Women’s Center Founder Gets $90,000 Grant

Beatriz Olvera Stotzer, founder of a local nonprofit organization, is one of six winners nationwide of $90,000 Fannie Mae Foundation grants, it was announced Monday.

Stotzer runs New Economics for Women of Los Angeles, which offers struggling women and their families help with shelter and child care, enabling them to pursue jobs and education.

Stotzer said she wants to use part of the award to study ideas for using adobe-like material to build affordable housing, particularly in the desert and border area, she said after a ceremony Monday in Washington. She said she plans to study with architect Nader Khalili, an expert in using “super adobe,” which essentially is sandbags filled with earth and used to form walls.

In addition to the grant, New Economics for Women also will be eligible for $25,000 to cover costs for someone to fill in for Stotzer during her absence or to buy equipment for the group.