"The Mexican culture is community based. We look out for each other and that’s the foundation for my commitment to public service."
What motivated you to work at ASPR? I found the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) mission exciting and important and wanted to be a part of supporting communities impacted by disasters and public health emergencies. In my current role, I am honored to support communities equitably recover from disasters.
Does your heritage shape the way that you serve the public or give you a unique perspective that contributes to public service? I was raised in Mexico and went to school there K through 12. The Mexican culture is uniquely rich and traditional in regard to family structure, respect for elders, and general overall politeness. That impacts how I interact with people. And the Mexican culture is community based. We look out for each other and that’s the foundation for my commitment to public service. Additionally, as both a Spanish and English speaker (Spanish is my mother tongue), I have the flexibility to communicate to a wider group of people.
Has your work impacted Hispanic or Latino communities? As the Hispanic community is part of the entire community, yes; we respond to the needs of everybody. And it’s not only a short-term response, after the acute phase of a disaster, but also through federal support for locally-led recovery. That can be anything from supplying expertise to helping with identifying grants and applying for federal funds.
