Soroptimist International of El Centro

10/16/2026

📚✨ SHE LEADS WITH HER MIND: A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS! 💜

Great things happen when women come together to learn, grow, and inspire one another! 💕

We're excited to introduce She Leads With Her Mind, a FREE book club experience presented by Soroptimist International of El Centro as part of our Live Your Dream Project: She Leads!

Our first book? 📖 GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth!

Because leadership isn't just about where we're going. It's about the courage, determination, and resilience it takes to get there.

Over four weeks, we'll come together to share perspectives, explore new ideas, build meaningful friendships, and discover a little more about ourselves along the way.

✨ HERE'S THE BEST PART!
💜 Registration is completely FREE!
📚 Every participant receives a FREE copy of the book!
☕ Meaningful conversations in a welcoming environment!
🌸 An opportunity to connect with other incredible women!

📅 Every Tuesday | October 20 – November 10
📍 Vintage and Coffee | El Centro, CA
👥 ONLY 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE!

Whether you're an avid reader or haven't picked up a book in years, there's a place for you at our table. No pressure, no expectations — just women supporting women, one chapter at a time. 💕

And this is only the beginning! Each new book club cohort will feature a different book and a new opportunity to join us.

📲 REGISTER TODAY!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/she-leads-with-her-mind

Because when women grow, communities thrive. 💜

10/11/2026

🌎✨ **From a small community with big dreams… to inspiring girls around the world.** 💜

Today, on the **International Day of the Girl Child**, we look back with overwhelming pride and full hearts at what we have built through **STEAM WARS & Beyond**. 💫

What started as a dream in Imperial Valley has become something far greater than we ever imagined.

We believed that girls from communities like ours deserved more. More opportunities. More representation. More chances to discover their potential, find their voices, and see themselves as tomorrow's scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, attorneys, innovators, and leaders.

And so, we built something for them. ❤️

Through STEAM WARS & Beyond, we have watched young girls step outside their comfort zones, discover possibilities they never knew existed, and begin to believe that their dreams are not limited by their circumstances or where they come from.

From the classrooms of Imperial Valley to international conversations at the **United Nations and the Soroptimist International Convention in South Korea**, our little project has carried a powerful message across borders:

**When we invest in girls, we don't just change individual lives. We change communities, generations, and ultimately, the world.** 🌎

We are incredibly proud of the volunteers, educators, community partners, sponsors, and extraordinary women who believed in this vision and helped turn it into something real. Every workshop, every connection, every opportunity, and every girl who walks away feeling a little more confident reminds us why this work matters.

And perhaps what makes us most emotional is knowing that **we are only getting started.**

Because somewhere out there is a little girl who has yet to discover just how extraordinary she can be. And we want to make sure she gets that chance.

🌟 **THE NEXT CHAPTER IS COMING!** 🌟

📅 **SAVE THE DATE — JANUARY 30, 2027**

🚀 **STEAM WARS & BEYOND RETURNS!**

📍 Central Union High School | El Centro, California

To every girl who has been part of our journey: **You are the reason we do this. You are our inspiration. You are our future.**

And to every girl still waiting for her opportunity…

**Your story is just beginning. May the Force be with you.** 💜✨

Happy International Day of the Girl Child! 👧🏻👧🏽👧🏿

*Dream it. Be it. And go beyond.*

09/02/2026

✨ Women supporting women. Dreams turning into action. 🖤

Our She Leads Little Black Dress Affair was a beautiful celebration of confidence, leadership, connection, and community.

After six weeks of learning and growth, we came together at Casa Blanca Venue to celebrate these incredible women—and dance the night away! ✨🥂

A special thank you to Casa Blanca and Oskar for helping bring our vision to life.

💫 Registration for our next She Leads cohort is now open!
REGISTER ASAP:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SoroptimistInternationalOfElCentro/LiveYourDreamSheLeadsWithHerVoiceRegistrationForm

TogetherWeRise

08/31/2026

🎤✨ SAY YOU’LL BE THERE… because registration is officially OPEN! ✌️💜

We’re bringing a little GIRL POWER to the Imperial Valley with our newest Live Your Dream®: She Leads — With Her Voice workshop series!

And before you say…

“Public speaking? Absolutely not.” 😳
“I’m fine until someone hands me a microphone.” 🎤😂
“Can’t I just send an email?”

BABE. THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING THIS. 😂💜

For four weeks, we’re creating a fun, supportive space for women to practice how to:

🎤 Speak with confidence
💬 Communicate what you actually mean
👂 Listen AND make sure you’re heard
✨ Present without internally panicking
🤝 Connect with a room
🔥 Own your ideas without apologizing for having them

We’re also officially retiring:

❌ “Sorry, can I say something?”
❌ “This might be a dumb idea…”
❌ “I’m probably wrong, but…”
❌ And our personal favorite: saying “sorry” before we’ve even done anything. 😂

Because your voice belongs in the room.

At the table. In the meeting. Behind the microphone. And wherever decisions are being made. 💜

Now for the important part…

🚨 ONLY 30 SPOTS. 🚨

Not 31.
Not “but my comadre forgot to register!”
Not “I thought you were saving me one!” 😂

THIRTY.

📅 Oct. 22 – Nov. 12, 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Events by Liz | Brawley, CA

🎤 REGISTER ASAP:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SoroptimistInternationalOfElCentro/LiveYourDreamSheLeadsWithHerVoiceRegistrationForm

Or scan the QR code on the flyer!

And in the immortal wisdom of the Spice Girls…

🎶 Say you’ll be there. 🎶

We’ll bring the Girl Power. ✌️
You bring the voice. 🎤💜

Platform shoes optional. Confidence is the assignment. 😂✨

08/11/2026

🌎✨ FROM IMPERIAL COUNTY TO THE WORLD — THIS IS A BIG ONE. ✨🌎

Today, we celebrate a milestone that once felt almost unimaginable.

Soroptimist International has officially announced and featured STEAM WARS & BEYOND: Dream It, Be It® as a Soroptimist International Foundation project.

A program created right here in Imperial County by Soroptimist International of El Centro is now part of the Foundation’s global work advancing opportunities for women and girls around the world.

And we did not get here alone.

💙 Soroptimist International of the Americas believed in our vision and gave us opportunities to grow and share our story. Our community believed in us. Our sponsors and grantors invested in us. Our partners, educators, mentors, volunteers and families showed up for us. And most importantly, our girls trusted us with their dreams.

Together, look what we have built:

🚀 70 girls in 2025 → 114 in 2026
🏫 29 schools represented
🎯 92% created achievable goals
🎓 91% felt prepared to pursue their career ambitions
💪 88% reported increased confidence

This recognition belongs to everyone who believed that something created in Imperial County could grow, evolve and make a difference far beyond our borders.

And we are only getting started.

Our dream is bigger than borders. We want our own Imperial County girls to succeed, and we want the same for every girl we have the opportunity to reach. Because where a girl is born, where she lives or the barriers she faces should never determine how far she can dream.

💙 To our Imperial County community, SIA, our Soroptimist family around the world, and everyone who believed in this dream—thank you.

🌎 Read the official Soroptimist International feature:
https://www.soroptimistinternational.org/2026/08/10/steam-beyond-dream-it-be-it/

✨ Dream It. Be It. Dream Beyond Limits.

An exciting new project for the SI Foundation focusing on empowering girls in science, technology, engineering, art, and maths (STEAM).

05/29/2026

🚨 PSA 🚨

Y’all please stop buying tickets from people in the comments. 😭

This is Lanterns of Hope…
not Fyre Festival. 🔥

If someone says:
✨ “Kindly DM me dear I have 7 VIP tickets” ✨

…that is NOT us.
That is Brenda with 2 friends and a profile picture from 2011. 💀

🎟️ SOLD OUT = SOLD OUT
We ONLY have a waitlist.

📱 760-587-5223
📧 [email protected]

The only thing being sold in our comments is AUDACITY. ✨

05/29/2026

🚨🏮 SOLD OUT 🏮🚨

Listen… we thought maybe people would casually buy tickets.
Instead y’all behaved like this was the Eras Tour of Soroptimist events. 😭✨

Our Lanterns of Hope celebration is officially SOLD OUT!

We are so excited (and slightly stressed 😂) by the overwhelming support for our incoming board, educational award recipients, keynote speaker, and our celebration of Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. ❤️🏮

BUTTTT if you still need a ticket, don’t give up yet 👀
We are creating a waitlist in case we can squeeze in a few more humans without violating fire code or making people sit on lanterns.

📱 Call/Text: 760-587-5223
📧 [email protected]

Please send:
✨ Your name
✨ Number of tickets needed
✨ If you’re willing to jump in last minute if spots open up

At this point we’re about to start negotiating with the dragon for extra seating. 🐉😭

05/25/2026

❤️🤍💙 Memorial Day ❤️🤍💙

Today, we first and foremost honor and remember the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. We are deeply grateful to all military members, veterans, and military families for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication. Their service and the loved ones they carry in their hearts will never be forgotten.

For Soroptimist, Memorial Day also holds a deeper meaning rooted in our organization’s history of service during times of hardship and uncertainty.

During World War II, Soroptimists around the world stepped forward in extraordinary ways. Soroptimists helped rescue members of the SI Vienna club and their families who were threatened by the N**i regime. American Soroptimists gathered funds, clothing, and supplies for families impacted by war, while clubs across Europe met secretly to sew, mend clothing, and prepare essential items for devastated communities. Soroptimists also opened Rest Rooms for women serving in the armed forces and organized refugee relief efforts for people escaping Europe in search of safety and hope.

After witnessing the devastation of war, Soroptimists understood that rebuilding the world also meant ensuring women had a voice in conversations about peace, education, and human rights. In 1948, Soroptimist International Association was awarded Consultative Status with UNESCO, helping establish a global voice advocating for women and girls.

For more than 100 years, Soroptimist has been more than a service club. We are part of a global movement of women helping women through compassion, leadership, advocacy, and action.

Today, we continue honoring that legacy by supporting communities shaped by sacrifice — including military members, veterans, military families, caregivers, and the next generation of women and girls through education, mentorship, empowerment, and opportunity.

As we reflect this Memorial Day, we again extend our deepest gratitude to the brave service members who gave everything for our country, and to the military families who carry their memory forward every day. We remember them. We honor them. And we thank them for their sacrifice. 🇺🇸✨

05/21/2026

🏮✨ INTRODUCING THE 2026–2028 BOARD ✨🏮

Join Soroptimist International of El Centro for ❤️ Lanterns of Hope ❤️ — a celebration of leadership, culture, diversity, and future generations of women leaders.

✨ 2026–2028 Board of Directors ✨
❤️ Maria Carrillo-Martinez — President
❤️ Vanessa Landeros — Vice President
❤️ Nancy Salcedo — Treasurer
❤️ Lupita Islas — Secretary
❤️ Martha Cardenas-Singh — Director I
❤️ Viridiana Rosales-Trujillo — Director II

🎤 Special Keynote Speaker:
✨ Jaymee Foo Chan
Soroptimist Member & Community Leader

✨ Featuring: 🐉 Dragon Dance
🎓 Educational Awards
✨ New Member Inductions
🏮 Cultural Celebration

As we celebrate Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are proud to honor the diversity, cultures, and voices that help strengthen our club and community. 💙

And somehow what started as:

> “a simple board installation”
turned into lanterns, marigolds, dragons, and approximately 700 group chat messages. 😂

📅 Sunday, May 31, 2026
📍 Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse • El Centro, CA

❤️ Attire Inspiration:
AAPI-inspired elegance • Reds & Golds • Lantern Festival Chic ✨

🎟 Tickets Available Now: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/lanterns-of-hope-2026-2028-board-installation-and-educational-award-ceremony

05/14/2026

🚨 WELL… Y’ALL BROKE THE FORM. 🚨😂💙

Imperial Valley really said “save me a spot” because registration for this section filled up FAST and we are officially no longer accepting forms at this time! ✨

First of all… THANK YOU. The excitement and support from our community has honestly blown us away. 🫶

BUT — before anyone starts sending us carrier pigeons, smoke signals, or showing up with cafecito asking for “just one more spot”… don’t panic yet. 👀☕

We are already working behind the scenes to open additional sessions throughout the Valley, including:

📍 Brawley
📍 Calexico
📍 More locations coming soon because apparently y’all were READY. 😂

📌 A waitlist has now been started.
To join the waitlist, please email:
📧 [email protected]
📧 [email protected]

Waitlist requests will be contacted in the order they are received if space becomes available.

Seriously… thank you for showing up, supporting this program, and proving once again that Imperial Valley women and families DO NOT play when opportunity comes around. 💙✨

More to come soon… and trust us, we’re gonna need bigger clipboards. 😂