The Bustos Family Leadership Through Service Scholarhip
2003-2004 Recipient

Bertha Picazo-Chavez is a second year graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Social Work. Currently, Bertha is working on her Thesis/Project: Cultural Didactic Theater in the Mexican/Latino Community. In doing so, her focus includes collaborating with a local theater group, Figuras Teatro Co. and non-profit organizations, to create a program that targets the Mexican/Latino community in the Sacramento area; which is in need of programs that lure, teach and empower such population.

As an active participant of Figuras Teatro Co., Bertha contributes her efforts by using theater as the vehicle used to ultimately disseminate cultural awareness for this particular community. A current production of this theater group, La Mano Fea, will be presented at CSU, Sacramento at the Hinde Auditorium on May 7, 2004. However, La Mano Fea will also be presented in the communities of California, April 2004-December 2004.  

Bertha is currently an employee/intern with a non-profit organization, Mexican American Alcoholism Program, Inc. (Maap, Inc.), which has been established in Sacramento for over 28 years. As a social worker with this organization, she works closely with the Mexican/Latino community, which includes recent immigrants.

Bertha's interest in social work developed as she became aware of the disproportionate percentage of disadvantaged people in her community. It was then that she decided to select a profession that involved helping people and families, become empowered and self-sufficient.   In addition, her career goals are to obtain a License in Social Work, a Juris Doctorate degree and/or a Ph. D, and continue to participate with Figuras Teatro Co. to further contribute to the Mexican/Latino community, in particular.