Sylvia Mendoza is an award-winning author and journalist who writes inspirational stories about strong visionary women who change the world—and are powerful examples of living with passion and purpose. The daughter of Mexican American parents who taught her to value her heritage, Sylvia’s voice also celebrates the Latina spirit in an authentic and reverent way. She hopes to empower others by sharing these stories of the heart that embrace tradition, yet shatter stereotypes.

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Published in all genres, Sylvia’s classic collection of mini-biographies THE BOOK OF LATINA WOMEN: 150 Vidas of Passion, Strength and Success, was  selected for the California Collection for High Schools by the California Readers Association and won 1st place in the International Latino Book Awards “Best Women’s Issues” category. As the author of SONIA SOTOMAYOR: A BIOGRAPHY, Sylvia launched the middle school “Living History” series to inspire young readers with the true story of the world’s first Latina Supreme Court Justice. Her novel, SERENADE, won the prestigious Latino Literary Award for Best Romance.

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Writing more than 500 articles for dozens of publications, Sylvia has earned many awards for “Excellence in Journalism.”  In Siempre Mujer magazine, she covered the annual “Siempre Inspiran” section, interviewing celebs such as Sofia Vergara, Shakira, Cristina Saralegui, Giselle Fernandez and others who make a difference in Latino communities worldwide. She writes profiles on movers and shakers in Baja Traveler magazine and innovative Hispanic educators for Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine.

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A popular speaker, Sylvia motivates audiences to value their own stories and celebrate their strengths and dreams on the road to self-empowerment. She has been a keynote or guest speaker at The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Book Expo America, the Latino Book & Family Festival, as well as colleges, libraries, schools, conferences, non-profits, and professional development events across California and the nation.

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Recognized as an expert in her blended fields of journalism, women’s issues and Latina voices, Sylvia has been featured by the National Women’s History Project on C-Span Book-TV, as a thought leader and one of “50 Voices of the Future in Journalism” at UC San Diego Extension, and as “1 of 25 Influential Latina Leaders” invited to a private forum with Ms. Mazal Renford, Israeli delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. 

 

Teaching Journalism, Media Studies and Creative Writing brings her love of the written word full circle as she hears the voices of the next generation of writers.