USD Magazine, Winter 2001

ALCALA ALMANAC

Empowering Mexico's Women Elsa Arnaiz wins Bishop Buddy Award for commitment to her native Tijuana

N ine years ago, Elsa Arnaiz visited the "red light" district in Tijuana and saw the children of prostitutes wandering the streets while their mothers slept. The image spurred the Tijuana native co improve life for women and children in her hometown and throughout Mexico. "There was no one with chem," Arnaiz recalls, "no one co give chem a warm breakfast. So I decided to help chem." She created Centros

my long dress. She was like a mother co all of us_ ,, In the early 1980s, Arnaiz coordinated two international conferences in Tijuana on women's issues chat accracced hundreds of women from throughout North, Central and South America. In the lace 1980s she direct– ed a performing arcs school called Casa de la Culcura, which opened the world of cheater to nearly 20,000 youngsters.

need chey know they can come co me. " Arnaiz is well known throughout che communiry as an advocate for women's rights in a country where men dominate the culture and economy, says childhood friend Julieta Lopez. "When she was younger she was very shy, she never said anything," Lopez says. "Bue people who knew her back then are amazed co see her speaking at meetings now. She's changed so much. She's couched so many lives, and when people see her they are always hugging her." Arnaiz says her ultimate hope is char che women and ch ildren she helps will become productive members of sociery. "Mexican women need to real ize their worth," Arnaiz says. "We are 52 percent of Mexico's popula– tion and we could have a lot of influence and use ic for the good of che communiry. "I grew up in Tijuana and chat's where I live," she says of her advocacy, "and I can't just stand there with my arms crossed and lee the world go by. "

Dias, a program run our of a house in Tijuana by nuns chat is open Saturdays so the children can study catechism and eat a meal. Arnaiz, who lives in Tijuana and owns a real estate development corpo– ration, says she always felt

"Every moment of her time is spent giving back to her people." - Professor Emeritus Sister Pat Shaffer on Elsa Arnaiz

"We started cheater workshops so children co uld learn about self esteem, children's rights and how to care for their bodies, minds and spirits," Arnaiz says. Her work with children and

obligated to give back to her communiry. In December she received the Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award, given annually co recognize alumni contribu– tions co humanitarian causes. "Every moment of her rime is spent giving back to her people," says Professor Emeritus Sister Pac Shaffer who, along with Sister Virginia McMonagle, nomi– nated Arnaiz. "She's a very quiet person, a gencle person - but behind chat is a pow– erful drive to do so much with her life." The sisters met Arnaiz when, at 13, she began school at the Convene of the Sacred Heart in El Cajon. Three years lacer, she entered San Diego College for Women, lacer the Universiry of San Diego, where in 1965 she received her bachelor's degree. She returned co USD in 1980 co earn a master's in Spanish licerarure. "I feel my rime at USD was one of the better pares of my life," Arnaiz says. "I had many mentors. I still remember how on my prom night Sister Virginia McMonagle caught me how co walk with

- by Krystn Shrieve

women grew as she coordinated a support group char gives free medical, legal and psychiatric assistance co victims of rape and physical abuse in Tijuana. She also lobbied co change legisla– tion in Mexico so convicted rapists who previously served only six months in jail with bail of $500 instead receive a 12- year sentence without bail. "What I found was char young women who were victims of rape don't wane to go through the legal system because they are too ashamed, and 10 or 12 years lacer, they're still deal– ing with it," Arnaiz says. "Bue we give chem support, educa– tion, money. Anything they

Elsa Arnaiz accepts the Bishop Buddy Award during the Dec. 7 Alumni Mass in Founders Chapel.

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