Success News, a publication aimed at California’s Latina women, is poised to expand into several other states. This is part of a nationwide initiative by the company to increase reading among the Latinx and Asian American communities. In doing so, the publication will provide another leg to stand on as it continues its mission to promote cultural literacy. In a nutshell, according to Ms. Hitchins, the strategy is “to reach out to people who have been traditionally underserved.” According to a release from the company, they plan to launch ten new titles this coming year, bringing the total up to twenty.
In terms of publishing, Ms. Hitchins owns her own publishing company, called Just Books. She has also published articles in several major publications, including “Latino Women: Breaking Barriers by Choosing Success Books,” and “Cultural Literacy: The Power of Reading.” Additionally, Ms. Hitchins serves as the communications director for the Pacific Hispanic Institute, a national organization dedicated to increasing educational and economic opportunity for the Latinx community. One of the things that the organization hopes to do is to get more students to go back to school. According to Ms. Hitchins, “We see Success News as an outlet that can help us reach out to students in need.”
On the other hand, drug abuse is one of the most pressing issues facing the Latina community today. The Latina drug abuse epidemic, according to experts like Dr. Milan Kundera, is worse than any other drug epidemic in America. And yet, in spite of the seriousness of the situation, the numbers of Latina women pursuing a college education are still woefully low. This is a trend that Ms. Hitchins hopes to change, calling the lack of Latina college students “a significant barrier to their success.”
Ms. Hitchins has been inspired by the success of organizations like La Union de la capacaci. She sees drug abuse as the root of much of the economic, social and political problems in the Latina community. “The drugs make you forget what life is like without them,” she explains. “It’s like living in a fantasy world.” Success News does offer its readers practical tips on how to prevent drug abuse, including ways to cope with peer pressure, avoid situations that may trigger drug use and how to avoid becoming trapped in the web of addiction.
Ms. Hitchins sees herself as a community builder, someone who sees her role as promoting a sense of success in the Latina community. She encourages young Latina women to pursue their educational goals with the hope of providing themselves with the success that many men in the society assume is automatic. Ms. Hitchins recognizes the obstacles that Latina women face in breaking down the stereotypes that keep them from achieving success in the same way as their male peers. This is why she addresses the issue of drug abuse head-on with her book. She hopes that the book will be read by Latina women “who have the strength and faith to break free.”
Ms. Hitchins’ views are well received by people in the Latina community and beyond. This is a book that encourages readers to think about their own lives and drug abuse in a different way. It is a book that speaks to the struggles and difficulties Latina women face, but it also offers suggestions for coping with them. The Latina community and those who appreciate its publication are making Ms. Hitchins’ words available for all ages to help fight the drug abuse that plagues its community and society at large.