By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor
A good friend, Josie Salinas, passed on to meet her Creator this past August. She filled her life serving others through her friendship, mentoring, and career. As the first female Native American Spiritual Advisor, she brought the traditions of the Native Americans to the incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, where she previously served as a Youth Correctional Counselor.
Throughout her life, in good times or bad, Josie “Turtle Woman” Salinas spoke for the less fortunate, the homeless, and poor. Her words of wisdom, unconditional love, and sense of humor were a great influence to many people as was realized by the wonderful stories told by several people at her funeral. Josie’s gift was unique in that those who met her, even briefly, felt touched by her presence.
Many people did not realize that Josie also had another talent. She was a writer and poet since the age of twelve. Her life was illustrated in poetry and narrative with themes of family, pain, injustice, love and forgiveness.
Before she passed on Josie asked her close friends to establish a scholarship fund in her name to help underprivileged students to continue their education. She sold several of her prized items to provide the seed money to start the fund. Her friends are committed to carry out her wish and have formed a committee to execute that plan.
The first event for this fund is the Mary Anne Brown-Rivera Birthday Fundraiser at Casa Lopez, 325 So. A St. Oxnard, on Nov. 5, 2011 from 6 p.m. until midnight. Mariachi Aguilas de Mexico will start the evening, followed by Los Amigos band at 8 p.m. Several raffles and prizes for will take place throughout the event. Tickets are available through Mary Anne at 805.701.3141. A ticket is required for admittance and for the buffet.
The Josie Salinas Educational Scholarship Fund and the Red Feather Development Group will share proceeds from this fundraiser.
— Mona AlvaradoFrazier is a writer and proprietor the BookNook in Downtown Sol, 328 W. Third St., Oxnard. To see more of her work, visit www.latinapen.blogspot.com
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