Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete, recently won the Miss Universe Pageant. A young woman from Oakland is now preparing to compete for the title of Miss California, which could lead to Miss USA and Miss Universe.

Ashley Stuteville, 19, is preparing her mind and body for the Miss California Beauty Pageant to be held November 19-21. “I am Miss Piedmont USA, but I am representing all of Oakland, which is where I was born,” she says.

“Trabajamos en comunidades que viven en extrema pobreza en Oakland y en comunidades rurales en El Salvador”, escribió Tulio Serrano, Director del Comité de Refugiados Centroamericanos (CRECE). “Nuestra organización lleva esperanza a aquéllos en situación de necesidad, proporcionando las necesidades inmediatas como alimentos, vestido y amistad. También hemos expandido nuestro trabajo con los jóvenes desarrollando programas positivos como una alternativa fuera de la vida callejera y las pandillas”.

“We work in communities of extreme poverty in Oakland and in rural communities in El Salvador,” writes Tulio Serrano, Director of the Central American Refugee Committee (CRECE). “Our organization brings hope to those in need by providing immediate needs such as food, clothing and friendship. We have created and expanded opportunities for children and youth. We have also expanded our work with youth by developing alternative positive venues to the streets and gangs.”