Lawrence Eagle Tribune
Thursday, March 17, 2005

Play brings to life experiences of women trailblazers

By Yadira Betances
Staff Writer

What do a teacher, community activist and women's advocate have in common?

They are all women who made a name for themselves in Greater Lawrence while opening the door for other Hispanic immigrants to succeed.

In their honor, a local playwright has penned "Abriendo Caminos," which translates to "Blazing the Trail," about the three women, Isabel Melendez, Silvia Mejia and Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez. The play will be performed at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at South Lawrence East School.

"I admire each one of them for what they do, but I didn't realize all their work until I sat down and started writing their accomplishments on paper," said playwright Vanessa Espendes of Lawrence.

Melendez, the community activist, founded Hispanic Week, an annual festival. In addition, she founded the Roberto Clemente Little League, serves as director of the Spanish program for the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, and hosts a radio show. She became the first Hispanic woman to win the preliminary election for Lawrence mayor in 2001.

Mejia, the teacher, is a poet and playwright who taught Spanish at Lawrence High School for more than 30 years before retiring.

And Alvarez-Rodriguez represents District C on the Lawrence City Council and is an advocate who helps women get out of abusive relationships. She organizes Agenda Latina, a workshop aimed at empowering women, and helps pregnant teens return to school and receive an education.

In "Abriendo Caminos," Alvarez-Rodriguez will be played by Desiree Rivera, Mejia by Nitza Delgado and Melendez's role will be tackled by Maritcha Paulino. In addition, a group of girls aged 8 to 12 will perform interpretive dance to represent inspiration, inner beauty, wisdom, panic, fear, pain and love.

The play was first performed in December for Puerto Rican Independence Day. It was such a hit that a second show was in order, Espendes said.

"I wanted to teach people about our culture while sending a message," Espendes said of her motivation for writing the story. "I wanted to be able to present them the lives of women who came here, did well in their lives, and are helping others."

It took Espendes several months to write the play, a series of vignettes, after talking to the women and people who knew them.

"Abriendo Caminos" takes the audience from the 1940s until the present through a mix of skits, 37 dances and narration about the women's lives. Each story begins with the narrator talking about historical events around the world that occurred during the women's lives, then weaves them into the context of their personal experiences.

Melendez said she agreed to have her story told onstage to teach new immigrants what it was like when Hispanics first came to the area.

"Many people who are coming now think it's easy," Melendez said. "But we have a long history of struggles and persistence which helped me become what I am today."

The first woman highlighted is Mejia. While portraying her, Delgado talks about how her father had a rule requiring his nine children to read a book daily and give him a report at dinner. In another skit, Delgado recites Mejia's favorite poem, "Sunrises," by Julia de Burgos.

"Sylvia is synonymous with wisdom," Espendes said. "She teaches with so much passion, you want to listen to her for hours."

In a segment about Melendez, Espendes focused on her job at a shoe factory. While working at the factory, Melendez did not feel connected to her new home because of her limited English-speaking skills.

The girls performing this scene sit quietly at three tables because they are not allowed to talk at work. They wipe sweat off their brows and watch the clock, eager to go home.

Espendes also explores other events in Melendez's life, such as her participation in protests for equality and the death of her daughter Wanda.

The death scene is one of Espendes' favorites because it is full of heart-rending emotions. Melendez finds herself helpless, unable to save her daughter from a fatal asthma attack.

Melendez said the scene of her daughter's funeral was especially touching.

"After she died, I thought that was going to be the end for me," Melendez said. "After helping so many people, I felt badly that I could not help her. She was an inspiration for me because she worked for the community even though she was sick. I thought she wasn't going to be happy if I just stayed home, so that gave me strength to continue."

For Alvarez-Rodriguez, Espendes concentrated on her advocacy for women more than her political career.

"There are many women in politics, but Nilka has transformed the lives of women by boosting their self-esteem and self-worth," Espendes said. "It's like a chain reaction because once the women's lives change, so do the lives of their children and their families."

Staff writer Yadira Betances may be contacted at (978) 946-2000, or ybetances@eagletribune.com.

If you go...

What: "Abriendo Caminos (Blazing the Trail)," a play about Lawrence residents Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez, Silvia Mejia and Isabel Melendez, above.

When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: South Lawrence East School, Lawrence.

Cost: $5.