatro Nuevo Mexico www.TeatroNM.com, Mexico Solidarity Network, Museo Cultural de Santa Fe www.elmuseocultural.org, The National Hispanic Cultural Center www.nhccnm.org, Amistad Foundation, UNM Students of Latin American Studies, UNM Womens Resources, Veterans for Peace, Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center, Gecko Ponds and Landscaping, Louis Stephen Marjon Esq.

If interested in having us perform for your organization, contact:

Soledad Marjon Hindi

308 La Plata Rd NW

Albuquerque, NM 87107

505-345-6615

505-345-5251

comadenetwork@gmail.com

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