Latino Leaders - Heroes of the Fight Against Covid-19

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www.latinoleaders.com

Heroes of the Fight Against Covid-19

A Celebration of the Contributions of the Latino Community FEATURING EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH

NIAID DIRECTOR DR. ANTHONY S. FAUCI GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF PFIZER VACCINES NANETTE COCERO SENATORS CATHERINE CORTEZ-MASTO AND MARCO RUBIO A M O N G

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9. Dr. Antony Fauci on Latinos and Covid-19:

40. Real superheroes:

We are so proud that the busiest man in the Nation took the time to share with us what his days have been like since the pandemic, and most importantly set a date for when we can all go salsa dancing again.

In their own words and through their own lens, team members at Children’s Health describe a moment in time as COVID-19 took center stage in our lives.

14. The disparity factor with Dr. Elena Rios:

43. Learning to Cope:

In this open letter the President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association assesses the impact of pre existing conditions and why health insurance, or the lack thereof, is a leading cause of illness.

City of Hope’s Dr. Rocha-Cadman addresses why Latinos need to normalize asking for help to deal with the pandemic, as she shares tips to manage uncertainly and isolation.

16. Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez:

Where Latinos stand

The founder of Salud America! discusses Latino Health Equity amid COVID-19

45. Covid-19 and Mental Health:

46. Leader Spotlight:

18. Numbers Speak with Dr. David Hayes-Bautista:

The top authority on Hispanic Health data is out to prove why Latinos are the secret sauce for a US economic comeback.

Get to know Xavier Becerra, the 25th Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the first Latino to hold the office in the history of the United States.

21. Joaquin Duato:

48. The good fight:

Driving innovation. Best known for leading the transformation of Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical sector into a global powerhouse, Duato shares his passion for health education.

Nevada Senator Catherine Cortes-Masto describes the new normal the Capitol as she continues to advocate for the issues closer to her heart.

25. The clinical trial experience with Joanna Gurrola:

50. Saving the American Dream:

A bright and dedicated aspiring doctor shares what it is like to test the Covid-19 vaccine.

SPECIAL EDITION

CONTENTS

Fighting for every resource to keep small businesses afloat during Covid-10, Florida Senator Marco Rubio shares de delicate balance between safety and revenue.

26. Nanette Cocero:

Few people know that one of the top leaders for Pfizer’s vaccine division is a Latina. In this feature we proudly share her knowledge and passion for science.

30. A Change of Heart:

Read the stories of three Latinos who overcame misinformation and decided to get vaccinated to help end the pandemic once and for all.

32. Fighting for the fighters:

A tribute to Bonnie Castillo, a 2020 TIME 100 Most Influential honoree who has spent her life fighting for the rights of nurses, so that in turn they can fight for our lives.

34. Making a difference for the Brave of Heart:

New York Life and Cigna exemplify why a culture of giving is paramount for us to move forward as they honor the families of fallen frontline heroes.

36. From Grief to Action:

Dr. Francis Guerra-Bauman shares how her family tragedy became a mission to help Latinos become COVID-19 free.

38. Chronicles from the frontline:

COVID-19 Taskforce advisor and UCSF ER professor and emergency physician Dr. Robert Rodriguez shares why by coming together Latinos can overcome anything.

53. Latinos are here for our society:

An open letter by business leader Manuel "Manny" Gonzalez celebrating the contributions of our essential workers.

54. Responsible farming with Hector Lujan:

The CEO of Reiter Affiliated Companies explains why prioritizing the health of his workers has paid off in spades.

58. Corporate America to the rescue, from cars to PPE:

When COVID-19 hit General Motors answered the call; masks and ventilators replaced assembly lines and hospitals across GM’s home state of Michigan were able to save lives.

60. Saving the World one meal at a time:

A tribute to culinary icon and food activist José Andrés whose unparalleled vision and commitment empowers people and changes lives through food.

62. Transforming challenges into opportunities:

Entrepreneur Alfredo Angueria has surpassed the delivery of his one million COVID-19 relief meal; by redefining his business model he has demonstrated that with grit, passion and adaptability leaders can overcome anything.

64. Claudia Romo Edelman:

The Power of Transformation - how an event designed to shift perceptions about Latinos turned into a PPE distribution effort.

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PUBLISHERS

Publisher Jorge Ferraez

President and CEO Raul Ferraez

Administrative Director Lawrence Teodoro Guest Editor, Líderes Mexicanos Mariana G. Briones marianabriones@me.com Business Development Manager Cristina Gonzalez cristina@latinoleaders.com Art Director Fernando Izquierdo Editorial Art & Design Carlos Cuevas Luis Enrique González Moisés Cervantes Human Resources Manager Susana Sanchez Administration and Bookkeeping Claudia García Bejarano Executive Assistant to the Publishers Liliana Morales Digital Media & Design Manager Nicole Richard nicole@latinoleaders For advertising inquiries, please call 214-206-9587

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino (ISSN 1529-3998) is published seven times annually by Ferraez Publications of America Corp., 11300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300, Dallas, TX, 75243, Special Edition 2021. Subscription rates: In U.S. and possessions, one year $15.00. Checks payable to Ferraez Publications of America, 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Latino Leaders, 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA.© 2001 by Ferraez Publications of America Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the consent of Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino. The periodical’s name and logo, and the various titles and headings therein, are trademarks of Ferraez Publications of America Corp.

Member of The National Association of Hispanic Publications

Just ten months ago, we couldn’t even imagine we would be

writing this letter. The world has changed so much since then. It looks like a fiction story or a nightmare we cannot awake from. The COVID-19 Pandemic hit us like that, like a horror movie or an epic drama. It altered our lives and also altered our businesses, jobs and activities.

But even the most horrific or tragic story has “the good guys”, the heroes who save the plot and bring us that “happy ending” we all need. And although that happy ending is still remote, with a tiny light at the end of the tunnel, in this real nightmare the heroes are here; among us. Flesh and Blood individuals that showed the best of the human species: Courage, Professionalism, Hard Work, Determination, Faith, Confidence in Science and above all, HOPE. Many of these heroes are Latinos. Leaders that have given the most fierce fight to the Virus from all different trenches; government, science, labs, businesses, community, media, etc.

This edition is a tribute to all of them. Not all of them are included, of course, but all of those included are leaders that have fought fiercely and even risked their lives to save others.

The following pages are the starting of the story of how Latinos fought the war against COVID-19 in the year 2020, a collection of individual and collective stories that will make you proud of this community. Their legacy is going to be printed here forever.

From Latino Leaders to all of them: THANK YOU! You are our heroes!

Jorge & Raul Ferraez Winter 2020 - 2021

Audited by Member of

Jorge Ferraez

Reg. # 283/01

Jorge Ferraez

MEMBER OF SRDS Latino Leaders The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino 11300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300, Dallas, TX, 75243 Phone: 214-206-9587 / Fax: (214) 206-4970

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EDITOR´S LETTER

March 2020 will forever be defined by the outbreak of the pandemic. The life of every single person in the planet has been affected, transformed. But while we are facing unprecedented challenges that were unimaginable before COVID-19, this has also been a time to reset, to rethink our values and emphasize the importance of community, relationships, kindness, compassion, strength and resilience.

We have seen incredible devastation, but also extraordinary courage. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the sacrifices of our front line and essential workers, many of whom are Latino. Our doctors, nurses, farmers, meat packing and sanitation workers, truck drivers, volunteers… They are saving lives as they keep the country running and ensure we continue to have food on our tables throughout this pandemic. They are showing up, putting themselves directly in harm’s way.

All of these courageous individuals are rising up to the occasion and fighting the battle of a generation, living up to a rich history of hard work, endurance and sacrifice for the common good. The fortitude of our community is truly inspiring.

These unprecedented times have also been defined by divisiveness, and questions about whether minorities deserve equal footing as we continue to define our society. Immigration is a complex subject with many variables to be weighed in. But we hope the stories we share in this edition will reaffirm that as Latinos we have steadily contributed to the growth and prosperity of a country we love so much.

It is our hope that in this 2021 we will be seen more like allies rather than foreigners, more like citizens rather than immigrants, no longer the “other” but the “same”.

If there is one thing this global pandemic has taught us, it is that we are all connected, whether we like it or not. COVID-19 rapidly reached the most remote corners of the planet, and demonstrated that we are literally all in this together. More than ever it made clear that only by collaborating a bright future is possible.

We are very proud to celebrate and express our deepest gratitude to the brave heroes who are positively impacting all of our lives one extraordinary action at a time.

Mariana G. Briones International Guest Editor, Lideres Mexicanos

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1 “The Latino GDP is currently the most productive sector for a strong overall U.S. GDP growth and has the potential to power the nation’s economy out of the pandemic. But every working-age Latino who dies due to COVID-19 is one less contributor to the country’s economic future.”

Dr. David Hayes Bautista

“Latinx are in jobs that put them at a greater risk of getting infected” Dr. Anthony Fauci

Latinos and Covid-19 - Where are we now?

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

LATINOS AND COVID-19 DATA: UNDRESTANDING THE NUMBERS *Statstics provided by Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, citing CDC data as of 5/26/21

Total Latino population in the US: 18.5%

CURRENT COVID CASES IN U.S.

CURRENT COVID DEATH TOTALS IN U.S.

7 6 2

1

5 5

1

4

4

3

3

2

1 White (non-Latino): 50.1% of COVID-19 cases

1 Latinos: 107,105 have died due to COVID-19

2 Latino: 28.8% of COVID-19 cases

2 Blacks: 86,569

3 African American (non-Latino): 11.3% of COVID-19 cases

3 Whites: 351,618

4 Multiple/Other (non-Latino): 3.9% of COVID-19 cases

4 Asians: 22,313

5 Asian (non-Latino): 3.2% of COVID-19 cases

5 American Indian/Alaska Native: 6,533

6 American Indian / Alaska Native (non-Latino): 1% of COVID-19 cases 7 Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander (non-Latino): 0.3% of COVID-19 cases

CURRENT LATINO COVID DEATH RATES BY AGE IN U.S. Ages 0-24

Ages 25-34

Ages 35-44

Ages 45-54

Ages 54-64

Ages 65-74

Ages 75-84

Ages 85+

39.3%

40.2%

44.2%

39.4%

29.7%

21.1%

14.8%

9.6%

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

The Voice of Reason

By Mariana G. Briones

Dr. Anthony Fauci

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of the busiest men in the world today.

As the Top U.S. infectious disease expert at an unprecedented time defined

by COVID-19 his 18 hour days are filled with non stop crises, questions, challenges, interviews; and most recently hope.

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

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harming and impeccably dressed for our 8 am interview Dr. Anthony Fauci joins us via Zoom from the NIH headquarters; sipping his morning espresso he shares his thoughts on how COVID-19 has afflicted minorities, the damaging effects of conspiracy theories, how he has adapted as the word has been redefined and when he believes we will finally be able to dance salsa again.

I begin by asking how his family dynamic and personal life have changed since the pandemic, and he is quick to share the unique trials of being Dr. Fauci. “There are two aspects of this. First it has been a compete disruption of my life which is entirely different now days because everything I do is a 100% COVID. I am here at the NIH half the day, the other half I am down at the White House with the president and vice president, and when I come back home I continue working until very late, I don't do anything else.” How does he decompress I ask? “This is seven days a week, there is no time to decompress, no social life involved in this, so I don’t have any problems with social distancing” he laughs.

“The other aspect that is very unique is that given the politicization and the divisiveness in which we live in, when I try to get a message across there are many people who are very vocal and very proactive in objecting to the public health measures we suggest” he continues. “People who are very extreme in their views, who are very anti me and anti the scientists who are working on solutions, to the point that my life has been threatened and my family has been harassed, and I never had anything like this happen to me in the last 40+ years in public health.

So it has become very, very difficult. I have to have security with me literally every day. It is very unusual for a public health official to need this. Politicians yes, but public health officials? This is truly unprecedented.”

We weigh in on the role that social media has had in his predicament: “Social media can make something go viral very quickly” he reflects. “Someone can come up with a ridiculous conspiracy theory and all of a sudden it rockets around the world literally in minutes,

and that is just extraordinary. The conspiracy theories that I am making a lot of money on vaccines, or that I am trying to kill people, or that Bill Gates and I are in cahoots trying to take over the world… I mean really crazy stuff.”

When I ask whether the NIAID data shows an imbalance regarding how COVID-19 has affected different population segments he responds: “There is no doubt that there is a substantial disparity on how all minorities have been affected, from African-Americans and Latinx to Native Americans, Native Alaskans and even Pacific Islanders. In the case of LatinX we find that most of the jobs they hold put them in what is called critical positions, because they are required to be outside interacting with people, as opposed to the likelihood that they would be sitting in front of a computer working virtually. I don’t want to completely generalize, but for the most part LatinX are in jobs that put them at a greater risk of getting infected.”

“On the other hand when they get infected they do have a greater risk of hospitalization”.

He elaborates “If you look at the number of hospitalizations and deaths per hundred thousand, their rates are substantially greater than the population in general, specifically whites. So clearly there is a great disadvantage in the Latinx population regarding the complications that are associated with COVID-19, and this is likely due to a greater incidence of some of the underlying conditions that predispose you to a severe outcome. Everything from obesity to diabetes to hypertension, chronic renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and all of the conditions that you see in minority populations with more frequency. So it is a combination of both factors, but in my opinion it has to do a lot more with a higher risk of getting infected.”

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There is now a global debate on the safety of vaccines, and the effects of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories are a real concern. “Historically, and this has been proven so many times with various diseases like smallpox, hepatitis or polio, the risk benefit of vaccination overwhelmingly favors the benefit, because fundamentally vaccines are really quite safe.” Dr. Fauci explains. “If you look at the number of lives that have been saved, the amount of suffering that has been avoided… the risks are really quite low. And the safety of the process can be exemplified with the Astra Zeneca setback.

Back in September of 2020 their clinical trial with the University of Oxford was set aside after a British subject became ill.

So there was one serious adverse event that was noted in a

single person…and the entire clinical trial was put on hold. This is a very good example of the attention that is paid to the safety of these vaccine candidates.”

Still Latinos, as many communities, need to gain trust in trials and the vaccination process, and customized messaging is key “I think that we are getting better at engaging the Latinx community, whether it is outreach for clinical engagement at the community level, or through public service announcements at a national level. If you look at the enrollment of Latinx in clinical trials their representation approaches what the actual percentage of Latinos are in society, so we need to improve for sure, but we are relatively close.”

“Having members of the Latinx community in our staff, like Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, who is the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, also helps us build trust and to be transparent with what we do.”

According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, 33,382,705 cases have been recorded in the US as of June 20, 2021, and we are about to reach 600,000 deaths. So even though it is a hopeful sign that the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to most Americans, the pandemic is not over. The Delta variant is now present in 47 states, and Dr. Fauci thinks we should remain vigilant, but optimistic. “I believe that if we have a good combination of public health measures and if enough people can be persuaded to get inoculated, we will continue to approach normality so that we can get back to the things that we used to know; like getting the economy back on track, getting employment back, having people move to interact socially the way we did before."

When I tell him that I miss dancing salsa he doesn’t miss a beat to cheer me up. “Just think that it will gradually get better, so that by the end of 2021 you can call me up and we can go salsa dancing together.”

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

LATINOS AND COVID-19 DATA: UNDRESTANDING THE NUMBERS STATE COVID CASE DISPARITIES

*Statstics provided by Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio, citing CDC data as of 5/26/21

Utah is 14% Latino. But they make up 20.4% of COVID-19 cases on May 22, 2021.

Oregon is 13% Latino. But they make up 23.6% of COVID-19 cases on May 26.

Washington is 13% Latino. But they make up 29% of COVID-19 cases on May 25.

California is 39.3% Latino. But they make up 55.9% of COVID-19 cases on May 18.

STATE COVID DEATH DISPARITIES

CDC included unweighted and weighted population distributions to add context for geographical outbreaks.

The data was updated May 26, 2021.

Illinois (17.4% of total state population is Latino) • 25% Latino distribution of COVID-19 deaths, when weighted for geographic outbreak areas.

California (39.3% of total state population is Latino) • 46.5% Latino distribution of COVID-19 deaths, when weighted for geographic outbreak areas.

Colorado (21.7% of total state population is Latino) • 23% Latino distribution of COVID-19 deaths, when weighted for geographic outbreak areas.

Florida (26.1% of total state population is Latino) • 41.6% Latino distribution of COVID-19 deaths, when weighted for geographic outbreak areas.

Texas (39.6% of total state population is Latino) • 45.4% Latino distribution of COVID-19 deaths, when weighted for geographic outbreak areas.

STATE COVID VACCINE DISPARITIES. • As of May 24, 2021, 43 out of 50 states report a racial/ethnic breakdown of their COVID-19 vaccine distribution numbers that specify Hispanics/Latinos.

• All states that have reported demographics of vaccine distribution show that Latinos are getting vaccinated at a much lower rate.

Colorado (21.7% of total state population is Latino) 9.4% of vaccinated people are Latino.

California (39.3% of total state population is Latino) 25.9% of vaccinated people are Latino.

Florida (26.1% of total state population is Latino) 17.6% of vaccinated people are Latino.

Illinois (17.4% of total state population is Latino) 12.7% of vaccinated people are Latino.

Texas (39.6% of total state population is Latino) 29.8% of vaccinated people are Latino.

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

COVID-19

Leadership Lessons for the Future The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated sev-

eral key issues among the Hispanic population that warrant attention from leaders in both public and private health care sectors, as well as leaders in our communities. Hispanics are 18% of the population yet account for 33% of new COVID-19 cases nationwide.1 Hispanics have been found to be more vulnerable because they 1) have the highest uninsured rates, which limits access to health care and increases the impact of chronic diseases; 2) work in essential jobs that increase exposure to infection, such as in supermarkets, cleaning services at hospitals and nursing homes, and in the food industry; 3) live in multigenerational households that limit social distancing; and 4) have mixed-status families and/or limited English and health literacy, both of which decrease their participation in and understanding of public health education guidelines.

Health care leaders should work with their local public health agencies on recovery efforts over the next several years, targeting worksites, neighborhoods and families with Latinos.

Leaders in our hospitals, medical practices and clinics should partner with any virus education campaigns for Latino families — since Latino uptake of the flu vaccine over the past few years has only been at 37%. It is of the utmost importance to make the connection that a vaccine can decrease virus transmission to those most vulnerable in the community. Latinos who work at all levels of the health care system understand Latinos, and should be called on to share their experience for developing innovations to improve the health of our families.

By Dr. Elena Rios President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical AssociationElena Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H. 1

Education for Latinos must include developing trust and empathy, traditional media and social media in English and Spanish, and health provider messengers. Latinos and other racial and ethnic patients have faced racism and discrimination in the health care system. There is a need to understand the root causes of health care disparities seen in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, HIV, asthma and

Demographic trends of COVID-19 in the US reported to the CDC. Atlanta: CDC, 2020.

2

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan, NASEM, Washington, DC, Oct. 2020.

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other conditions. Some of these issues are due to social determinants of health, such as unemployment, food insecurity, poor housing, limited public transportation, poverty, educational attainment and English proficiency. In addition, Latinos also face limited access to quality care, limited mental health services and lack of diversity in the health care professions, research and decision-making positions in public or private health sectors.

The pandemic has significantly undermined health insurance coverage in the U.S. as the economic impact has forced businesses to close and eliminate health insurance, or stay open and decrease health insurance benefits for employees.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 31 million were uninsured and more than 40 million were underinsured before the pandemic. In 2019, according to national surveys, prior to the pandemic, the Hispanic population had the highest uninsured rate, at 16.7% uninsured for the entire year. Among U.S. adults aged 19 to 64 in states with Medicaid expansion, the uninsured rate was 9.8%, compared to 18.4% in the 14 states that did not expand eligibility. In addition, adults with health insurance find it easier to get care, tests, or treatment. Among the uninsured, 34% were Hispanic poor, and and 13% were Hispanic not poor, more than twice the proportion of uninsured non-Hispanic whites.3

Dr. Elena Rios is President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, (NHMA), representing Hispanic physicians in the United States. She is also President of NHMA’s National Hispanic Health Foundation affiliated with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, to direct educational and research activities.

In 2006, Dr. Rios was appointed to the Minority Alumni Hall of Fame of Stanford University and in 2007, was appointed as a Fellow to the New York Academy of Medicine.

“In 2019, according to national surveys, prior to the pandemic, the Hispanic population had the highest uninsured rate, at 16.7% uninsured for the entire year.”

With the continued U.S. economic downturn and loss of jobs, many more people will become uninsured and stay away from testing, medical care and treatment.

Leaders in the Federal government need to provide incentives to increase health insurance for our population, including subsidies and tax credits; expanding Medicaid funding to States and to individuals (public option) and the undocumented; expanding mental health services and reimbursement; and provide low priced inhalers, insulin, diabetes and hypertension medications, along with free testing, masks, and vaccines. At the same time, leaders in the public and in the private sector — philanthropy, corporations and institutions — should support nonprofit organizations to provide food and other basics for our families and mentor our students to attend college and become doctors and nurses. We invite all the leaders in our communities to work with the National Hispanic Medical Association and our network of physicians for leadership development training to improve the health of our communities.

NHMA is a non-profit organization in Washington, DC with the mission to improve the health of Hispanics and other underserved. For more information: www.NHMAmd.org 3

US Census Bureau. Health Insurance Coverage in the United States 2019. Sept. 22, 2020.

4

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Dr. Amelie

G. Ramirez: Latino Health Equity amid COVID-19 Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez is the Chair of the

Department of Population Health Sciences at the the Institute for Health Promotion Research of UT Health San Antonio. A leading health disparities researcher, she launched Salud America! with the mission to inspire people to drive community change for health equity.

Latinos are a rising U.S. powerhouse, but even before the pandemic many faced social and health inequities: Poverty, jobs in the front lines, no health care, unstable housing and transportation, food swamps, exposure to toxins and pollution, experiences of discrimination and a lack of vaccine access. COVID-19 preyed on these risk factors and made them worse.

In March 2020, Dr. Ramirez’s Salud America! team began tackling Latino COVID disparities. They wrote blog and social media posts with culturally relevant news to explore how the pandemic impacted housing, healthcare, and other social issues. They tracked and shared Latino case, death, and hospitalization data. They hosted tweetchats on Twitter and podcast episodes to discuss solutions. They told the stories of Latino heroes who were helping.

According to Salud America! the virus has killed over 100,000 Latinos in the US, and is making life more difficult for many. That is why Dr. Ramirez has worked to raise awareness about social and health disparities and generate action to address them. “We continue to need both immediate focus to ease the coronavirus pandemic and its disproportional impact on Latinos and people of color, as well as long-term strides to address the underlying inequities that are aggravated.” Ramirez said.

Through its award-winning multimedia communications platforms Salud America! has helped more than 200,000 moms and dads, providers, researchers, and community

and school leaders push for healthy changes in schools and communities. During the pandemic Dr. Ramirez conceptualized an Action Pack with model emails, policies, and messaging to help advocates get input from local social justice groups and advocates of color, start a conversation with city leaders, and build local support for a resolution to declare racism a public health issue along with a commitment to take action to change policies and practices.

“I hope there is rapidity for the movement to reevaluate existing policy and create new actions and system changes with a lens on achieving racial justice and health equity, where everyone has a fair, just opportunity to live their healthiest lives. It will take all sectors-public, private, business, healthcare, government, schools-all working together and committing to action,” Ramirez said.

While addressing underlying inequities, Ramirez saw Latinos get vaccinated at much lower rates than their peers, so she created the Salud America! Latino COVID-19 Vaccine “Change of Heart” Bilingual Storytelling Campaign to move Latinos from vaccine hesitancy to vaccine confidence.

The campaign uplifts the stories of real Latinos who overcame misinformation, got the vaccine, reconnected with family, and are helping end the pandemic.

“We want our families to be able to get back together, and the best way to achieve what we want is to get the vaccine right when it is available. Vaccines help our bodies become immune to a virus without becoming ill from it and it will make it possible to visit our sisters and brothers, parents, and abuelos and abuelas.

And to be able to do our jobs and go to school safely.”

Story by Cliff Despres, Communications Director, Institute for Health Promotion Research, UT Health San Antonio.

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LATINOS AND COVID-19 - WHERE ARE WE NOW?

Numbers Speak Dr. David E. Hayes-Bautista Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture (CESLAC) at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

A

s Covid-19 continues to affect Latinos far more seriously than it has non-Latino populations one man keeps a close watch, gathers numbers and deciphers the human stories behind the statistics.

“Look at the data, that’s always my suggestion.” Says Dr. David Hayes-Bautlista, a recognized professor and researcher who has spent 40 years working to improve public understanding of Latinos and their health, history, culture, and contributions to California and the nation. Focusing on where his findings lead him and trusting the conclusions, he is methodically building a new narrative about where Latinos stand today, the contributions of this community, and why it is key to invest in this segment in the future.

You have been studying the health of Latinos for decades, what is your most relevant discovery?

I am fascinated by the enduring strength of Latino health which I describe in the Latino Epidemiological Paradox. Latinos across the nation have less income, less education, less access to health care and yet we have nationally 30% lower mortality for heart disease, 35% lower cancer mortality, 25% stroke mortality 60% lower respiratory disease, a 30% lower cause of death rate compared to non Hispanic whites with the the one exception of diabetes. We have a 3½- year-longer life expectancy. So it is a very puzzling and fascinating discovery that Latinos are healthier than the rest of the population despite having fewer resources.

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What are you focusing on regarding your research of Latinos and Covid-19?

One of the key factors was determining why Latinos have higher infection and fatality rates, at first everyone thought that pre-existing conditions was the main reason, but through research we quickly realized that it is the types of jobs that Latinos hold, and that keep America running, that is the real underlying condition.

As an example farmworkers are putting themselves at risk every day. They have to work in large crews, shoulder to shoulder, they travel in crowded buses, they share housing with multiple families, there is no work from home option… and so with more exposure coupled with less access to healthcare, because most employers do not offer insurance, Latino essential workers have had higher case rates, and now have higher death rates.

In addition we are not providing the essential equipment that they need. And this is paramount because their contribution is critical, perhaps even more so than physicians because we all depend 100% on the food chain continuing to operate. Do you remember the first month of the lockdown when people were fighting for toilet paper? Well if it weren't for Latino farmworkers we would be fighting for the last sack of potatoes, and this would be a very serious situation.

You state that Latino health has a direct impact on the economy, why is that?

Nobody seems to understand the value that Latinos add to the United States, so I wanted to find a metric to prove that if it were not for Latinos the labor force would be shrinking which would deeply impact the economy.

It will come as a surprise to many that the 60 million US Latinos have created the eighth-largest economy in the world.

We have been the force behind the GDP by setting up new businesses and establishing new households, and the U.S. Latino GDP is currently the most productive sector for a strong overall U.S. GDP growth and has the potential to power the nation’s economy out of the pandemic. But every working-age Latino who dies due to COVID-19 is one less contributor to the country’s economic future. The narrative should lean towards investing in the health of this segment, and not towards building walls. Any business leader would understand this.

Latinos make up 39.3% of California’s population (15.5

million people), yet they constitute a far larger percentage (48.5%) of all COVID-19‒related deaths in the state. In contrast, non-Hispanic whites make up 36.6% of California’s population (14.5 million people), but have accounted for only 30.4% of all the state’s COVID-19 deaths.

What are the characteristics that drive this growth in the Latino GDP?

Hard work, strong families, self-sufficiency, business friendliness, healthy behaviors, patriotism: these values drove Latino adults during the 1990s and early 2000s to lay the foundations of a $2.6 trillion GDP by 2018. This is larger than the GDPs of Italy, Brazil, South Korea, or Russia.

Latino households have more wage- earners than non-Hispanic households. However, when they have to work more exposed to the coronavirus than white-collar workers, when they are paid very little for their hard work, when they are less likely to be offered health insurance, when they are less likely to find a doctor who can speak Spanish, it is no wonder that working-age Latinos have higher case rates and death rates than the general population.

As a recognized researcher, how do feel about the way data and information is handled now days?

Unfortunately we are living in times when wearing a face mask or talking about the vaccine has become politicized, and we need to see through all of this polarization.

As a researcher I am a great believer in data. There is an agreement in science about the rules of the game, there is always a method you follow. And it is very different when you are outside the scientific community where misinformation floats around very freely. People say “I saw this on the web so it must be true.” If someone says something long enough and hard enough, they will eventually find other people to believe them, and this is very dangerous. There is access to unbiased information, and this is provided by organizations like the National Institute of Health or The American Medical Association, all of which make their data publicly available.

Science isn't perfect and we are always improving, but you need to arrive at a consensus about the facts; there will always be different opinions about how to best interpret and apply them, but this should always be your starting point.

What is one the main conclusions of your recent work?

That as Latinos we are greatly undervalued and under appreciated. Even though we have been a force for economic growth since the very foundation of this country, we have consistently been the foreigner or the criminal and it's simply not true. We need to create our own narrative about ourselves. So my job which I love is to provide the data to straighten people out about Latinos.

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2 "Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, what has motivated me and kept me going – both professionally and personally – is the belief that science WILL win.”

Nanette Cocero

The Road to Immunization

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A conversation with Joaquin Duato Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, Johnson & Johnson Joaquin Duato is best known for driving the transformation of Johnson & Johnson’s Pharmaceutical sector into a global powerhouse by refocusing strategy and investment around core therapeutic areas with the greatest potential for business growth and impact on human health.

D

uring his 30-plus year career at J&J, Duato led multiple business divisions, geographies and functions. In his current role, he provides strategic direction for the Pharmaceutical and Consumer Health sectors (a $60 billion portfolio) and oversees the Global Supply Chain, Technology and Health & Wellness teams.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began he oversaw the Company’s rapid response to the crisis and drove coordination of global initiatives to safeguard the health of employees, ensure business and supply chain continuity, and accelerate the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. He champions the integration of data science, intelligent automation and new technologies to solve complex biomedical research and business operation challenges with maximum speed and efficiency. This passion stems from his belief that the healthcare industry must undergo a digital revolution to truly change the trajectory of human health.

As a dual citizen of Spain and the United States, his international perspective and global lens gives him a deep appreciation of diverse thoughts and opinions. Duato is committed to nurturing a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace as J&J continues to develop medicines to transform the lives of patients around the world.

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THE BEST IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE BRING THEIR UNIQUENESS TO WORK WITH THEM. INCLUSION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE THE GOALS SET FORTH IN OUR RACE FOR HEALTH EQUITY. Latino Leaders: How does diversity of thought and opinions help the pharmaceutical industry?

Joaquin Duato: Diversity of thought and opinions in the pharmaceutical industry is critical – just as it is in every business. Our Credo is clear. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of every individual and we must use our position to not only speak out, but to take action. Representation and inclusion is part of our DNA. To meet the needs and desires of our customers and community, we must have a workforce that generally reflects that ethnic and racial diversity. The best ideas and solutions happen when people bring their uniqueness to work with them. Inclusion is an integral part of how we will achieve the goals set forth in our Race for Health Equity.

LL: How do you see the healthcare industry as a whole changing due to the current pandemic?

JD: The healthcare industry has undergone massive change. We saw a tectonic shift as slow-moving trends went into overdrive. The role of Telehealth and remote working was more present than ever, and COVID-19 put the spotlight on personal and preventative health.

We also saw an urgent need to strengthen our global public health systems because the pandemic also pulled back the curtain on pressing healthcare challenges. COVID-19 exposed the racial and social injustices that communities of color have been facing for a very long time. The disease itself took a disproportionate toll on the Black, Latinx, Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities and it forced us to revisit the way we address and provide equitable care.

Overall, these circumstances have redoubled our efforts - and the efforts of our peers – to tackle these healthcare challenges.

I believe that moving forward, we will take the lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic humanitarian crisis as we look to consider and prioritize the health of all communities, patients, consumers, and their families.

LL: Why is it important to have collaboration among the global public health community in times of crises?

JD: The virus does not recognize borders. It is extremely important for us to collaborate worldwide to help combat this disease. We’re only able to tackle this problem at home if we address it worldwide.

As a global company, we were already working around the world, but the pandemic pushed us to leverage our deep scientific expertise and extensive partnerships to take on this challenge. Our 130,000 employees mobilized with urgency to address the critical needs of families and healthcare providers in their country. In terms

of manufacturing, we’ve forged new partnerships across the globe. With these additions to our global manufacturing network, we are committed to delivering 100 million single-shot doses of our COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. government, and delivering 200 million doses to the European Union, Norway and Iceland.

LL: How was Johnson & Johnson able to develop a vaccine in an accelerated timeframe while meeting ethical and scientific standards?

JD: Johnson & Johnson has been committed to combatting this pandemic from the beginning, in fact, we announced in January 2020 that we were leveraging our innovative vaccine technology platform to help fight COVID-19.1,2 The vaccine technology platform was designed to help the global health community better prepare for and combat lifethreatening infectious disease outbreaks and aided in the accelerated development of vaccines.1,2 In September 2020, Janssen signed the vaccine maker pledge—to promise the public that decisions around the potential use of our vaccine candidate will be based purely on science and pre-existing guidelines from health authorities around the world.3 We also partnered closely with the US government throughout the development process to ensure we were meeting important ethical and scientific standards.

LL: What was the basis for J&J to pursue emergency use authorization?

JD: The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that we received in February 2021 was based on an independent assessment by the Food & Drug 1 Janssen. Janssen Vaccine Technologies. https://www.janssen.com/infectiousdiseases-and-vaccines/vaccine-technologies. Accessed May 19, 2021.

2 Johnson & Johnson Announces a Lead Vaccine Candidate for COVID-19; Landmark New Partnership with U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; and Commitment to Supply One Billion Vaccines Worldwide for Emergency Pandemic Use. https://www. jnj.com/johnson-johnson-announces-a-lead-vaccine-candidate-for-covid-19-landmarknew-partnership-with-u-s-department-of-health-human-services-and-commitmentto-supply-one-billion-vaccines-worldwide-for-emergency-pandemic-use. Accessed on May 19, 2021 from 3 Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson Signs a Historic Pledge to Uphold the Integrity of the Scientific Process in Developing an Investigational COVID-19 Vaccine. https://www.jnj.com/latest-news/johnson-johnson-signs-historic-pledge-to-prioritizesafety-of-investigational-covid-19-vaccine. Accessed on May 19, 2021.

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“The individuals appearing in these photographs are models and may not be vaccine recipients.”

Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which analyzed our topline Phase 3 ENSEMBLE trial data, and concluded that the potential benefits of the vaccine outweighed the known and potential risks.4 LL: How did J&J consider diversity in clinical trials for your COVID-19 Vaccine?

JD: With our ENSEMBLE COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, we employed intentional focus and purposeful tracking in the clinical trial design and experience, which allowed us to achieve our enrollment targets within populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our approach included: 1. Implementing tools and strategies to raise patient awareness and understanding of clinical trials to successfully enroll high percentages of underserved populations 2. Partnering with minority health and community advocacy groups, such as the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) 3. Educating physicians and investigators and working with diverse clinical trial personnel 4. Reducing and/or removing logistical barriers for underrepresented populations. In the U.S., this included significant representation of Black, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian and Alaskan Native participants in the ENSEMBLE clinical trial.

LL: Now that the vaccine is available, how can we drive access and uptake in the Latinx community?

JD: At this crucial moment, our society needs as many adults as possible to get vaccinated, and as quickly as possible.

According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study, 75% of Hispanic adults trust their healthcare provider to give them reliable information about the available vaccines.5 To put better health in reach for everyone and drive vaccine uptake, we need to meet people where they are.

At Johnson & Johnson, we’re mobilizing to support organizations that meet underrepresented communities where they are and

engage at the grassroots level by involving respected elected representatives, trusted local and national faith leaders, community advocates, and other national and local organizations. As part of this, we’re also partnering with leading organizations on vaccine education, including the National Hispanic Medical Association’s #Vaccinate4All effort.

LL: What do we know about vaccine hesitancy in the Latinx community?

JD: Vaccine hesitancy refers to personal reluctance or refusal of vaccines even when they are readily available. It is influenced by factors such as confidence, convenience and complacency.6 Poor or inadequate communication and information can negatively influence vaccination uptake and contribute to vaccine hesitancy.7 That’s why it’s so important for us to engage in these types of conversations to help answer questions and dispel myths about vaccines.

Recent surveys show Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to take a “wait and see” approach to getting a COVID-19 vaccine, but are also as likely as white adults to say they definitely will not take one.8 Enthusiasm for getting the COVID-19 vaccine continues to grow among people across racial and ethnic backgrounds, with the largest increase among Black adults. About 64% of Hispanic adults now say they’ve either gotten at least one dose of the vaccine or will get it as soon as they can.8 Doctors, nurses, and health care providers are seen as the most trusted voice people turn to when deciding if they should get a COVID-19 vaccine. This is closely followed by the CDC, family/friends and then by state and local health departments/officials.3

4 United States Food and Drug Administration. Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. FDA Emergency Use Authorization Letter. Available from: https://www.janssenlabels.com/emergency-use-authorization/ Janssen+COVID-19+Vaccine-EUA.pdf.

5 Kaiser Family Foundation. Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic Adults. Retrieved on April 12, 2021 from https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/vaccine-hesitancy-among-hispanicadults/ 6 Sage Vaccine Hesitancy Working Group & Diagnosing the determinants of vaccine hesitancy in specific subgroups: The Guide to Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP), Butler and MacDonald, Journal of Vaccine, 2015 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25896383/ 7 Biasio LR, Corsello G, Costantino C, et al. Communication about vaccination: A shared responsibility. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016;12(11):2984-2987. doi:10.1080/21645515.2016.1198456 8 KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: An ongoing project tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/dashboard/kff-covid-19vaccine-monitor-dashboard/?utm_source=web&utm_medium=trending&utm_campaign=COVID-19-vaccine-monitor Accessed 4.2.21 for this document

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LL: What is Johnson & Johnson doing to combat COVID-19 beyond vaccine development?

JD: Throughout our more than 130-year history, Johnson & Johnson has had a legacy of coming to the aid of communities during times of crisis – from natural disasters to health outbreaks.

We believe we have a responsibility to step in and invest in solutions for global public health crises, and we are proud to be contributing to the global COVID-19 response.

Beginning early last year, we initiated a multipronged response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes developing a vaccine, and providing support to those most in need.

Supporting frontline health workers: In 2020, the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation committed $50 million to support frontline health workers. We are also taking action to support health equity in communities of color, working with partners to educate the most at-risk about vaccines and working with our partners to advance racial and ethnic health equity in COVID-19 treatment and care through a series of targeted COVID-19 focused programs.

LL: Tell me about something J&J is doing to address vaccination hesitancy among the LatinX community that you’re particularly proud of?

JD: We are a proud supporter of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) Vaccinate 4 All program that will train and support a cadre of physician leaders around the country to speak with local, regional and national media.

COVID-19 EXPOSED THE RACIAL AND SOCIAL INJUSTICES THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE BEEN FACING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

The NHMA’s effort will help reach more Hispanic audiences with the facts and context they need to make informed decisions about getting vaccinated. Through this collaboration with member physicians, we hope to help reduce vaccine hesitancy, build vaccine confidence, and address structural and cultural barriers to COVID-19 vaccine access in Hispanic communities.

Interview by Mariana G. Briones Lideres Mexicanos guest editor for Latino Leaders

THANK YOU TO OUR ESSENTIAL AND FRONTLINE WORKERS This pandemic has had a catastrophic impact in our communities, economy and the health of our families and friends. But heroism, generosity, compassion, strength and courage never ceased to shine though.

We want to thank all of our essential and frontline workers. Not only our incredible doctors and nurses, but all of those who have kept our healthcare networks afloat: nursing and medical assistants, diagnostics personnel, home health aides, cafeteria workers, staffing aides, directors, pharmacy staff, cleaners, housekeeping and administrators among many others.

Our fantastic essential workers kept our country running at great risk to thier health. Thank you to our farmers, pickers, sorters, postal workers, delivery personnel, truck drivers, sanitation

workers, all in construction, grocery store clerks, food processing plant employees, meat packers, gas station attendants, auto mechanics, nursing home staff and so many more.

Not only are they ensuring we have essential care, supplies, and services, but they are often doing it while interacting with members of the public who could potentially make them ill.

On behalf of Latino Leaders, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To all those willing to sacrifice their own safety and well-being in this crisis, you are all heroes and we are eternally grateful. We wish you safety and health as you forge ahead to get us to the other side of this pandemic. Your contributions are appreciated and we thank you in our hearts and minds each and every day.

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Stepping up

for a Safe Vaccine

Joanna Gurrola Mahoney Site Director Centex Studies, Inc

J

oanna is working hard these days. Not only is she at the helm of a clinic conducing clinical trials for Covid-19, but she is also clocking in during weekends and lunch breaks the classes and assignments that will lead her to her dream of becoming an Oncologist. Cheerful, humble and above all really smart, her passion for medicine is contagious: “I was born in McAllen, TX to Mexican immigrants, and ever since I was little I have always liked to help people. While I was in high school I had the opportunity to take a medical terminology class and this really helped me understand Medicine. I also volunteered at McAllen Medical and got a CPR and First Aid certificate.

My goal is to become an oncologist because we have suffered a lot of cancer deaths in my family. Also I live in a low income area where a high number of people can’t afford healthcare, so I would like to be a doctor to help as much as I can.”

This interview was originally published in February of 2021 What are the main concerns of participants? “The question that we get asked more frequently is whether the vaccine contains the active virus, and the answer is no.

Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet that make people hesitant to participate, but we reassure them that this vaccine will not give them Covid-19. The other main concern is whether we will ask for documentation regarding the participant’s immigration status. All we ask for is an ID with an address in case of an emergency so that everyone, regardless of status, can participate.”

The McAllen site of Centex Studies, of which Joanna is the director, previously recruited patients for a vaccine trial for Moderna, and is now recruiting patients for a trial studying a drug from AstraZeneca and a vaccine from Janssen Pharmaceutical.

When I ask how she explains the benefits of study participation to potential enrollees, as well as the side effects she explains: “For the vaccine trial the benefit is that they are receiving a lot of valuable information regarding Covid, and they also have the opportunity to participate in a very important study.

If you receive the vaccine as opposed to the placebo you also have a the opportunity to be one of the first people in the United States to be vaccinated. And in most cases there is also monetary compensation for your time. In the Moderna trial for example participants received $90 for each clinic visit.”

“The side effects we have observed are only minor inflammation and pain in the injection site, and in some cases a slight fever, muscle pains and a cold, and none of these last more than 48 hours.”

Minority representation is key in all clinical trials, and so laboratories seek out clinics with a diverse population. Outreach can be challenging, but Centex has performed well. “I am very proud of the community response that we have had” Joanna continues “Because there are many people that are very old-school and not open to new ideas. Also here in The Valley we had a very tough time with the virus, we had a lot of people getting sick and a lot of deaths, so people were really scared.

But on the other hand women especially understood that this is part of a solution, so they showed up. I am proud that the Hispanic community is stepping up” 2021 - SPECIAL EDITION LATINO LEADERS 25

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LEADING THE RACE TO A VACCINE Nanette Cocero, PhD As Global President of Pfizer Vaccines

This interview was originally published in February of 2021

Dr. Nanette Cocero is responsible for the development and delivery of innovative solutions that address serious and life-threatening conditions, helping to protect communities around the world.

The current Covid-19 crisis has brought challenges unimaginable just months ago, but she continues to lead a global team of 1,500 colleagues and manage relationships with governments and civic organizations with her unbreakable belief that at the end, SCIENCE WILL WIN

H

ow did you arrive at your current position?

I’ve had a passion for science and medicine for as long as I can remember. A defining moment occurred before my career officially began, while I was at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing my doctorate. I was part of the Pharmacology PhD program, but I had a growing interest in business and a curiosity about the kind of impact I could make outside of a research lab. I decided to pursue an MBA in addition to my PhD. It wasn’t a conventional choice!

But my long-term goal was to make a profound impact on global health – the same goal that drives me today – and I saw a path through the combination of science AND business. I ultimately joined Pfizer because I believe the work we do to deliver breakthrough medicines and vaccines has the profound impact I was looking for.

The work we do is also deeply personal. When my son Javier was just a baby, he developed an infection that had a serious impact on his health.

Although he’s now a thriving 24-year-old, I am driven to do everything I can to ensure that other children won’t have to suffer the way my son did. Today, our research and development team at Pfizer is working on a vaccine for the exact infection Javier contracted, so I do feel in many ways that I am exactly where I should be.

What advice do you have for Latinos considering a career in STEM, especially women?

My advice is to follow your passion and your instincts, and always bring your true self to the table. Also, if you meet someone who could be a good mentor, ask them! I am indebted to the mentors I’ve had throughout my career, both formal and informal.

Think beyond the people in your immediate community too. Technology makes us global citizens; with online forums and social media ensuring we are only ever a click away from being inspired by a career in science, something that wasn’t available when I was growing up. I recommend using these platforms to find and follow women who are pioneering their own paths in STEM jobs all around the world.

The challenge we are now facing seemed unimaginable just a few months ago - how do you manage pressure and what is the greatest lesson you have learned from this experience?

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, what has motivated me and kept me going – both professionally and personally – is the belief that science WILL win. Yes, the challenge is immense, but I feel encouraged by the collaboration, innovation and determination that has enabled the global health community to mobilize with such urgency and focus. I’ve also been inspired every day by the dedication of the thousands of scientists and healthcare professionals working together across the world to conduct COVID-19 research, and the many thousands of people who have volunteered to take part in clinical trials. We owe each of them a debt of gratitude.

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In Pfizer's Phase 3 trial with collaboration partner BioNTech 26% of global participants and 13% of U.S. participants are Hispanic/Latino I’ve learned to find silver linings in the way we’re operating as a company during this time as well. Many of our colleagues – including myself – have been working remotely since March, and we are privileged to have that option. Instead of feeling frustrated or discouraged about not being able to meet with my team face-to-face, I’m thankful for the real joy I’ve found in our virtual catch-ups, where I sometimes even have the opportunity to say hello to my colleagues’ families.

It fills me with hope that although we are physically distanced, our response is to find new ways to connect with each other. Some of the learnings around connecting in new ways with colleagues, customers and patients will help us to continue to be more effective in adapting to the changing environment.

Why is it important to have Latinos represented in clinical trials and what is the pharmaceutical industry doing to actively engage minorities in the process?

The pandemic absolutely has drawn focus to the need for greater racial and ethnic diversity in clinical trials. This is not a new issue – diverse communities have long been underrepresented in clinical research – but COVID-19 has shone a necessary spotlight on the work we have to do.

"With our vaccine trial we made it a priority to enroll a diverse population, one that reflects the diversity of the world we live in and is inclusive of communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, like the Hispanic/Latino community."

With our vaccine trial we made it a priority to enroll a diverse population, one that reflects the diversity of the world we live in and is inclusive of communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, like the Hispanic/Latino community. We know that Hispanics and Latinos are among those who have seen higher rates of COVID-19, more severe COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and increased mortality, so it’s absolutely critical that we’re represented as potential interventions are being evaluated.

I’m proud that Pfizer has taken active steps to engage our community. We established our trial sites in states with large numbers of Latinos and have partnered with trusted grassroots organizations, like Hispanic Federation and Día de la Mujer Latina, to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of trial participation. And we’ve worked to reduce barriers to enrollment, like language.

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that Pfizer signed alongside our industry peers underscores our shared commitment to scientific integrity and rigor, and made it clear that we will never cut a corner or compromise safety for speed.

More long-term, as a result of COVID-19, the value of prevention in healthcare is now better and more widely understood than ever before.

We need to build on this moment to further prioritize disease prevention in the future.

What brings you the most satisfaction as you head such a crucial role?

Lives depend on Pfizer’s ability to make more diseases preventable for more people. This is what drives me as a leader. The coronavirus pandemic has painfully exposed many of the inequities that exist in access to healthcare. I find meaning in working with the global health community to look for solutions to these issues and help ensure that any potential vaccine or medicine we produce can reach the people who need it.

Throughout the enrollment process, we tracked our progress publicly on our website, Pfizer. com – and if you go there, you’ll see that 26% of global participants and 13% of U.S. participants enrolled in our Phase 3 trial are Hispanic/Latino.

As an industry, I do hope we will continue to hold ourselves accountable in this area, take our learnings from COVID-19 and apply them to more trials moving forward. And for me as a Latina, I feel a personal responsibility to help make that happen.

Will this pandemic change the Pharma industry? If so how?

It’s been clear from the start that no one company or organization acting alone will be able to bring an end to the COVID-19 crisis. I feel very optimistic that the partnerships and collaborations that have been mobilized so quickly in the face of COVID-19 will continue in one form or another. 2020 is the year that we have shown we are stronger together and I can’t help but wonder what strides can be made on other diseases if we sustain this high level of collaboration on behalf of patients.

What are your short and long term goals for the next 12 months?

Of course, first and foremost is delivering a COVID-19 vaccine around the world, pending regulatory authorizations and approvals. But another near-term goal is to ensure that vaccinations for other serious and potentially fatal infectious diseases, such as pneumococcal disease or flu, are appropriately prioritized. This can help protect the health of the most vulnerable among us, particularly people over age 65, and also preserve healthcare resources – especially now that subsequent waves of COVID-19 are materializing in some countries.

We are also very focused on building public trust and supporting education on the safety of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines. The pledge

What philosophy do you lead your teams with and what is your one rule for work and life?

I believe strongly in the value of diverse perspectives and input. When people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and skills sets, come together, it can be really powerful… and almost always leads us to find more innovative solutions. I believe in collective wisdom – no one of us has all the answers, and that’s okay. With a team that trusts each other, aims high, and isn’t afraid to take on a certain amount of risk in order to make the greatest impact – NOTHING is impossible!

In terms of my one rule, I would say: always be YOU and bring the best version of you at all times! There is no substitute for authenticity, in all aspects of life.

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A Change of Heart Latinos are lagging behind when it comes to vaccination. To promote enrollment Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez and Salud America! are highlighting real heroes who overcame misinformation, turned fear into bravery, got the vaccine, reconnected with family, and are helping end the pandemic once and for all. Here are some of thier stories:

Rosa Herrera knows how

difficult the battle with COVID-19 can be. Two of her daughters were really sick with the virus in October 2020 and were hospitalized during their infections. Herrera herself got sick too, but had a mild case.

“It was really scary. I couldn’t see them and since both of them were hospitalized at the same time, I was going crazy,” she said.

Herrera was initially afraid to get a vaccine. She was worried that it was produced too quickly, and that she didn’t know what was in the ingredients. She heard that it could contain microchips or something that would harm her family again- things she’d read on Facebook. But after learning that the vaccine is safe, she ultimately decided to get her shot. She’s glad she did. “I’m able to see my grandkids and my kids again. It gives you more freedom.”

01

Jesus Larralde is ready

for the pandemic to be over. He wants to be able to spend time with his sisters and his dad, who is undergoing cancer treatment and has a weakened immune system.

He’s watched many friends, coworkers, and family members get COVID-19, and has seen the long-lasting effects it can have. But Larralde was nervous to get the vaccine at first. He didn’t want it to make him sick and was nervous about the potential side effects.

Larralde decided to get vaccinated when his wife Lenea was offered the Pfizer vaccine through working at UT Health San Antonio. He’s glad he did because he can spend more time with his family. And he’s doing his part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“We need to learn, and we need to understand that we need to stop spreading this thing around. Because if we don’t take our shots, that’s not going to happen,” Larralde said.

01 Rosa Herrera with her mother 02 Jesus Larralde and his family 03 Helen Cordova

02

Helen Cordova knows

03

how dangerous COVID-19 is.

She’s been working on the frontline as an ICU nurse throughout the entire pandemic.

“COVID was definitely a big shock for the healthcare community. There was just so much uncertainty and things we didn’t know about it,” Cordova said.

When the vaccine was first authorized for emergency use by the FDA in December 2020, Cordova was chosen to be the very first person in California to get her shot. But she was very nervous and didn’t originally want to get it.

“Initially, I was absolutely not going to get the vaccine. I thought, ‘It was rushed, I won’t trust it,’” Cordova said. But after consulting with her colleagues and reading the research from the clinical trials, she knew it was safe and the right decision.

“I remember talking with my coworker the evening before the first dose, and we both were like, ‘You know, if we can do this to protect our families and be an example for our families, then why not? Why not us? And just take that leap of faith. We’ve got to trust the medical community, the scientific community, in this decision and in this process.’”

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3 “We talk a lot about the concept of AGAPE which is the greek word for selfless unconditional love; love in its highest form. And that is what we see these frontline workers doing…it is their love of their fellow man that motivates them, and it is so important for us to honor these heroes.”

Heather Nesle

President, New York Life Foundation

Latinos in the Frontlines of the battle against Covid-19

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LATINOS IN THE FRONTLINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

Redefining Heroes Celebrating Bonnie Castillo, RN

Executive Director, National Nurses United

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n an era in which we are rethinking our role models Bonnie Castillo, executive director of National Nurses United, the nation’s largest union of registered nurses, has been named by TIME magazine as one of the 2020 TIME 100 most influential people in the world. Bonnie is also the first Latina to hold the title of executive director in the 115-year history of the organization.

This is a fantastic recognition for someone that has spent her life fighting for the rights of those who take care of us in our most vulnerable moments. Nurses have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic, but shortages of essential items like N95 face masks leave nurses unable to protect themselves, the public or their patients.

In what she refers to as “a fight for our lives,” Bonnie continues to advocate so that nurses across the country get the safety resources that they need. Under her leadership National Nurses United has held more than 2000 actions, spoken out in hundreds of news reports, and conducted several surveys of registered nurses across the country to track their experience during Covid-19.

As shared with californiahealthline.org Bonnie made the difficult decision of dedicating her life to organized labor: “It was pretty clear to me within a couple of years of being a young registered nurse that the needs of myself and my co-workers weren’t being adequately addressed through dealing with management directly… This process of bringing nurses together, predominantly women, strong women, to work collectively was something that was so invigorating and exciting that I felt the need to continue to do this. It was a big decision because I also loved my patients, but I felt … like I could play a big role in making sure that every registered nurse had a voice on the job” she shared with the news organization.

An unwavering advocate, leader and fighter during these unprecedented times we are proud to share the recognition that Dolores Huerta, another exemplary civil rights activist who co-founded what is now the United Farm Workers of America, penned for TIME magazine:

BY DOLORES HUERTA As a registered nurse and executive director of National Nurses United and the California Nurses Association, Bonnie Castillo is a visionary and a leader. She was among the first to call attention to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) available to nurses across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fought layoffs and pay cuts that nurses faced despite their vital frontline work.

Bonnie’s commitment to the labor movement and unions is unwavering; she states that unions are the foundation of a democratic society. Bonnie does not just work to heal patients; she works to heal society. As a mother and grandmother of nurses, I thank Bonnie, and all nurses—including those who have died while serving—for their heroic work in this critical time.

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LATINOS IN THE FRONTLINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

Honoring the Brave of Heart

N

ew York Life, in partnership with Cigna and powered

by E4E Relief, created the Brave of Heart Fund that provides financial and emotional support to the families of healthcare workers and volunteers who have lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19. It’s a wonderful example of what corporate America can achieve when leadership meets compassion. The mission is to provide financial and emotional support to the families of healthcare workers and volunteers who have perished in the fight against Covid-19.

The fund has already made a big impact on over 500 families, but for Heather’s team there is still much to be done, so they continue to seek out the relatives of fallen front line workers because as she explains, making a tangible difference in one person’s life is the most meaningful thing that any of us can do.

A conversation with

Heather Nesle

President, New York Life Foundation How did the Brave of Heart Fund come to life?

When a crisis arises we show up, and New York Life has done this throughout its 175 year history. Our involvement with the fund started back in March when the world woke up to

the fact that Covid-19 was a huge international pandemic and that it was going to have a very large negative effect across the globe. We were in a strong financial position and have a history of supporting communities in need, so we reflected on how to utilize the skills of our company in order to make a difference. We quickly coalesced around the idea of honoring the heroes on the frontlines who passed while caring for Covid-19 positive patients by providing financial assistance and behavioral health services to their families during their time of grief.

Regarding Latinos, what has been your experience with the fund?

About 15% of applicants have identified themselves as Latino, LatinX or Hispanic, which is a significant percentage. It is important for us to reach this community because we know that they have been one of the hardest hit.

Through SAMHSA we learned that Hispanics are significantly more likely than the general public to consider Covid-19 as a major threat to their health and finances.

We also learned that while Latinos and African-Americans may not have the highest levels of mental health issues it is often harder for them to find the right providers. That is why we decided to offer culturally responsive mental

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Para información en español visita www.braveofheartfund.com/espanol

urgent payments. Of all of the things you need to worry about when you're suffering a loss not knowing how you are going to pay your rent or bury a loved one should not be one of them. So these funds have been crucial.

You can then apply for Phase 2 which is more of a needsbased grant. We look at what your remaining income is after the healthcare worker has passed, and assess the immediate expenses that you need financial assistance for. That could be mortgage payments, food, clothing, education; anything that you need to get through to the next year. In Phase 2 families can get an additional $60,000, so in total families are eligible for $75,000 in grant assistance from the fund. health resources through Cigna who is providing one to one support to help families navigate issues associated with loss such as anxiety, loneliness and depression.

How are you reaching out to this community to let them know help is available?

We are actively trying to find and engage families who have experienced loss so that they know about the fund.

In order to achieve this we partnered not only with the medical community and healthcare employers, but also with local and national based organizations like The Hispanic Federation to help us identify the needs. It is not complicated, but it is a process to apply for a grant like this. You have to fill out forms and provide evidence which can be intimidating, so we are also making sure to offer in language resources so that people can follow through and get the support they need. People in grief go through a large range of emotions, often times they are not able to handle something like an application for a grant, so our aim is to make the process as seamless as possible.

What is the first step to apply?

The entry point is to go to www.braveofheartfund. com, and the first part of the process is to verify the eligibility of the deceased though the death certificate.

Our definition of a healthcare worker is very expansive and includes anyone working in a healthcare or medical facility where there are Covid positive patients, not only doctors and nurses, but also cafeteria personnel, security guards and all of those who are putting their lives on the line for us. The second part is to submit proof of your relationship to the deceased: you must be a spouse, domestic partner or a dependent child or adult.

Once you go through that process you can apply for a Phase 1 grant. This consists of a $15,000 lump sum, they are immediate payments and the main purpose is to cover the cost of funeral and burial expenses, and any other

What has been the impact of the fund so far?

We have disbursed at least 500 grants but we know that there is much greater need. Our main job aside from providing financial and mental aid is to make sure that these families understand that people care about them, and that that this fund was built because we recognize their sacrifice. The pain from a death doesn't go away, and for these families knowing that someone has their back has made a huge difference. We need to contribute whatever we can to make sure that we emerge from this better than before.

Why is it important for corporate America to become involved in relief efforts?

There are many corporations taking on important issues in these challenging times, and there are many reasons for this. One is self-serving; it doesn't hurt your brand to be known as a company that looks out for their communities. But the real benefit aside from the difference you can make is motivating your employees.

In times like this it's all hands on deck: Anyone that has a resource must help. And it’s not only about money, you can give your time, your sentiment, your prayers. A culture of giving brings about loyalty and pride; it makes better companies. At New York Life we understand that the nature of our business is to provide a social good, so there is an inherent motivation in becoming involved. I like to say that it's a company that truly has a soul.

What has this project meant to you?

Being able to fund such a passion-based initiative has been a privilege. At New York Life we talk a lot about the concept of AGAPE which is the Greek word for selfless unconditional love; love in its highest form. And that is what we see these frontline workers doing, because they are certainly not getting paid enough to put themselves and their families at risk, but it is their love of their fellow man that motivates them, and it is so important for us to honor these heroes.

There are many lessons from this pandemic that hopefully we will be able to bring forward, but it is clear that having a tangible impact on an individual's life is probably the most meaningful thing that any of us can do.

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LATINOS IN THE FRONTLINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

FROM GRIEF TO ACTION: DR. FRANCIS GUERRA-BAUMAN “It is very important that everyone in our communities understands that the vaccine is safe, free and available for all, no questions asked.”

01 Dr. Guerra-Bauman (center) with Colleen Reeser (left) licensed practical nurse and Sheyla Garcia Cordero (right) medical assistant at the t WellSpan Family Medicine 02 Francis Guerra Bauman

Story by Cindy Stauffer

Senior Communications Specialist WellSpan Health

D

r. Francis Guerra-Bauman received her medical degree from the Universidad de Panama Faculty of Medicine; she is now a family medicine resident at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Like many physicians Dr. Guerra-Bauman had a very challenging year, but nothing prepared her for the loss of her beloved older sister to COVID-19, and not being able to return to her home country of Panama for the funeral due to pandemic travel restrictions. Guerra-Bauman has a powerful message: Get the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s safe, it saves lives, and it helps to protect the Latino community.

01

“The passing of my sister and not being able to mourn with my family marked the way I approached caring for patients, especially the ones affected by COVID-19 and their families,” she said, “At WellSpan, we work hard to educate our community about COVID-19 vaccine safety and the importance of stopping the spread of this deadly virus.”

In Lebanon 44% of the population is Latino, and some are reluctant to be vaccinated for COVID-19. That is why WellSpan has reached out to Latino residents with free masks at community events, vaccination clinics at Latino-owned businesses, mobile clinics, and Spanish-language materials. Dr. Guerra-Bauman said it is also vital to engage in one-on-one conversations with patients, answering their questions and addressing their concerns in a

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protected and open space. “It is very important that everyone in our communities understands that the vaccine is safe, free and available for all, no questions asked,” she said.

Dr. Guerra-Bauman counters misinformation by sharing several scientific key facts with her patients: the COVID-19 vaccine does not alter anyone’s DNA, it does not cause infertility, and it is safe for pregnant women, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Getting the vaccine also does not impact or endanger anyone’s immigration status. She also addresses some of the unusual rumors that have sprung up about the vaccine: it does not contain a microchip and it is not related to any satanic rituals.

Advocating for the vaccine is especially important for Latino patients, she said: “Unfortunately, this pandemic reminded us that usually the vulnerable and marginalized populations are hit the hardest. This includes both Latino and African American communities, which share higher rates of chronic health conditions due to issues like lack of access to healthy nutrition, and social determinants of health such as multiple family housing which prevents people from practicing social distancing. Also, many of the members of these groups are essential workers and unable to work from home, resulting in COVID-19 spreading most rapidly among those populations.”

Devoting herself to this work comes naturally to Dr. Guerra-Bauman, and she finds joy in providing comfort to others since an early age. As a child she announced to her family that she wanted to be a nun or a physician when she grew up. Then she was given a book about blood that sparked her scientific curiosity and cemented her career path. Her family’s resources were limited but their support made her career possible.

Today her parents are her biggest mentors.

“They taught me principles and habits that had helped so much during my entire life,” she said.

“I remember them waking up early, being responsible, hard workers, respectful and mindful of other’s people’s time.”

Dr. Guerra-Bauman practiced medicine in Panama before relocating to the United States.

She volunteered in a free clinic and this experience showed her that she was able to translate

02

“It was evident to me that there is a huge need in the United States for Spanishspeaking primary care physicians who not only speak the language but understand the culture.” her expertise as an attending physician in Latin America to a family practice like WellSpan Family Medicine – North Fourth Street, which serves many patients who have Latino heritage.

“It was evident to me that there is a huge need in the United States for Spanish-speaking primary care physicians who not only speak the language but understand the culture,” she said. “The WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital Family Medicine Residency program provides this service. It is also based in a community hospital, similar to the program where I trained in, and I currently work closely with a team of professionals who have become a second family. I also have the opportunity to take ownership of patients and ‘do it all,’ which helps me hone my clinical skills and grow my clinical judgment while I assist the community, especially Latino members.”

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LATINOS IN THE FRONTLINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

Chronicles from the Frontline: “Taking care of patients in the emergency room and intensive care unit is something that I love"

DR. ROBERT RODRIGUEZ Story by Mariana G. Briones

D

r. Robert Rodriguez has his hands full these days. Not only is he Professor of Emergency Medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine and ER physician at San Francisco General Hospital, but his role as author and researcher focusing on the stress and anxiety levels among physicians during the pandemic led to the Biden administration naming him a key advisor in the COVID-19 Taskforce.

Born to Mexican parents in the border city of Brownsville, Texas, his passion for medicine and relentless commitment to improving health care for under-served populations resulted from a seed planted very early on in his life: “I became interested in medicine when I was really young. My mother was a high school teacher and she instilled in me a love of science when I was about 6 years old. We used to read the periodic table instead of Curious George, and I knew I wanted to do something in this field ever since.”

Rodriguez was eventually admitted to the University of Notre Dame and volunteered in an ER close by, an experience which narrowed his interest in the scientific

fields to a passion for medicine. -After graduating summa cum laude, he was accepted to Harvard Medical School.- “Harvard appreciates diversity and I wasn't the only Latino, but there is a misconception that Latinos and African-Americans only get into schools like Harvard because of diversity type issues and I don't agree with that perception. I was a National Hispanic Scholar and also volunteered with research at the NIH, so Harvard appreciates efforts like these. My experience there was tremendous and I got to work with some amazing teachers.”

After Harvard Rodriguez completed an Emergency Medicine residency at UCLA and a Critical Care Medicine fellowship at Stanford which led to his current work as a lead San Francisco General Hospital emergency physician.

“Taking care of patients in the emergency room and intensive care unit is something I love.

Working at a public safety net hospital that is also a major trauma center means we take care of the poorest of the poor; we have a lot of homeless persons and undocumented immigrants, and we treat everyone that walks through our doors regardless of whether they have health insurance. We take care of a lot of critically ill patients, and I'm proud of the care that we provide.”

As Professor and Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UCSF Dr. Rodriguez has mentored over 150 students at all levels of education in their quest for careers in medicine. “We have a very strong emergency medicine residency, so as a teacher I get to share my experience with medical students and residents in training, another aspect of my work that I enjoy very much.”

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"I have learned that Latinos have a wonderful spirit. If we can overcome this pandemic, we can overcome anything."

“The third part of my job as a researcher focuses on issues related to trauma and to underserved populations, especially Latino immigrants. Most recently I've been concentrating on the mental health of frontline workers during COVID-19. We are past the one year anniversary of the pandemic, and this crisis has severely impacted emergency and intensive care physicians, so it is important to look at the long term effect of stress levels and post traumatic stress disorders on frontline providers. In the beginning of the pandemic and all the way to summer we were in a very difficult situation; we had concerns about PPE, testing was insufficient and we didn't know enough about the disease so we had to isolate from our families because there was a lot of uncertainty about transmission; so it was extremely difficult to cope with the risks we were taking.”

“Today the situation it is much better from every standpoint” he reflects. “Our numbers are lower, hospital staff has been vaccinated and we have better diagnosis and treatments. But we are not out of the woods yet. The new variants are a concern so the pandemic is not over, but I am optimistic that as we get more people vaccinated by mid summer will be closer to normal. We will still have outbreaks, so we need to continue to be smart and wear masks.”

Latinos have been hit hard with COVID-19, and in July 2020 when the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville TX experienced a surge Dr. Rodriguez went back to his hometown to volunteer. The two weeks he spent there proved to be the most difficult of his career. “It was very challenging, the hospital was overwhelmed with very sick patients, at times with 50 or 60 of them requiring ICU-level care. We’d be running from emergency code to emergency code, trying to keep patients alive. And it was extremely difficult to treat them without the proper resources. This is the hospital where I was born and also where my mother spent her last days before she passed away six years ago, so it was a very emotional and trying experience, seeing how the virus had hurt my community.”

“But it was also inspiring to see how people came together” Rodriguez continues. “At the end of our shifts there were always people cheering us on, singing and praying, supporting us anyway they could. It was also very inspiring to see the level of spirit and commitment from our healthcare workers who made huge sacrifices.”

The disparity in how COVID-19 affects Latinos is all encompassing: “At our hospital in San Francisco Latinos make up for 15% of the population, but they make up about 70% or more of the COVID-19 cases. So it is way up. In my opinion this has to do with three factors: Number one Latinos are more commonly essential workers and hold jobs like farming and meatpacking that don't allow them to isolate. The second is the socio-economic aspects, like shared housing and other disparities. Thirdly Latinos have a higher incidence of diabetes which puts them at higher risk when infected. COVID-19 related deaths in Latinos are two times higher than in whites.”

Dr. Rodriguez is also conducting research on vaccination hesitancy among Latinos in 15 hospitals around the country. “When it comes to this topic the misconceptions are that the vaccine is not safe and that it hasn't been tested enough. And none of this is true. The vaccine is extremely safe, and it has been tested in hundreds of thousands of people in clinical trials. Today over 150 million people have been fully vaccinated. So we know a lot about it, but still many Latinos express concern about side effects and not wanting to be the first in their communities, and it is key to address this to move forward.”

Last November Rodriguez received a call from one of the top people in the Biden administration asking him to be a part of the COVID-19 task force, which he considers an honor. Since last summer he has been advising members of Congress and also speaks regularly to members of the administration about issues that concern the Latino population and emergency care.

“Professionally one of the main lessons that I learned though this experience is that you can't ignore science, and you cannot let politics interfere” he shares as we finalize our chat. “Many of the problems that arose in the United States were because people were politicizing the pandemic, and you really have to approach it as scientifically as you can. Personally what I have learned is that I love the strength and resilience of the Latino community. Going down to volunteer in my hometown of Brownsville was an honor, I have learned that Latinos have a wonderful spirit, and that if by coming together we can overcome this, we can overcome anything.”

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LATINOS IN THE FRONTLINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19

CHILDREN’S HEALTH HEROES: PROVIDING HOPE ONE LITTLE HEART AT A TIME In their own words and through their own lens, team members at Children’s HealthSM describe a moment in time as the virus that causes COVID-19 took center stage in our lives. As we move forward, these Children’s Health superheroes continue to care, serve and protect our patient families.

Among them the nurse who left a profitable career in business to care for some of our community’s tiniest and sickest. The chaplain who helps his team members find peace amid uncertainty, while searching for his own. The Child Life specialist and music therapist who brings laughter to patients isolated from the outside world.

When schools and businesses around us closed earlier this year and many of us were required to stay at home, thousands of Children’s Health team members kept working. Some provide services necessary for patient care and comfort. Others are relied on to keep our hospitals clean, and our families fed. And some pioneered innovative ways to be there for our patients, even if at a distance.

These are their courageous stories.

JOSEPH CANTU

RN, Clinical Resource Team, Children’s Medical Center Plano I started my career in the business world and came to Children’s Health originally as a volunteer. But I fell in love with helping kids and went back to school to become a nurse.

I call myself a float nurse, and our team name is CRT: Clinical Resource Team. We’re trained in all areas of the hospital for clinical care, and I’m pre-assigned to the COVID-19 response team to treat patients who test positive or presumptive positive for the virus.

I felt prepared and trained by the hospital for this.

As nurses, this is what we signed up for, and I was ready and proud to be part of the team.

Nursing has completely changed my life and opened up my eyes.

When you walk out of the hospital after seeing kids all day fight for their lives, it gives you perspective. It’s honestly made me a better man.

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DALYA CANNON

Environmental Services, Housekeeping, Children’s Medical Center Dallas I’ve worked at the hospital for the last year as a housekeeper. I’ll go into patient rooms and do their daily cleanings.

But the most important part to me is making the families laugh and making them feel comfortable when I’m there.

A long time ago, my mom was my manager when we cleaned at a hotel. One day, I asked my mom, “Why do you work so hard?” And she said, “This is my name, and this is the only name I’m getting, so I do a good job wherever I go.” That stuck with me. I’m really passionate about cleaning and very thorough, so my colleagues speak highly of me.

I work with a lot of positive ladies.

These days, we’re dancing when we’re at work. We even have the doctors dancing sometimes.

RYAN CAMPBELL

Manager of Spiritual Care, Children’s Medical Center Dallas Because everyone is required to wear a mask, it helps support the solidarity of team members. It’s as if we’re saying, “This is what we’re going to do because we want to keep each other and the patients we serve safe.”

I’m trying to make eye contact with colleagues in the hallways. There is a need for connection.

Being able to connect with other chaplains I work with and colleagues I’m close to – whether they’re psychologists, social workers, Child Life specialists or others – has been helpful, knowing we’re all in this together.

I try to help center the staff members I care for in finding their own sense of hope and meaning and whatever tethers them. In doing that, it helps me remember to do that for myself.

I think that’s the gift of spiritual care: The more you help it grow somewhere else, the more it grows within you.

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4 "There is a stigma regarding mental health in the Latino community...

We have to make sure people understand that seeking help is OK, it is appropriate and normal"

Xiomara Rocha-Cadman, M.D.

Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, Division of Psychiatry City of Hope

Mental Health: Coping with the pandemic

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MENTAL HEALTH: COPING WITH THE PANDEMIC

Learning to Cope Xiomara Rocha-Cadman, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, Division of Psychiatry City of Hope

By Mariana G. Briones

A

s a child growing up in Nicaragua, Dr. RochaCadman dreamed of becoming a physician. “I am an immigrant who came to this country in 1986 following my dream to become a doctor. Not knowing how difficult it was going to be, I was driven by my passion and perseverance.” From her office at City of Hope in Duarte, California, Dr. Rocha-Cadman shares that “when people asked about my plans for the future, I used to say, ‘I am going to study medicine’ and people looked at me in disbelief. They would say, ‘Really? You don't even speak English,’ but I remained focused, and with little guidance, I learned that everything is possible.”

Today, as a leading psychiatrist specializing in psychooncology, a field of cancer care, she has to deal with another layer of stress: People with cancer, who are one of the most vulnerable groups to COVID-19. This makes her days more challenging, but also more rewarding.

How did your journey into psychiatry begin?

“Well, I will admit that growing up in Nicaragua, my idea of being a doctor was to be a general physician. I wanted to be a doctor who would deliver your children, perform and assist in surgeries, visit my patients in the hospital or at home, and be present when they transitioned to death.

Later, as I got older, I was exposed to family and friends with cancer and considered the field of oncology. When cancer hit so close to home and my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, everything changed. I had the opportunity to be with my sister until her last days before experiencing the biggest loss of my life. At this time, I knew oncology was a specialty I could no longer consider.

With the guidance and support of my husband and friends, I switched to the field of psychiatry after two years of working as a surgeon. I knew that I had the passion and interest to listen and offer help. Later in my psychiatry residency, I learned about the field of Psycho-oncology and I applied to this subspecialty. It offered everything I always wanted to do.

Prior to moving to California, I was working in NY, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I trained as a psycho-oncologist. My family and I wanted to return to California to be closer to our extended family and only City of Hope could bring me back to California. About a year ago, the opportunity to work at City of Hope became available. My personal ties with City of Hope go back to 1996.

This was the hospital where my sister received her cancer treatment. My family and I loved this place and we were forever grateful for the treatment City of Hope offered her.”

What are your days like now that you have to add COVID-19 into the equation of your patients’ stressors?

“Having to worry about COVID-19, in addition to dealing with cancer, has definitely been difficult for everyone. As a cancer patient receiving treatment, there is a heightened fear of getting infected because their health is already so compromised. With COVID-19, we all feel so isolated.

For my patients, however, this isolation is even greater because, for many, it sometimes extends to weeks of isolation. And when you are isolated, there are a lot of things going through your head -- your mind races and you keep thinking about the worst-case scenario.

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MENTAL HEALTH: COPING WITH THE PANDEMIC

Just imagine for a minute that you are isolated in your room, people come in with all this gear and their masks. They can’t touch you. They can’t hug you when you are going through such a difficult time. And if they don't speak your language and you need an interpreter, this makes you feel even more disconnected. For Latinos, it is very different when you talk about treatment options and discuss the disease in Spanish.

Just hearing someone that speaks your own language is soothing in and of itself. And it is not just speaking the language, but also connecting with your own background and culture, which then extends to building trust. So, as a Latina, I am extremely happy to be able to provide this support.

"For Latinos it is very different when you talk about treatment options and discuss their disease in Spanish. Just hearing someone that speaks your own language is soothing in itself."

If you’re worried about continuing your cancer care because of the risk of COVID-19, let me reassure you. Your best way to beat cancer is to get the right treatment at the right time.

In other words, your cancer care is critical. It cannot wait.

As a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, City of Hope has the highest standards for infection prevention. While none of us expected this pandemic, City of Hope was prepared for it. And since cancer is our sole focus, we’ve been able to continue to provide our patients with the best cancer care available today.”

Do you feel that Latinos are more reluctant to seek psychiatric help?

“Yes, and we are reluctant because there is a stigma regarding mental health in the Latino community. As Latinos, it is hard for us to ask for help, maybe because family plays a big role in supporting us when we are in need, and it is frowned upon to look for help elsewhere. Unfortunately, having a mental illness and receiving counseling is very stigmatizing in our culture.”

How do you break that barrier?

“With a lot of education – We need to validate the feelings and suffering of our patients. The stress and suffering can lead to isolation, depression and anxiety. At City of Hope, we offer a safe space to process problems. We have to make sure people unterstand that seeking help is okay. Seeking help is appropriate and normal, especially here at City of Hope because going through cancer can be a roller coaster. It is a journey, so we make sure that there is less hesitation and try to ensure that cancer patients continue to seek help. One thing that really helps is having a health care provider that speaks your own language and understands your culture.”

How are the doctors and nurses at City of Hope coping?

These are incredibly challenging times, but our group of psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists are doing our best to help each other, so we are very connected.

When I see patients in the COVID-19 unit, I am always checking in on the nurses and the doctors. They are not only isolated and going through a rough time, they might

also be grieving the loss of a patient. It is important to be there for them. A gesture of appreciation, such as bringing food or snacks to the unit, can make a big difference.”

What are some tips to do self-care at home during this crisis?

“Since everyone reacts differently to trauma, loss, grief, stress and uncertainty, we need to pay attention to our level of distress and ask for help. We need to stay connected to avoid isolation and boredom. Exploring and nurturing our creativity, such as learning a different language, painting or learning a musical instrument can also help.”

What is the main lesson you have learned in these past few months?

“The biggest lesson for me is that we are not alone -- we are in this together. We are more resilient, more grateful and appreciative towards the health care professionals and first responders.

My patients are my biggest mentors, and I learn from them every day, especially from those who are at the end of their cancer journeys – they remind me to live every day to its fullest. My patients inspire me to live my life day-by-day.

When I come home, I appreciate my family and my kids so much more. I am present and am fully aware that we are here today but don't know what tomorrow may bring.

My patients leave me with beautiful lessons and reminders that I can then use with other patients who are suffering.

Books and trainings can provide facts and knowledge, but patients are the ones that teach you real life lessons.”

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MENTAL HEALTH: COPING WITH THE PANDEMIC

COVID-19 AND MENTAL HEALTH

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he main battle today is to vaccinate as much of the adult population against COVID-19 in the shortest amount of time possible. Scenes of people receiving their doses of the vaccine at large sites would have many believe that the pandemic era is nearly over, but impacts of it will be felt by millions long after.

According to a Red Cross study COVID-19 has affected the mental health of about half of the world's population regardless of race, ethnicity or health status. A survey by the American Psychiatric Association found that the anxiety and stress caused

by COVID-19 have affected the daily routines of 59 percent of the American population.

Acrossthecountry,Latinoshavebeendisproportionately affected by COVID-19, and many have suffered the most direct blow as essential workers. Farmworkers, many of whom are Latino, have been especially affected. An American Farm Bureau poll released in December 2020 showed that 66% of farmworkers said the pandemic has affected their mental health.

The emotional distress is especially acute for Latinos who had COVID-19. The mental symptoms can be the most difficult to treat, particularly for this segment, for whom mental health is often a taboo subject.

"Some clients tell me they're not going to get psychological treatment because they're 'not crazy,'" Shaker said. "There is a stigma about what people in their community are going to think if they tell others they went to a mental health center."

Only a third of Hispanics with a mental health disorder get treatment, per the Department of Health and Human Services, compared to 45% of non-Hispanics in the U.S. Another issue is that Latinos who primarily speak Spanish may be unaware that services are available in their native language.

Only 7% of licensed psychologists in the U.S. identify as Latino, according to the American Psychological Association, while even fewer, 5.5% of therapists, are able to provide services in Spanish.

With added barriers to health care, like lack of insurance or a perception of discrimination from doctors, the ordeal can intensify and bring about suicidal thoughts and other dangerous behaviors.

One of those impacts is the psychological trauma many have endured because of isolation from their family and friends or losing a loved one. Job losses have also contributed to higher stress levels. Many Latinos lost work that can't be done remotely, and they also lost their benefits. Latino families have been evicted from their homes because they're unable to pay the rent.

According to the CDC "Hispanic adults reported a higher prevalence of psychosocial stress related to not having enough food or stable housing than did adults in other racial and ethnic groups.” The lack of contact with loved ones during the pandemic has also been difficult. "Hispanics are very familyoriented," said Paul J. Shaker, a Latino program clinician at Rushford Mental Health Center in Connecticut. Many families are going through a difficult time as grandparents see less of their children and grandchildren.

Suffering in Silence

Over 40% of Latino adults have reported symptoms of depression during the pandemic, in contrast to 25% of white non-Hispanics, the CDC reports.

Finding Relief

Experts agree that if people suffer from clinical depression, they should seek professional help as soon as possible. That can include treatment with certified psychiatrists, accompanied by therapy with psychologists, antidepressant medications or specific dietary or behavior changes. Every person and every situation is different.

Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist who has been studying the effects of stress offered several tips that can help prevent and relieve symptoms of depression. They include getting morning sunlight, moving and exercising, trying to get a good night's sleep, avoiding bright lights from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., taking credit for small steps toward recovery and maintaining a feeling of gratitude.

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LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Xavier Becerra,

Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for not protecting patients' health information, and took action early in the pandemic to keep Californians safe by using his authority to protect workers from exposure to COVID-19, secure key safeguards for frontline health care workers' rights, and take on fraudsters trying to take advantage of people during the pandemic.

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In addition, he cracked down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud, acted to combat the opioid crisis, including holding drug makers accountable, won an unprecedented $575 million antitrust settlement against one of the largest health systems in California, and he led the three-year federal court fight to save the ACA and with it, the protections of the 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions.

Born in Sacramento Secretary Becerra is the son of working-class parents. He was the first in his family to receive a four-year degree, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School. His mother was born in Jalisco, Mexico and immigrated to the United States after marrying his father, a day laborer turned construction worker.

During the Senate confirmation hearings for his HHS role Becerra indicated his support for permanent telehealth expansions. He said he wants to boost technology accessibility and is committed to permanently expanding payment policies that have increased virtual health during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Politico. For some his nomination was polarizing since Becerra has no background in public health or medicine, however he has continued to push for other protections, recently reminding healthcare providers of their signed agreements to cover COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to patients, and group health plans and health insurers of their legal requirement to provide coverage of COVID-19 vaccinations and diagnostic testing without costs to patients.

avier Becerra is the 25th Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the first Latino to hold the office in the history of the United States. The Senate narrowly confirmed Becerra's nomination by a 50-49 vote March 18, 2021. He now leads a $1 trillion-plus agency with 80,000 employees.

Becerra, 62, served 24 years in Congress as a member of the House of Representatives before becoming the attorney general of his home state in 2017. He is the first Latino to hold that office, and while in Congress he was the first Latino to serve as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, where he worked on health care as a senior member of the health subcommittee.

He also led the House Democratic Caucus, which gave him a powerful leadership post.

Becerra was also a fierce advocate of the Latino community and became deeply involved in efforts to overhaul the nation’s immigration system. In addition he promoted plans to build a national museum devoted to exploring the culture and history of American Latinos, the House voted this year to create such a museum.

As Attorney General of the state of California, Secretary Becerra helped to promote competition by taking on a number of pharmaceutical companies that restricted competition through "pay-for-delay" schemes, held several companies accountable for legal violations

"We will remain vigilant in holding providers accountable for vaccinating the public without charging patients and holding issuers accountable for covering COVID-19 diagnostic testing without cost-sharing," Becerra wrote.

He is married to Dr. Carolina Reyes, and has three daughters: Clarisa, Olivia and Natalia.

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5 "The pandemic has put at stake many family owned and operated small businesses, which in many cases has allowed Hispanic Americans to continue fulfilling their American Dream for generations."

Senator Marco Rubio

"The fight has to continue until we can make sure that workers and business owners alike have the resources and health care they need to pull out from this pandemic.”

Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto

Driving change: Latinos in the Senate

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DRIVING CHANGE: LATINOS IN THE SENATE

Making History

by Raising her Voice Catherine Cortez-Masto Senator of Nevada Catherine Cortez-Masto made history in November 2016 by becoming the first woman from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the United States Senate.

By Mariana G. Briones

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orn and raised in Las Vegas, CortezMasto served two terms as Attorney General and has spent an entire career fighting for the most vulnerable; whether sex trafficking victims, children in foster care or most recently low income working families impacted by the pandemic, today she walks the halls of a mostly deserted Capitol to cast her votes with speedy resolve, determined to have her voice heard loud and clear.

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“Like everyone else we are following the protocols and standards set by our healthcare professionals, doctors and scientists, and we are sheltering in place” she shares when I ask what life is like at the Capitol these days. “I am the only one here because my physical presence is required to vote on the floor of the Senate, and when I vote I wear a mask and follow al of the guidelines.

However all of my staff is working from home and the Capitol is closed to the public. I have to attend a lot of hearings since I sit on five committees, but these are all virtual for now. It’s definitely an adjustment.”

“In Nevada one third of the population is Latino, and they are

an incredible part of our community and workforce. Before the pandemic one in five worked in the hospitality industry which has been devastated, so there has been a huge impact on this community as so many have been laid off.”

In a time when top health officials advise against traveling Nevada’s tourism dependent economy has been hit hard. The state’s hospitality industry has an estimated $67.6 billion economic impact, employing more workers and bringing in more state tax revenue than any other sector. “Not many people are aware, but in Nevada one third of the population is Latino, and they are an incredible part of our community and workforce. Before the pandemic one in five worked in the hospitality industry which has been devastated, so there has been a huge impact on this community as so many have been laid off.”

“Coming together with our local leaders and our nonprofits.

For example the Esta En Tus Manos campaign was launched to encourage Latinos in Southern Nevada to wear face coverings, seek free COVID-19 testing, and find resources to help protect them and their families.

Rental and food assistance are also available, there is a lot of food insecurity going right now so this is a concerted effort to bring resources to these hotspots and disproportionately affected communities”

until we can make sure that workers and business owners alike have the resources and health care they need to pull out from this pandemic.”

There is another more elusive side effect to the pandemic that concerns her: “These past months have taken a huge toll on all of us. We are human after all, and I miss that human interaction with one another, whether it is with families or friends or coworkers, it is vital to have that contact.” She shares “And I have a concern that sheltering in place is causing a lot of isolation and that this is having an impact physically and mentally. That is why I have been a big proponent of addressing behavioral health services and providing more funding for it. My goal now is to make sure that we have additional funds so that people can get the help that they need to cope.”

“Unfortunately at the federal level when we passed the CARES Act Supplement too many in our community were left out, especially immigrants and immigrants of mixed status which is outrageous. How are we going to stop the spread of the virus if we leave people out from getting access to healthcare? Regardless of your immigration status you should get relief just like everybody else. That is why so many of us have introduced legislation through the comprehensive Working Families Act, to include it into the next stimulus package. The fight has to continue

As a history making Latina she saves her advice for those seeking to break barriers for last: “Follow your passion, if there is something that you're interested let it take you and lead you on that path.

Find a for mentor, surround yourself with those you can learn from. And when you get to a point where you feel that you have had some success remember that you have a responsibility to make sure others can also walk through. Don't be afraid to be the first; just make sure you are not the last.”

The solution? Collaboration, coordination:

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DRIVING CHANGE: LATINOS IN THE SENATE

Recovering the US Economy

One Business at a Time Marco Rubio Florida Senator

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orn in Miami to Cuban immigrants who came to America in 1956, today Marco Rubio is one of only four Latinos serving at the Senate. After leaving everything behind his parents earned their way to the middle class by working humble jobs, and it is through their powerful example that he learned the importance of a strong work ethic and solid family values.

Senator Rubio is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where he advocates for modernizing and reforming the federal government’s programs to help small businesses thrive in a 21st-century economy. Since Rubio was first elected to the Senate in 2010 he set one objective for himself while in office: to make the American Dream achievable for all.

What challenges did you face as a Latino when you arrived in the Senate and what advice do you have for those who want to have a career in politics?

At the time I was sworn in, I was the only Hispanic-American Senator in my party. I’m not sure there’s any other country in the world where your parents could have immigrated, worked as a maid and as a bartender, and from one generation to the other have their son end up in the U.S. Senate. My advice to those who aspire on being a public servant is to remain committed to the well-being of their communities. Learn from the stories of those you represent and stay true to your convictions.

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How do you make decisions related to Covid-19 guidelines and relief measures? What is the most important project you worked on during this pandemic?

In my role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, we delivered the most effective economic relief ever passed by Congress. What we aimed to do through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was keep people connected to their jobs and help them stay afloat amid the pandemic. I still live in West Miami, everywhere I turn I’m surrounded by small businesses. Those were the people I thought about as we began working on PPP. I thought about the importance of making this program accessible to the everyday American through their local banks. My view of it was, since the government was forcing you to close your small business, we had a role to play in trying to keep you whole. More than 5 million small businesses and nonprofits have received a PPP loan, 3.3 million of the jobs saved were in my home state of Florida alone. We were able to provide real, meaningful results to our nation’s small business owners.

for 7.8% of the total small businesses in the U.S. Thankfully, they’ve received an estimated 10.6% of the total PPP loans, which have been disbursed.

How has the pandemic impacted Hispanic small businesses owners?

Hispanic Americans have felt the impact of this pandemic at the very core of what gives their life purpose, meaning, and dignity. COVID-19’s impact hasn’t just been economic. The pandemic has put at stake many family-owned and operated small businesses, which in many cases has allowed Hispanic Americans to continue fulfilling their American Dream for generations. PPP has saved many of those small businesses while also providing relief to our underserved communities. Just imagine how much worse our nation’s economy would have been hit had we not taken measures in support of our small businesses. During a recent Small Business Committee hearing, I highlighted how Black and Hispanic-owned small businesses account

What is the greatest lesson you have learned from this experience both personally and at the senate and what gives you hope?

It’s no secret that 2020 has been an extremely difficult year for our nation. This pandemic has impacted virtually every part of our livelihood, our families, and our communities. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of the American people’s tenacity and a reminder of how resilient we are. Amid tremendous hardships, they did not give up. My faith gives me hope. It gives me hope that better days are ahead for our nation and our communities.

What are the main resources available for business owners to navigate today’s challenges?

As I have said many times, it is past time for Congress to come together and pass additional small business relief. We need to provide a second round of PPP to the hardest-hit small businesses so they can weather the second wave of this pandemic. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has various lending programs that can provide flexible capital to small businesses, especially for those in underserved and underbanked communities. The SBA’s 7(a) loan program for instance, provides needed working capital. I have introduced legislation which would enhance the terms of the 7(a) loan program and grant fee waivers to both borrowers and lenders.

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6 “Latinos are more commonly essential workers and hold jobs like farming and meatpacking that don't allow them to isolate. At our hospital in San Francisco Latinos make up for 15% of the population, but they make up about 70% or more of the COVID-19 cases.”

“Our agriculture community is a united family, and I was both humbled and proud to see how strength and resilience shined through the hardest months of this pandemic. Thank you for helping support our nation’s food supply.”

Dr. Robert Rodriguez Emergency Medicine, UCSF

Hector Lujan

CEO, Reiter Affiliated Companies

Latino Essential Workers: Keeping America Running

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LATINO ESSENTIAL WORKERS: KEEPING AMERICA RUNNING

Latinos are here for our society

An open letter by Manuel "Manny" Gonzalez

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s our country begins to heal from one of the worst health care crisis in history, we see around us the toll it is still taking across all industries and businesses. In the US over 600,000 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19. This health care crisis has also produced an economic crisis with over 50 million workers in our country, about a third of the pre-pandemic labor force, applying for some form of economic stimulus as businesses and whole sectors of our economy had to shut down to help slow the spread.

Every day since the onset of the pandemic, millions of Latinos have reported to their jobs, risking their health and that of their families, in industries that have kept vital services running for the rest of the country. Farmworkers, construction crews, cooks and servers in the food industry, gardeners, janitors, dishwashers, caretakers, nurses, doctors, delivery drivers, you name it, our country would not be running if it were not for the services of the essential workers risking their lives every day.

Latinos are keeping our infrastructure afloat and suffering disproportionately. Let's start with the basics. People need food to eat to survive. For people to have food, food must be harvested and processed.

According to the U.S. Census, about 18 % of our country's population is Latino. Yet, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Latinos represent well over 60 % of farm laborers, graders, and sorters, about 30 % of food manufacturing workers and over 30 % of "essential workers."

Not surprisingly, only about 16 % of Latinos have jobs that allow them to "work from home" according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. All of this increased "exposure"

results in Latinos having more cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and fatalities. This heightened exposure is often termed "socio-economic" factors.

Some would argue that these numbers are related to Latinos having higher rates of underlying conditions such as diabetes. But those higher rates would not totally account for the current multiples like 4X hospitalizations and worse outcomes.

In addition to the underlying conditions prevalence not being proportional to the multiples, the fact is that underlying conditions would not be determinant of outcomes if Latinos had the luxury of being able to work from home and avoid exposure and not have to be out with others picking and processing our food and other service industries jobs so we can survive.

As Latinos continue to support our most basic infrastructures though thier essential work, they also need our help to survive themselves. Let's advocate for decent pay, access to quality education and excellent health care.

Latinos are here for our society. Our society should be here for Latinos.

Manuel "Manny" Gonzalez is President of MGM Consulting, LLC. and Chairman of the Center for Leadership at Florida International University as well as serving on several non-profit and for-profit boards and a former Vice President at Procter & Gamble. Mr. Gonzalez was awarded the National Hispanic Health Foundation Leadership Award in 2014 for his work in improving people’s health.

His company has donated thousands of masks in South Florida to help protect people and slow the pandemic.

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LATINO ESSENTIAL WORKERS: KEEPING AMERICA RUNNING

PEOPLE FIRST: SETTING AN EXAMPLE IN AGRICULTURE

A conversation with Hector Lujan, CEO, Reiter Affiliated Companies

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exican born Hector Lujan is now at the helm of the largest fresh multi-berry producer in the world.

RAC) was founded by Garland Reiter as a 5-person farm house on the Oxnard plains and has now expanded to an impressive farming acreage and investment in the United States, Mexico, Portugal and Morocco.

However RAC’s history of investing in their people has left an indelible legacy of its own. Reiter established the first U.S. private primary health care clinic, La Clínica FreSalud, exclusively for farmworkers and collaborated with the University of California Davis and Berkeley to fund and implement an obesity and diabetes prevention program known as Sembrando Salud among Reiter’s ranch communities.

The food industry is largely dependent on Latinos who have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19. At a time when so many workers in agriculture are denied basic healthcare we are honored to showcase an organization and leader that is setting an example by putting its people first.

Latino Leaders: What is your current role and how did you arrive at this position?

Hector Lujan: I first joined Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) in July of 2002 as Vice President of Central Mexico Operations for their affiliate BerryMex. During that time, I spearheaded the establishment of a strong leadership team that would provide winter berries to the North American market, enabling year-round supply and unprecedented growth in the berry industry. In July 2010, my responsibilities expanded to include California and by August of 2011 I relocated with my family to California. In 2013, I was named Chief Operating Officer of Reiter Affiliated Companies and became responsible for all of the Mexico and U.S. business units. Starting January 1, 2017 I assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer overseeing business operations in the United States, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Morocco.

In 2019 we also expanded our operations into China and Germany.

LL: What is the difference that investing in primary healthcare for farmworkers has made?

HL: We understand our success is directly tied to the commitment, passion, and dedication of our employees. For this reason, we believe that by investing in primary healthcare for farmworkers we are helping enrich their lives and the lives of their families.

We recognize the importance of having accessible and affordable health care that is close to home ensuring our employees have access to quality care in their community. Not only does this method provide a culturally competent approach to intervention, prevention and maintenance of health care through consistent and comprehensive services but it also empowers farm workers and their families to make educated choices that lead to improved health and happiness.

LL: How has COVID-19 impacted agriculture?

HL: It has highlighted farm labor as essential workers that feed populations across the globe.

It’s important to be able to build an industry within each country that provides a secure and healthy environment that guarantees the ability to provide the nutrients that feed families around the world.

This pandemic has demonstrated the importance of the food chain and all of the people that allow for each piece of fruit and produce to be on display at the supermarket. Our heroes today are many of whom had been invisible in the past, bringing them to the light can undoubtedly be the greatest change in U.S. agriculture in the last thirty years.

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LL: How do you see the farming industry post COVID-19? Which innovations will help with this transition?

HL: Post COVID-19, we see an invigorating farm industry, one that will not need a crisis to stimulate change, but rather one that will work closer together with all stakeholders to guarantee a safe and effective work environment. By working closer together within the supply chain, we can deliver a fresher product and maintain technological advancement in order to improve connectively, share knowledge and reduce bureaucracies.

“This pandemic has demonstrated the importance of the food chain and all of the people that allow for each piece of fruit and produce to be on display at the supermarket.

Our heroes today are many of whom had been invisible in the past, bringing them to the light can undoubtedly be the greatest change in U.S. agriculture in the last thirty years.”

LL: What do you say to those essential workers who throughout the pandemic have allowed for all Americans to continue to have food on their tables?

What responsible farming looks like:

Across our global operations, we proactively implemented several measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, which include: • Conducted educational COVID-19 outreach to all our ranches and offices, via flyers, social media and crew leader/manager training's.

• Implemented social distancing policies (6 feet apart) on our ranches, reduced crew sizes, split up crews where necessary and alternated breaks to avoid large congregations of people at once. For example, in the strawberries we asked harvesters to work in every other row, and have adjusted our harvesting practices in the blueberries, raspberries and blackberries to limit one or two harvesters only per tunnel row.

• Enhanced sanitation practices at our field trailers, bathrooms, and all ranch offices. Provided additional hands free washing stations and increased hand-washing frequency protocols on ranches.

• Shared information regarding COVID-19 prevention, existing state and federal benefits available to employees who are sick or must care for a sick family member, and provided influenza vaccinations.

• Implemented a company-wide work-from-home policy for all applicable roles, and deployed the highest level of travel restrictions across the company.

Hector Lujan, CEO, Reiter Affiliated Companies

HL: First off, I would like to say Thank You! We are grateful and fortunate to be surrounded by so many hard working, dedicated and caring employees. Your relentless pursuit to continue to provide for your families, while safeguarding your health and the health of your co-workers is truly impressive. Our agriculture community is a united family, and I was both humbled and proud to see how strength and resilience shined through the hardest months of this pandemic. Thank you for helping support our nation’s food supply. It is now time for us to provide the same level of commitment demonstrated to the American people, by continuing to advocate for the passage of the Farm Labor Modernization Act, which will provide U.S. status to all farmworkers.

LL: What has made you most proud during these last 13 months?

HL: Our farm worker community and our collective ability to bring an uninterrupted supply of food to families across the world in a time of unprecedented crisis has made me the most proud during these last 13 months.

LL: What is the main lesson you have learned through this experience both personally and professionally?

HL: Personally, I have learned to stop and smell the roses, take one day at a time and develop greater empathy throughout. Professionally, I would say that I learned you don’t need a crisis to change and solutions are found by working together within your organization, industry and with all stakeholders. Our values of Honesty, Fairness and Respect have guided my decision making in providing solutions during a crisis that will undoubtedly keep us on course with our long term vision.

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7 “We envision a world where there is always a hot meal, an encouraging word, and a helping hand in hard times. Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people may eat, we will be there – we must be there”

“I always tell my staff: success is one thing but living a life of purpose is another… We are at the cross roads of a successful business that is doing purposeful work and that is a beautiful thing.”

Alfredo Angueria

Entrepreneur and social activist

Chef José Andrés

Business Leaders: Fighting the good fight

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BUSINESS LEADERS: FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

Expertise and Industrial Adaptability to Address the Pandemic:

The General Motors Case

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he global crisis due to COVID-19 forced everyone to contribute their best efforts and resources according to their possibilities. Marcelo Conti's experience as Director of Program Purchasing at General Motors shows us how this crisis has been experienced from within one of the largest companies in the world. Not only did they have to respond with protocols to protect their employees, but they looked for ways to contribute by bringing their industrial engineering knowledge and capabilities work, even manufacturing critical care ventilators.

This exemplifies the essential role that large companies can play in helping dealing with global crises that affect all of humanity.

Marcelo Conti’s career began in 1985 as a banker in his native Brazil and he went on to hold roles of increasing responsibilities in Brazil, the US, and the UK across different industries such as automotive, aerospace, oil & gas, power generation and aviation.

In 2014 he joined GM as a purchasing director for transmissions and since November 2020 he has been director of program purchasing for Autonomous Vehicles, Battery Electric Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engines-based propulsion systems. Today he also serves as Co-Chair of the leadership advisory board for the GM Latino Network (GMLN), one of the largest employee resource groups in the company.

As part of his responsibilities, Conti was able to participate in GM's efforts to counter the effects of the pandemic. As a company, the first step was to protect its employees. GM published a COVID-19 Employee Guide, which covered protocols for entering the facilities, maskwearing and physical distancing, keeping spaces clean and ventilated, and handling suspected COVID-19 cases. As employees came back to work, GM started holding several webinars with stakeholders to discuss COVID-19 safety protocols. GM senior leadership also made frequent visits to the facilities across the country to walk plant floors and conduct town hall meetings with employees.

Marcelo Conti

Director of Program Purchasing, GM GPSC Program Management and Mexico Co-chair of GM Latino Network

One of the first actions was to take advantage of GM resources to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). As COVID-19 spread across the globe, thousands of team members within GM, along with global suppliers, worked to get medical professionals face masks, protective equipment and ventilators. In May 2020, the GM Latino Network hosted several workshops resulting in 92 volunteers making masks. For Conti this experience was extremely enriching: “I had the opportunity to work in the production line making masks during the early stages of the pandemic… The fact that we were all working tirelessly across the whole industry for a greater cause, with an incredible sense of purpose and urgency, was a highlight in my career.”

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The Global Purchasing Supply Chain team also worked to find excess Personal Protective Equipment from suppliers and GM facilities to redistribute them to hospitals in need. Through the GM Cares volunteer program, more than 5,000 employees volunteered and made 8.7 million pieces of protective equipment that were donated across the country, including masks, face shields, gowns and aerosol boxes.

In addition, GM mobilized facilities in South America in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, to repair ventilators for hospital use, loan fleet vehicles to local nonprofits, and donate time and resources to educational organizations and food banks.

A crucial part of these efforts was the production of ventilators taking advantage of GM's expertise and resources. At the early days of the pandemic, GM and Ventec Life Systems collaborated to scale up production. According to Conti: “Within the first week, GM had engaged its global supply base and had developed plans to source 100% of the necessary parts and crews began preparing our Kokomo, Indiana site for production”. Three weeks later, GM was awarded a contract to deliver 30,000 V+Pro critical care ventilators to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The full federal order was completed in just 154 days, with one ventilator completed about every seven minutes.

The GM case exemplifies the importance of collaboration between companies in times of crisis, providing the skills that make them successful for the benefit of all. Few trades have such a competitive environment as the automotive industry.

According to Conti: “That forces us to leverage our engineering, manufacturing, supply management and program management expertise (to cite a few) to do things better, faster, at lower costs. It also pushes us to ‘think on our feet’ and adapt to the ever-changing demands and expectations of our customers.” Beyond its industrial resources, it is these capabilities that GM was able to contribute.

Today GM continues to provide social investments to support COVID-related responses and recovery programs. In 2020, GM directed an additional $3.6 million in grant funding to more than 40 nonprofit organizations across the country to address critical needs, including food security, housing assistance, elderly assistance, small business support and at-home education. Furthermore, GM joined the Ad Council and the COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative to educate the American public about COVID-19 vaccines.

Looking forward, Conti is aware that the pandemic will force the acceleration of changes that were already contemplated within the automotive industry. This crisis has also given rise to many lessons that can be used in the new scenarios: “We have now learned how to be far more adaptable, agile, and even more ambidextrous than before, in that we need to continue working on and improving the technology of today while building an all-electric future.”

Conti shares that Mary Barra, CEO of GM, often says that the “automotive industry will change more in the next five to ten years than it has in the last fifty.” This is now much more evident since the pandemic forced everyone to evolve towards a more efficient way of doing things in all fields.

Part of this evolution is exemplified in the GM programs Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion, which according to Conti are in reach “within his lifetime.”

Regarding his Latino origin, Conti considers that diversity is one of the aspects that make this industry more special, attracting talent from different personal, cultural and professional backgrounds. From Conti’s point of view: “In the automotive industry, diversity of thought is not only a question of competitive advantage, but one of survival. An industry that is changing so drastically, and so rapidly, needs diversity of thought in all its forms to thrive.”

In his case, mixing the personal with the professional seems inevitable, it can even be an advantage to carry out his work better: “Being Latino is a big part of who I am. It helped shape the way I think, act and lead, and I believe I am better off for it. And so is the company that I work for, which embraces me for who I am”.

From diversity we can contribute new ideas, creativity and ingenuity to build a better future. Therefore, in Conti’s words: “Always bring your whole self to work and encourage others around you to do the same.”

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BUSINESS LEADERS: FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

José Andrés:

Changing the world through the power of food

T

he trajectory of Chef José Andrés is spectacular, not only as an internationally recognized Michelin Star culinary innovator, but as a humanitarian whose work has impacted millions of people across the planet. Twice a Time Magazine “100 Most Influential People” and a James Beard Foundation “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” awardee José Andrés is also a New York Times bestselling author, television personality and chef owner of ThinkFoodGroup which operates more than 30 restaurants in nine cities across the world.

Originally from Asturias, Spain, Andrés is a tireless advocate for immigration reform and food security. In 2010 he formed World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit that provides smart solutions to end hunger and poverty by using the power of food to strengthen communities and economies.

His latest project, Restaurants for the People, is his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This program is dedicated to tackling the current health, economic, and humanitarian crisis on two fronts: providing fresh meals to communities in need while also keeping small restaurants and food businesses open.

Today, tens of millions of Americans – the most since the Great Depression – are out of work and struggling to put food on the table for their families. Traditional safety nets like school feeding programs, city services, and food banks are up and running, but are straining under increased demand. Seniors, who are isolated for their safety, cannot access meal services.

Meanwhile, the restaurant industry, which is the nation’s second largest employer with 15.6 million workers, has suffered serious losses. Restaurants for the People provides solutions by buying meals

“In 2010, my wife Patricia and I had a big dream to start World Central Kitchen. We envisioned an organization that would use food to empower communities and strengthen economies, and for many years we saw an amazing impact through our Clean Cookstoves initiative, culinary training programs, and social enterprise ventures. But we had no idea we would one day be answering calls in Puerto Rico and around the world to serve meals in the aftermath of disaster – and we quickly learned that food is a powerful tool to heal communities in times of crisis and beyond.

In 2020, the world changed profoundly, and our daily lives were overturned in a way none of us could have ever imagined. We activated in communities around the United States and the world to meet the daily needs of families in need of a warm plate of food – and supported thousands of local restaurants in the process. We also responded to natural and manmade disasters in five continents; from massive bushfires in Australia to a deadly explosion in Lebanon to devastating hurricanes in Central America. Our fight to feed hungry people has taken us to more places than we ever expected.

At the same time, WCK continues planting roots in the communities where we work. Our Food Producer Network is helping to create food resilience in the face of future disasters. In Haiti, aspiring chefs are obtaining the skills and confidence they need to elevate their careers and the country’s tourism sector.

We have shown that there is no place too far or a disaster too great for our chefs to be there with a hot plate of food when it’s needed most.

We envision a world where there is always a hot meal, an encouraging word, and a helping hand in hard times. Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people may eat, we will be there – we must be there”

José Andrés Founder, World Central Kitchen

Mission statement for WCK

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directly from restaurants and delivering them to Americans who need help. The benefits from this program echo widely throughout the national economy, including support for farmers and fishermen, cheesemakers and ranchers – as well as the shipping and distribution industries that keep our economy running. With the leadership of Jose Andres WCK has implemented this program in over 400 cities across 35 states.

They have worked with more than 2,500 restaurants to serve over 12 million meals and have disbursed more than $135 million dollars directly to restaurant owners.

The FEED Act

In addition José Andrés has been working closely with members of Congress to promote a pragmatic two-sided solution to the current crisis, which resulted in the writing of the FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries (FEED) Act. It was introduced in May 2020 with bi partisan support, and reintroduced in January 2021 with support from PresidentElect Joe Biden. If successful this bill would allow the federal government, through FEMA, to pay all costs so that states can work with restaurants to provide food to vulnerable populations. The vital work that WCK’s restaurant partners are doing to feed their communities would be funded through the national government, another step forward towards recovery.

Andrés’ work has earned other awards and distinctions including the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the 2015 National Humanities Medal, one of twelve distinguished recipients of the award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. His impact on the lives of millions of volunteers, entrepreneurs, restaurant industry leaders and families across the world is undeniable. We are proud to share his mission statement for WCK in this edition.

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BUSINESS LEADERS: FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

Alfredo Angueira

Perseverance and adaptation: A business survival guide in a new era.

I

n this pandemic everyone has a personal story to tell. Alfredo Angueira’s is about how helping others became a way to survive. When he was about to close his restaurants he thought the logical thing to do was to share his remaining resources with those most in need, he never imagined that this gesture was going to become a new impulse to stay afloat.

Angueira was raised in The Bronx by a mother of Puerto Rican descent and a father with Venezuelan and Cuban blood.

In his own words: “It doesn't get more melting pot than that.”

After earning a law degree he decided to work closely with his community; appointments as Executive Director of the Bronx Empowerment Zone and the Legal Department for the New York Council on Adoptable Children allowed him to help families affected by HIV and get children out of the foster care system. Angueira also served on the staff of the Bronx District Attorney and The New York City Council among others.

At the same time he always wanted to get into the restaurant industry, so when he heard that his current partner Junior Martínez had signed a lease for a bar near Yankee Stadium and was looking for investors he took a leap of faith: “I had a very good career as an attorney and I was on an upward trajectory, but I always wanted to be my own boss. Junior told me about his project on a Saturday, and by next Monday I wrote him a check. We opened Bronx Draft House in April 2016 and I never looked back.”

“I always tell my staff success is one thing but living a life of purpose is another… We are at the cross roads of a successful business that is doing purposeful work and that is a beautiful thing.”

The risk Angueira took by partnering with Martínez paid off. “I was scared to jump in the pool but I found out that as an entrepreneur those that are successful are the ones that jump in and figure everything out as they go along, because people in the industry are more inclined to help you if you are in the rail; if you are just writing business plans nobody will pay attention.” Today they own New York restaurants Beatstro, Bronx Draft House and Bricks & Hops; along with the catering company Hoodspitality.

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“How do I feed and sustain you, but also make you feel relevant as a person?

How do I say I see you, and I understand you?”

These enterprises are also a celebration of their culture: “Even though we are not in the kitchen the culinary aspect is influenced by our origins. All of the dishes in our restaurants are either fusion, twist, or directly connected to Latino cuisine.

We give our chefs guidance of what we want, so we are always evaluating and finding a happy medium between the dishes we love and those that are cost-effective.”

Everything was going well, and then the pandemic hit. “I am a news junkie so I was monitoring the situation in Wuhan. The news kept getting progressively worse with more and more deaths, and even then you keep thinking that it's not going to get that bad, because this is unprecedented, it hasn't happened in modern times.” New York was eventually hit… hard. “The streets were a ghost town, the whole fabric of the city was different. I would go to Midtown and there was not a soul in the middle of the workweek, everything was boarded up and it just didn't feel real, but we decided to keep the restaurants open as long as we could as a test of perseverance, because we knew how hard it would be to open back up if we closed.”

After a couple of months they were losing $8,000 a day and took the painful decision to close. 48 hours away from officially shutting down they had an idea that would change everything: “We had a ton of food so we decided to feed first responders, these people were working 18 hour shifts, so this was the least we could do.”

As they promoted this decision through social media people in need started lining up outside the restaurants. Every meal would come to about 9 dollars a person and donations kept them going. This caught the eye of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit founded in 2010 by celebrity chef José Andrés. Their method of operations is to collaborate with local chefs to solve the problem of hunger in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. “Through this partnership we were able to keep all of our staff employed and save our restaurants.

If we had closed, this would never had happened.”

“WCK does incredible work, usually in developing nations and places that don't have infrastructure. But what happens when this is going on in the middle of New York City and you suddenly have one million people who lost their

jobs due to the pandemic and are now food insecure?”

With these unprecedented questions in mind Angueira and Martínez began working with WCK as a distribution site for frozen meals. They soon realized the importance of offering options that were culturally relevant. “The questions then became: How do I feed and sustain you, but also make you feel relevant as a person? How do I say I see you, and I understand you?” With this in mind they began preparing hot meals tailored to their community, and people would line up for hours in the cold. They were providing 10,280 meals a day at their peak.

Since WCK has programs all over the world eventually they had to move on and their collaboration started to scale down.

But by then the partners had already learned how to feed people in mass: “We started with one business model and ended up with a completely different one, with challenges like how to feed 10,000 people in 24 hours.” This led them to a contract with The City of New York with the aim of feeding the elderly in need. Between WCK and this new contract they have well surpassed the distribution of one million meals: “I always tell my staff: success is one thing but living a life of purpose is another… We are at the cross roads of a successful business that is doing purposeful work and that is a beautiful thing.”

Angueira knows that the future holds new challenges but that they will be tackled based on this invaluable experience: “There are two main concepts that helped me throughout the pandemic: perseverance and adaptation. Because we persevered we got that opportunity to work with WCK, and through this opportunity we adapted our business model to the point where we now have a mass catering company that has fed one million people.”

Growing up in the Bronx was not easy. As a kid Angueira stood in line with his grandmother to obtain food aid provided by the government. Today it is he who is fighting food insecurity just a few blocks away from where his family used to live. “I am right back where everything started.

So it is incredibly rewarding to know that I am giving back to my neighborhood. Everything has come full circle.”

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BUSINESS LEADERS: FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT insurance. With so many multi-generational households, older family members lived at greater risk. Hispanics suffered the highest mortality rate of any population.

Claudia Romo Edelman:

The Power of Transformation Claudia Romo Edelman is a Diplomat, Communication Strategist, Special Adviser for the United Nations and the founder of the We Are All Human Foundation which has the mission to advance an agenda of equity, inclusion and representation.

Born and raised in Mexico she spent more than twenty-five years working in Europe, most of that time in Switzerland.

This led her to roles at some of the world’s biggest global organizations, including UNICEF, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations, where she also led communications and advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change. She has also been in the driving seat of some of the most successful global campaigns of the last decade including the launch of the SDGs, Product (RED) and the creation of the SDG Lions among others.

Her desire to elevate the voices of the Latinx community has lead her to create The Hispanic Star, which represents an unparalleled, collective goodwill effort to advance the Hispanic community. Here she narrates how COVID-19 transformed this initiative and how her team went from changing perceptions to saving lives.

In March 2020, after eight months of preparation, we were getting ready to launch a new initiative called Hispanic Star to shift perceptions about Latinos and unify us as a community. A platform that would help us be seen, heard and valued. But COVID-19 arrived fast and furiously, and our communities were affected immediately and disproportionately.

Instead of the brand launch we planned, we turned to a Response and Recovery plan, Hispanic Stars in action.

So much was needed right from the start. Nearly a third of all Hispanics are essential workers, doing battle on the frontline every day. From the beginning of the pandemic, Hispanics were 20 times more likely than others to test positive for Covid-19, and less likely to have medical

Health problems meant economic, too. Half of all Hispanic households felt the financial impact of Covid-19. More than others, Hispanics suffered the highest rate of unemployment due to Covid. Many small business owners went out of business. Many Latinas had to reduce their hours or stop working when schools began to close: We had to act.

Almost overnight, with no experience in running relief campaigns and little more than a shoestring to make it happen, the small Hispanic Star staff got up and running. Gears shifted overnight: The hubs we first imagined as centers that would tackle image, perceptions and representation became the heart of relief efforts in more than 30 communities. Soon we had hubs with local community leaders and volunteers set up, ready to deliver critical information, as well as the essential products and PPE so badly needed.

The other critical piece was enlisting more than 20 companies who generously donated more than $7 million dollars of product, among them P&G, PepsiCo, IBM, Flagstar Bank, Salesforce, Shaklee, Unilever and Yum! Brands. Within days, there were 2,000 volunteers on board, community leaders called people into action, spread the good word and worked long days and nights.

The pandemic brought forth many heroes, but for me the true hero was the power of the united community. Against so much tragedy and fear, the communities created hope and showed courage. Every day, there were long lines of cars, people who had never asked for help before, and who were visibly moved by the generosity of others.

The spirit of the volunteers was a tonic, uplifting so many.

When we choose to do something together, we shine.

After 25 years involved in humanitarian campaigns, I know that one of the hardest, most impossible things to do is emergency relief. But our communities did it. We did it with volunteers. We did it without the benefit of a large group of experts. We did it without massive budgets and long-term plans. We did it without huge funding. It was supposed to last one month and went on for six. So if we could band together with little notice to help 1.5 million Latinos in 400,000 households get through 9 months of this historical, devastating pandemic, I know we can do anything.

Claudia Romo Edelman

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