Hispanic Heritage Month: My journey en La EPA

October 11, 2022

As members of the Hispanic Employment Program at EPA, our two Perspectives authors are excited to play a critical role in promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). Hispanic Heritage Month allows them the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the contributions that Hispanics have made and continue to make every day.

What DEIA means to us

DEIA means creating a more inclusive workplace for all by creating an atmosphere that welcomes differences in cultures and perspectives. It means proudly sharing our culture and background so that we can encourage and uplift other minorities around us to do the same.

Eliana's role in the Hispanic Employment Program offers her the opportunity to work with a diverse community and make the Agency a better place. To Eliana, DEIA means being proactive about helping underrepresented groups enter the Federal workforce, develop professionally, and advance within the ranks.

For Sandra, DEIA means belonging and feeling valued in the workplace for our differences and being able to share our culture and language. We live in a great big melting pot filled with people from all over. Advocating for the Hispanic community is key to our work with EPA's Hispanic Employment Program (HEP). Learning from others, celebrating their cultures, and working in an organization that looks like the changing face of America is truly part of who we are.

Sandra's Story

After attending a career fair in Washington, DC, I walked up to an EPA booth, introduced myself and despite being a business major among a STEM-focused pool of applicants, I submitted my resume and indicated that that the Agency would have a need for someone with my skillset. After joining the Agency, I connected with the Hispanic community at EPA and eventually became EPA’s Hispanic Employment Program (HEP) Council Chair in December 2013.

I love being able to contribute to our agency’s mission by representing and supporting the Hispanic community. Being a bi-lingual Latina of Colombian and Puerto Rican descent, first generation, and first college bound, it helps me to recognize and support the successes and challenges of many underserved populations. Essentially helping me shape my career by staying true to myself, giving back to my community, uplifting the next generation, having a seat at the table as a leader to bring about the change needed.

I am grateful for my time at EPA, as I have had the opportunity to move around the agency to work for different programs and on various projects. Allowing me to establish and expand my network with colleagues across the agency and in the federal government. Continuously growing and further developing my career through professional development opportunities. My goal is to establish a legacy and be remembered by my colleagues and the people that I serve for the work that I do and for the support I give my Latino community.

Eliana's Story

I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. After moving to the U.S. and overcoming a multitude of challenges as a first-generation Latina, I found a network within my community through Hispanic student organizations. Fast forward a few years, and I began my career at the U.S. EPA through the Pathways Recent Graduates program in 2016. After learning more about EPA’s Hispanic Employment program from a mentor, I joined the program as a Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM).

For me, being a Hispanic EPA employee means being a part of the next generation of change agents – following the footsteps of the minority leaders who have made such a difference at our Agency. It is living proof that my parents’ sacrifices in pursuit of a better life were worth it and helped me get to where I am today: working to protect human health and the environment each day. This has shaped my career and has motivated me to seguir adelante (keep moving forward) no matter what challenges I may face throughout my career.

Spanish was my first language and being bilingual has opened many doors for me throughout my career. In 2021, I provided support to EPA Region 2’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division. During this time, I led collaborative initiatives with local and federal agencies in Puerto Rico focused on hazard mitigation and adaptation strategies, disaster recovery projects, and training and capacity building efforts. All of this was possible given my ability to speak and write both languages fluently, I felt like I was able to make transformational changes in disaster recovery work in the Caribbean. At the end of the day, to me, being Hispanic is the ability to think and speak in Spanglish, recognizing my multicultural mindset can benefit others. This experience showed me just that!

We'd love you to join us in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 – October 15 this year and in years to come.

About the Author

Sandra Rivera
Program Manager and EPA’s Hispanic Employment Program Council Chair
Office of Mission Support, Office of Information Management

Sandra is a diversity leader with 20+ years of experience in managing the development of business technology solutions to support organizational programs and goals, strategic business planning, business process development, data and business analysis, certified contract administrator and a champion of enhancing diversity and inclusion efforts. Sandra has been with EPA since January 2005, where she has held a variety of positions in different program offices. Currently, she manages IT projects for the Agency's Central Data Exchange (CDX) in support of EPA’s mission and program areas such as air, water, waste and toxic substances and functional areas such as enforcements, compliance, technical assistance and permitting. Sandra also oversees the Hispanic special emphasis program supporting Hispanic outreach and diversity initiatives. She is a dual mixed Latina of Colombian and Puerto Rican descent, who was raised in MA and now lives in MD with her husband and daughter. Sandra has an MBA degree from Trinity Washington University, a BS in International Business Management from the University of New Haven, and many professional certifications.

About the Author

Eliana De Leon
Program Analyst and Hispanic Employment Program Manager
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Site Remediation Enforcement

Eliana has been with EPA since 2016 and currently works to develop and provide specialized training to Superfund Enforcement staff across the Agency. In addition to her Superfund-specific roles, Eliana is a member of the Workforce Council and serves as a Hispanic Employment Program Manager (HEPM) for OECA. Eliana has led various efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in her HEPM role and her fondest memory is submitting the winning poster that was used across the nation to observe the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month theme of Esperanza (hope). During her time at EPA, she has also worked within the EPA Headquarters Emergency Operations Center and has provided support to the EPA Region 2 Caribbean Environmental Protection Division on strategic initiatives to assist with disaster recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Eliana is a native of Bogota, Colombia, and a graduate of Towson University (BA) and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (MA). Outside of work, Eliana enjoys acai bowls on a hot day, outdoor recreational activities and spending quality time with her family and friends.