Over the past month, the Center for Minority Veterans hosted a five-part webinar series commemorating the contribution of Hispanic/Latino Veterans to our nation’s defense. Through this series, we reached over 1,000 Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. We also took the opportunity to share important developments in VA benefits and services, such as the PACT Act, mental health and suicide prevention, and an update from the Office of Health Equity.
Most importantly, we were inspired by the personal journey of many of our heroic Hispanic/Latino colleagues. A few of the many incredible speakers included:
- Col. Lisa Carrington Firmin, who retired from the Air Force as its most senior ranking Latina officer. She now shares her experience of overcoming prejudice and healing from TSD, trauma, hardship and combat through her poetry, leadership and advocacy for underrepresented populations.
- Dr. Ricardo Roa, a VA physician who shared the story of his 90-year old father who immigrated from Nicaragua and overcame challenging bureaucratic obstacles to become a U.S. citizen specifically to serve in the military.
- And Tahina Montoya, an Air Force Veteran who has worked various missions at the tactical, operational and strategic levels in over nine countries, including deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
During the month, we also learned about the myriad of non-governmental organizations working with Hispanic/Latino Veterans, including the American Latino Veterans Association and the Warrior GMR Foundation. Both groups shared with us their unique approach to building community, mentoring, supporting Hispanic/Latino Veterans, and recognizing their indispensable contributions. For the first time ever, we opened our outreach to interagency partners who offer invaluable benefits and services to Veterans, including the Department of Justice
and the Small Business Administration.
Overall, we hope that this month offered a place for our Hispanic/Latino colleagues and friends a place to be together—celebrating and reflecting on the legacy of our shared culture—while offering valuable resources and information to our community. We are eternally grateful to everyone who participated and joined us.
¡Todos Somos, Somos Uno!
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