In 2005 Vivian Nieto and a group of close friends all experienced life changing hardships. By coming together through death, divorce and other adversity, Nieto and her friends were able to lean on one another and help each other navigate difficult times.
They quickly recognized the power of a system when dealing with such experiences. They also recognized how fortunate they were to have each other and how much more challenging it would have been to be alone. They decided they wanted to do something to ensure that community , particularly women, had a network.
They formed Amigas Punto Com, a nonprofit to provide Latina women a safe place to connect with other women and receive emotional and spiritual during life-altering times caused by loss or adversity. Nieto, president of Amigas Punto Com, recalled that the organization started with each woman donating $100 to get it off the ground. “It was simply friends helping friends in a time of need, and it evolved into a safe space that has helped thousands of women find emotional healing,” Nieto said.
Through weekly classes, conducted in Spanish, the goal is to empower women by providing them tools to confront emotional conditions and to identify the root of those conditions. The topics include setting boundaries, domestic violence, divorce and rejection, to name a few. Amigas Punto Com s women through an ongoing process of emotional, physical, mental and spiritual healing.
Before the pandemic, the organization also hosted conferences and seminars attended by hundreds of women. Nieto, who lives in Chula Vista, shares that one advantage of going virtual during COVID-19 has been that Amigas Punto Com has welcomed women from Mexico and around the world.
When asked why the classes are conducted only in Spanish, Nieto described this as a gap that she and the founders of Amigas Punto Com identified. “Abuse, hurt and trauma are generational, and they are rampant in Hispanic families,” she says. Her dream is to have a resource center where women can meet in person and learn the tools to understand how to navigate adversity.
“I want people to know that there’s hope. Often times when going through hardship, people can feel hopeless. There is hope. You just need tools and we teach those tools.”
The women who turn to Amigas Punto Com can attend meetings and classes as long as they like. The idea is that women come to get resources and then apply what they learn. Coupled with a system of other women, the outcome can be life-changing. And the friendships and connections, Nieto says, can last a lifetime.
Nieto said she believes that if you and encourage people, they can thrive. “Your wellness is your responsibility,” she said, “but it’s hard to do it alone. For women who need it, we are that .”
To learn more about Amigas Punto Com, go to their Facebook page or https://amigaspuntocom.org/
About this series
Nancy Maldonado is the president and chief executive officer of Chicano Federation of San Diego County.
Someone San Diego Should Know is a weekly column written by of the U-T’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experiences, achievements, creativity or credentials.
