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Cecilia Vasquez
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"If I can do it, they can do it. I want to be a model for them."

Cecilia has a genuine concern for her community. As a Promotora, she provides health information to parents in her community. She gets people to think about their lives 20 years from now and tells them they have to start now to maintain a healthy life.

It was hard to break some of the eating habits she grew up with in Mexico. Cecilia no longer fries her food and she places a large bowl of fruit on the dining room table for snacks. She said that being a Promotora has taught her how to adjust recipes so they are healthier. She has learned a lot about healthy eating from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program, which helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well and stay healthy. Cecilia plans her meals and says it saves money and makes life easier for her.

As Cecilia learns about nutrition, she teaches her children - Abel, 9; Ivan, 7; and Jocelyn, 3. "It's important to explain to them about why they need to be healthy," she said. She knows there are many individuals in the Hispanic community with heart disease and diabetes. Cecilia wants to help lower the numbers and hopefully save lives.

Los Angeles, CA