Senior women bring Mexico to Milwaukee with every stitch and fashion show

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There’s a rhythm to the way Guadalupe Schnieder moves. Her feet follow wherever the music goes, and her dress listens to the beat of her homeland.

“I think it’s a natural feeling. you can’t change that,” said Schnieder.

Some say the fabric of her dress reminds them of something close to their hearts.

“I was mentioning to her that her outfits look like they came from Mexico,” said Socorro Robles, a sewing club member at United Community Center.

This journey to honor Mexico and other Latin American countries begins in the UCC sewing room.

“I always have projects in mind. It’s been great, it’s been great. It’s been an addiction to come over here every morning,” said Schnieder.

Behind every stitch, there’s a story. At the United Community Center, there’s no shortage of stories or sewing machines.

“The point of this program is to have a place for Latinos in Milwaukee to come and have social, recreational activities,” said Ana Castaneda, the program manager.

Casteneda says there’s a sense of belonging the moment these women pick up a sewing needle.

“They all want to be a part of it and show their culture and share all the different traditions they have in those countries,” she said.

After sewing nearly 47 dresses, the women are able to put on a fashion show to celebrate their heritage and hard work.

“If you ever have the pleasure of going to Mexico, you’ll find lots of handmade products everywhere,” said Robles.

For Robles, it’s also a way to pass these customs onto the next generation.

“That’s what we're going to leave to our children, you know, our heritage. So, they know where their parents come from, what kind of life we lived and what kind of activities we did,” she said.

The distance between the heart and their homeland gets smaller with the tempo of each song and seam.