Breathe
By Liliana Melo de Sada
As the road begins, you see a long glass bridge framed on one side by the emblematic Cerro de la Silla and on the other by the Sierra Madre, or the M, as it is known in Monterrey. On both sides, tree-lined, flower-filled paths stretch out like arms that embrace affectionately, flowing and spiraling downward toward a central circle under the bridge.
It is the Paseo de la Mujer Mexicana, located inside the Fundidora Park in Monterrey, N.L., created to give recognition and visibility to women who have made great contributions to the development of our country. Because, how many outstanding women in the history of Mexico are known? When we ask this question, in most cases, the answers are counted on the fingers of one hand.
In 2005, we set ourselves the task of inviting six Mexican women architects to a competition -the first competition in Mexico exclusively for women architects. In 2006, a jury decided that Susana García Fuertes' project was the winner. From then until 2010, through Fundación México Monterrey 2010, A.C., we carried out the first phase of this project: an intense financial campaign to raise funds for the realization of the space, which was inaugurated in 2010, in the framework of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution.
With the information obtained from research and national calls for proposals, an interdisciplinary jury - outside our board - analyzes, evaluates, votes and decides which names will be included in each year's crystal trail.
Women who meet the following criteria are eligible to be honored: they are deceased; they are Mexican by birth or foreigners whose work and transcendence occurred in Mexico; they contributed with their work or action to the discipline or area in which they worked as well as to the improvement of the community to which they belonged; and they represent a positive role model.
Thus, from 2010 to date, we have given recognition and visibility to women of the Independence and the Mexican Revolution, women in the fine arts, in politics, in popular cultures (performing arts), in formal and natural sciences, basic education, the written press, nursing, poetry, human rights defenders, women of ancient Mexico and in this edition 2023, pioneers of education. The selection of the latter was based on research conducted by the Women United for Education Network (MUxED).
In this edition, the tribute was carried out in collaboration with L'Oréal Mexico, which was the reason for the inauguration of the photographic exhibition Women Who Move Mexico, which will be on display for three months at Fundidora Park. During the presentation there was an interesting panel, moderated by Araceli Becerril, Director of Public Affairs, Engagement and Corporate Responsibility of L'Oréal Groupe in Mexico, in which I had the pleasure of interacting with Graciela Tiburcio, Denise Dresser, Olimpia Coral, Yara Cavazos and Sofía Segovia.
In this same ceremony we also made a Tribute in Life. The Board of Paseo de la Mujer Mexicana chose Amparo Espinosa Rugarcía for the transcendence of her work through DEMAC and the different organizations and companies that she successfully directs, always promoting women.
"One of the jobs I like the most is to invite women to dare to tell their story," is the phrase that was engraved on a metal plaque with Amparo's name, which was placed in front of a beautiful tree on the Paseo de la Mujer Mexicana.
The intention of the foundation that I have the honor to preside is that through the Paseo de la Mujer Mexicana the true story of its outstanding women will be told and that these women will be a source of inspiration for girls, boys, young people and adults in Mexico. And that these stories help to promote and encourage respect among people and the dignity of the activities of women in their contribution to the development of our country.
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Liliana Melo de Sada is proudly a native of Monterrey by birth and at heart; a promoter of women, a cultural promoter and conservationist; a provocateur of actions to achieve gender equality and equity. President of Fundación México Monterrey 2010, A.C., which directs and manages the Paseo de la Mujer Mexicana.
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