Honoring Patti’s Legacy: 5Qs for Patti from Sandy Vargas

After more than twenty years at the helm of Esperanza United, Patti Tototzintle is retiring. To preserve her wisdom and lessons learned, we organized a series of conversations between her and the friends, leaders, and colleagues she worked with along the way. In our final edition, we welcome Sandy Vargas, CEO, executive coach, champion for the underserved, and chair of Esperanza United’s Board of Directors. A longtime collaborator, she’s here now thanking Patti for service, as the two discuss Latina leadership, the progress Esperanza United has made, and the journey along the way.  

SANDY VARGAS: Patti, we have worked together for many years now with Esperanza United being the most intense involvement we have had together. I have seen you grow into a national leader but always remembering that the Latina community is at the heart of your work. Thank you so much for your outstanding service, your dedication and your strategic leadership over these many years. When you think about your journey, what accomplishments most stand out to you?  

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: I feel very proud of the fact that our mission and values have always been at the core of our work. I have always felt one of my primary roles is to ensure the women, children, and others we serve (locally and nationally) get the best of who we are. Our accomplishments have been collectively achieved, and I feel grateful that I have had the opportunity to play a role over the years. Some examples include: 

• The creation of The Latina Advocacy Framework which outlined cultural realities of Latina immigrant survivors and how to best support them 

• Becoming a national organization in 2011 with the designation from Health and Human Services (HHS) as the National Cultural Resource Center on Latinos and Domestic Violence 

• Our work as a member of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of approximately 40 national Latino organizations, including co-chairing the Latina Task Force, ensuring Latina voice and issues were incorporated into the work and policy agendas of the NHLA 

• The launch of our Latina Leadership Fellows Program, now in its fourth year, providing training and other opportunities for 10 Latina undergraduate or graduate students interested in pursuing policy or research focused on gender-based violence.  

• Our ongoing work with Latino men and boys interested in learning more about healthy relationships, how to address issues of gender-based violence, and developing their own cultural leadership.    

• Achieving financial success with the support of some wonderful foundations and the gift from MacKenzie Scott in 2020.   

• The opportunity provided by HHS, to establish a regranting program, providing funding, training and technical assistance, for 29 Latin@ domestic violence and sexual assault organizations across the country and Puerto Rico.   

SANDY VARGAS: Our dear friend Lupe Serrano had a terrific vision for Esperanza United becoming a national organization through lessons learned at the local level, here in Minnesota. What kind of mindset did you have when moving from the local level to the national level? What principles and values did you employ to make the leap?  And what personal and professional lessons did you learn that moved Esperanza United into a large national role?   

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: Going into the national work, we were so grounded in who we were as a local organization, holding up our values and philosophy. We knew the work in family advocacy and community engagement was making a difference, along with the creation of numerous products and tools. We were also already making strides in our policy and research areas, and we believed we had so much to share on best practices in supporting Latinas and Latin@ communities. The board supported a dual CEO structure that would support us in focusing on our local community and the national expansion.   

We ventured into this change with the expectation that our history and critical work locally would “feed” the work we did nationally and vice versa.  It was important that learning would benefit all of our work and our local and national constituencies. 

Most importantly, we embraced Lupe’s belief that we would never be who we needed to be nationally until we were as immersed and influential with national Latin@ organizations and networks as we were with national domestic violence and sexual assault organizations and networks.   

SANDY VARGAS: Through Esperanza United you focused on the idea that Latina leadership had to be centered in the work of ending gender-based violence and building violence free communities. You also made sure that whole families, including men and children, were involved in a meaningful way. Please share your thinking and actions in prioritizing Latina leadership and ensuring Latinas have a visible and important role.  

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: We were founded by a group of Latina leaders that were not afraid to push for resources to support Latinas needing safety and shelter from domestic violence.  

Over the years, we learned more about how Latina women and girls wanted to be supported. Leadership development and support for Latinas has always been key and we will continue to seek out how we can hold up and learn from the leadership of Latinas. Listening sessions with large and small groups of Latinas has aways been an important part of our work. We can’t do the work we do without the support of Latinas and without understanding the lived realities of Latinas and what they need and expect. Their voices are critical. We are also clear that leadership is all around us and while those in positional leadership may have much to offer, the informal, community leaders often have more to offer.  

Latinas of all ages are key to the success of our families and communities.  They are all deserving of the best of all of us.  

SANDY VARGAS: As you move toward retirement, what consejos/advice do you have for Vivian Huelgo, the new President and CEO? What words of wisdom do you have for all of the staff of Esperanza United? How does the organization prepare for an era of significant change?  

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: Vivian has been with us for two years so that is a benefit to the organization, our staff, and work. It will be important that she allows herself to prioritize what she feels is most important and determine when other key planning or development can be accomplished. Vivian’s leadership team and other staff will be invaluable in successfully implementing her vision. Spending time in Minnesota regularly will provide her with the opportunity to meet with staff, key partners, and funders, and attend key organizational and community events in the future.   

To the staff, I wish you all the best as you continue to do the critical work you do in partnership with survivors, participants, and organizational partners. Continue to learn from each other and participate in training and opportunities provided internally and by partner organizations whenever possible.  Share your expertise as much as possible.  

The organization, the whole nonprofit sector, may see significant change moving forward. We can’t be afraid – we can’t ignore plans that might be put in place by the government or others. We must focus on what our role is, what is our path, what can we do to ensure that can continue to provide the services and supports most needed. We can partner with others that are also looking at how we can have a positive impact together.   

And be bold, whenever possible! 

SANDY VARGAS: Patti, my dear colleague and friend, this is a bittersweet time for you. You are happy to get the rest of retirement, but I imagine sad to leave the organization that you have influenced so deeply. What is next for you? What are you looking forward to? We send you off with deep love and admiration – and with gratitude for all you have done.  

PATTI TOTOTZINTLE: It is very strange to actually be at this stage even though I knew I would retire this year. I will definitely miss the day-to-day of the organization, the staff, and the work we do. But it is a good time for me and for Esperanza United to make this change.   

I imagine I will find time to rest and catch up on some movies and TV shows during my first month off.  Then I will focus on my personal life and priorities that I didn’t give full attention to while working. 

I do plan on doing some consulting projects/efforts part-time. I want to have much more time for me and for my family moving forward. 

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work in an organization that I love and that I will always hold dear. Thank you.