Hartford, Conn. – When Lina María Alvarada entered her mother, Luz Cardenas, in the Ms. Connecticut Belleza Latina Pageant, Cardenas had to think long and hard before agreeing to go through with it.  She finally decided to give it a shot, thinking that her singing voice might give her a chance to win it.

“When you hit 40,” she said through a translator, “beauty fades.”

It turned out to be a good decision for Cardenas, who didn’t even have to carry a note after a panel of four judges decided she deserved the Ms. Latina Belleza crown based on her all-around performance in other categories.  The contestants were judged on inner beauty, which was determined in an interview process, fashion wear, their evening gowns and photogenic qualities, and a display of cultural heritage.  They were also judged on sociability and elegance by hidden observers. 

Trinfo staff with their former student, Luz Cardenas, Ms. Connecticut Belleza Latina.

 

So why does the Colombia native credit Trinfo.Café at Trinity College, where she learned computer literacy skills, for her success?

“I had a technophobia before [learning about computers at Trinfo] – I was even scared of a mouse,” she joked.  “Now, thanks to the opportunity I had here, I can finally consider myself a person of the 21st century.”

Cardenas is one of hundreds in the Hartford community who have been able to take advantage of a free Trinfo.Café Computer Literacy Workshop.  As part of the program, she was given personalized mentorship, access to internet, and a refurbished computer upon completion of the course.  Her instructor, Trinity graduate Jose Guzman ’08, said she is the epitome of what they hope every Trinfo patron becomes.

“She is the greatest,” he said outside of the Café on Broad Street across from the Trinity campus where the two worked together last year.  “She’s a quick learner…very hands-on, engaged and lively.”

 

 

 

 

The relationship between Cardenas and Trinfo.Cafe was based on fate.  Cardenas said she searched for a place where she would be able to learn computers, but Trinfo was the only one possible.

“There was too much red tape involved at other places, whether it was money, degrees, a long wait, or whatever,” she said about her search last summer. 

Not only did Cardenas find a place to learn computers at Trinfo.Café, she found a home.

“The people here instantly became a family to me.  I was always treated better here, even before I became a beauty queen,” she said with a laugh.
On July 30, Cardenas will display her enthusiasm, smile and charisma to the city of Miami, Florida where she will compete for the National Ms. Latina crown.  While away from her Hartford home, Cardenas will not be out of touch.

Thanks to her familiarity with online banking, Cardenas will be able to pay her bills online.  Thanks to her knowledge of email, she can keep in touch with members of her family who live in the small town of Quindio, Colombia.  And thanks to Trinfo.Café, Cardenas now has another place that she can call home.

For more information about Trinfo.Café, visit www.trinfocafe.com.  For more information about the Ms. Connecticut Belleza Latina Pageant, visit www.connbellezalatina.com.