Maria Hinojosa is the featured speaker for The Community Foundation's 14th Annual Power of the Purse®. Her talk, "My American Experience: Immigration, Disparity and Opportunity," will address the critical issues of migration, immigration and changing demographics. Reservations for the May 22, 2018, event can be made beginning March 2018.
"In Hinojosa's nearly 30 years as a journalist, she has reported hundreds of important stories, often from marginalized communities," said Elizabeth Brazas, President, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. "Our country's changing demographics are forcing a national debate about the future. We look forward to exploring these topics with Maria."
In 2010, Hinojosa created the Futuro Media Group, a nonprofit producing multimedia journalism that explores diversity and tells stories that may be overlooked by mainstream media. As the Anchor and Executive Producer of the Peabody Award-winning show Latino USA, distributed by NPR; Anchor and Executive Producer of the PBS show America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa; and Co-host of In The Thick, Futuro Media's new political podcast, Hinojosa has informed millions about the evolving cultural and political landscape in America and abroad.
Hinojosa has worked for CNN, PBS, CBS, WNBC and WGBH. Her previous projects include PBS' Need to Know series and the WGBH/La Plaza talk show Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One. Hinojosa has received numerous awards for her work including: four Emmys; the 2012 John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism; Robert F. Kennedy Award for Reporting on the Disadvantaged; the Studs Terkel Community Media Award; and the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Overseas Press Club for best documentary for "Child Brides: Stolen Lives."
Hinojosa was born in Mexico City and raised in Chicago. She received her BA from Barnard College. She is currently the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Chair of Latin American and Latino Studies at DePaul University in Chicago and a Global Post ‘Voces' columnist.
Power of the Purse® brings well-known female speakers and personalities to Western North Carolina to celebrate the power of women's philanthropy. The afternoon includes the announcement of grants from Women for Women, a Community Foundation giving circle. Past speakers have included Doris Kearns Goodwin, Mae Jemison, Piper Kerman, Olympia Snowe, Dee Dee Myers, Anna Deavere Smith, Gloria Steinem, Jennifer Buffett, Cokie Roberts and Anna Quindlen.
The event benefits The Women's Fund, a permanent endowment of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.