Maria Leticia Gomez delivers the news to thousands of viewers who tune into Univision 14, the region’s most popular Spanish language news station. But on the day she moved into her new Bay Area home, she seemed to be someone else in the eyes of one neighbor.

“He asked me ‘How much do you charge to move people?’” Gomez told a group of Latinas who gathered at Yountville Community Hall Wednesday.

Gomez had to explain that she wasn’t the mover; she was the new neighbor. She had to explain it again to another neighbor, who asked how much Gomez charged to do yard work.

Gomez’ tales captivated a crowd of 95 women who came to the community hall for the 4th Annual Latina Women’s Conference.

The conference is a precursor to Bi-National Health Week and is designed to empower Latinas to get involved in their communities and learn how to navigate difficult social situations.

For Gomez, the misunderstandings began when she left her native Argentina and moved to Mexico City. Gomez — a fair-skinned woman with light brown hair — would ask her mother how long it would take for her hair and skin to turn as dark as those of her classmates, who her often ridiculed her for having Anglo features.

When Gomez, then 13, moved to Maryland, the teasing continued as she struggled to learn English, she said.

“We were desperate to fit in,” she said. “I started high school and on the first day I asked my teacher what was ‘Hi.’ I remember how people used to tease me. They were rough years for me, but we learned English.”

Napa Valley College student Laura Vega, 20, said she can relate to Gomez’ journey.

“I think it’s wonderful to see that we are not alone,” Vega said.

For example, Vega said her parents don’t understand why she spent so many hours in NVC clubs such as Club Hispano Americano while pursuing her degree in general education. But once she was accepted into San Jose State University and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Chicano Latino Foundation, based in San Francisco, they came around, she said. Vega will move from her home in Napa to San Jose in two months to get settled before the semester.

Unfortunately, only a few Latinos are taking Vega’s lead and going to college.

According to Vicka Llamas, event organizer, during 2005-2006 in Napa County, only 39 of 348 Latino high school graduates, roughly 11 percent, were accepted into college.

Llamas’ figures are in line with a report by the Pew Hispanic Center, a non-partisan research organization. According to a new Pew Hispanic Center report, 36 percent of Hispanic women in the U.S. have less than a high school education, compared with 10 percent of non-Hispanic women; and Hispanic women are more likely than non-Hispanic women to work in blue-collar jobs such as building and landscape services, food preparation and services and manufacturing.

Organizers of the Latina Women’s Conference said that the figures point to a need for a conference that will show Latinas that they can empower themselves and become involved in their communities.

“We need to know the numbers so we can motivate our children,” she said. “There is a lot of work to be done in our community. First, we have to strengthen ourselves, we must equip ourselves with the tools.”

Pre-festivities for Bi-National Health Week resume in September, with Noche Mexica — a special dinner for Latino elders that helps them link to resources for seniors and gives them a night of music and dance.