Celina Martina had an influential mentor during the nine years she spent working at the Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji. She was encouraged her to take increasing positions of leadership and attend college in the United States. Now Martina is returning the favor at the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys and through several volunteer projects.
Martina strongly believes in the mission of the Girl Scouts to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make this world a better place.” For the past two years she has served as a member specialist who oversees seven service units. Her job involves training troop leaders and volunteers, recruiting girls, and working on the Latina Initiative for outreach.
Originally from Córdoba, Argentina, Martina started coming to Minnesota during the summer to be a counselor at Concordia’s Spanish Language Village. Over the years she worked her way up to Spanish-Bemidji assistant dean and then acting dean. Martina eventually graduated from Hamline University, where she earned the presidential scholarship along with a degree in Spanish education.
Martina’s goal for her position with the Girl Scouts is “to be a role model where girls can look up to me and see that I’m a strong woman and they can become one, too,” she says. “I want to really touch their lives in a meaningful way where they can make decisions for the betterment of the world, not just for themselves.”
A committed volunteer, Martina aims to be a resource to the Latino community. She’s served as a homework helper for the Minneapolis Public Library, reaching out to the Latino community and informing people about its services and programs. She also organized Spanish marketing efforts for the 1st Educational Campaign about child support and gave some of her time to the Resource Center for the Americas. Martina likes to spend time with friends and get back to nature in northern Minnesota.
