Bettina R Flores

Bettina R. Flores is a journalist, educator, and public speaker whose work has appeared in both English and Spanish magazines and newspapers. Now Flores is releasing Chiquita's Manifesto, a powerful book which seeks to bridge the divisive gap in Anglo-Hispanic relations. "Why can't we all get along and be fair?" says one of Flores' interviewees. Exactly the provocative question of Chiquita's Manifesto. In Manifesto Flores coins a memorable phrase: American Latino. Yes, American Latino not...See more

Bettina R. Flores is a journalist, educator, and public speaker whose work has appeared in both English and Spanish magazines and newspapers. Now Flores is releasing Chiquita's Manifesto, a powerful book which seeks to bridge the divisive gap in Anglo-Hispanic relations. "Why can't we all get along and be fair?" says one of Flores' interviewees. Exactly the provocative question of Chiquita's Manifesto. In Manifesto Flores coins a memorable phrase: American Latino. Yes, American Latino not Latino American. With passion and purpose, Flores aims to fire up a new national movement under the mantra of Hola America as she seeks to bring Chiquita's Manifesto readers into new thinking, new progress and finally, equality for all. Bettina received the Latina Author of the Year Award for her self-published edition of Chiquita's Cocoon: The Latina's Guide to Greater Power, Love, Money, Status and Happiness, and has been called "the Betty Friedan for the Latina Woman" by Publisher's Weekly. Her book was later auctioned in New York and published by Random House. The San Jose Mercury News labeled it a "Latina Manifesto" and the Los Angeles Times called it a "classic that continues to stir the soul of the liberated Latina Community." "Best of all," says Bettina, "the media put Chiquita's Cocoon into the view of the education system as a text book or supplementary reader in junior and senior high schools, colleges and universities as well as many health, correctional, and community agencies." A veteran of child stoop labor in California's San Joaquin valley, Flores drew on her own early years to write a dramatic young-adult novel, Chiquita's Diary. She also co-authored The Millionairess Across the Street, published in Spanish as Mujeres millionarias. The book has been praised by Newsweek, Working Woman and Latina magazines and on "Good Morning, America." Born in central California, Flores was only twelve when she left the barrio home of her widowed mother and, responding to a newspaper ad, became a live-in mother's helper. During high school she worked in a succession of Anglo homes. She received an Associate of Arts degree in English and Communications from Fresno City College and later attended CSUS and UCLA. She lives northern California where she is a speaker, community activist, and dedicated volunteer. She received a gold and a silver pin from President Obama for volunteer service in her community. Firm in her convictions, Flores stands for making life better and making life work - for everyone. See less