Abstract
Amid the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I initiated Learn, Laugh, Lead, and Self-Love, a virtual femtoring program designed for Latina women aged 19 to 25. This weekly space incorporated interactive elements such as icebreakers, creative responses to visual art, and intentional community-building practices to cultivate trust and solidarity. After one year, the virtual gatherings transitioned into a monthly femtoring book club for women of color, launching with The Four Agreements and centering themes of gratitude, affirmation, and the reflective practice of sharing tunas and espinas© (joys and challenges). Drawing on my prior participation and support of an in-person all-Latina book club, I revitalized an existing Facebook community and broadened participation to include women of color across multiple regions. The evolved book club now serves as an inclusive, culturally responsive space for pleasure reading, peer mentorship, and collective empowerment—advancing a model of relational learning grounded in shared narratives and mutual care.
Recommended Citation
Hathaway Miranda, Heather A.
(2025)
"Femtoring Book Club: Turning Pages, Uplifting Latinas,"
Gatherings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 20.
Available at:
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/gatherings/vol2/iss1/20
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