Women’s History Month spotlight – Nancy, research and evaluation team 

During Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the incredible women across Esperanza United whose leadership, dedication, and work help strengthen our communities every day. This week, we are proud to spotlight Nancy from our research and evaluation team, whose reflection reminds us how leadership is shaped by culture, resilience, and the women who guide us. 

Nancy’s reflection 

As we observe International Women’s Day, I’m reflecting on the women who have shaped my life. My mother, my sisters, the survivors who have trusted me with their stories, and the friends and mentors who have guided my career and my sense of self. Their resilience, strength, and pa’lante spirit ground me again and again. 

Even in moments when my community faces profound challenges – what one of my mentors calls a time of “collective trauma” – I still feel a deep sense of hope for the future. As a Latina leader, I understand how powerful representation can be, and I carry that responsibility with intention. 

I try to mirror the courage, brilliance, and generosity of the women I come from and the women I work for. Today, I recommit to staying rooted in my culture and leading with compassion and courage, just as my Latina role models have always done. 

About Nancy and the research and evaluation team 

Nancy is part of Esperanza United’s research and evaluation team, which advances research that centers the experiences of Latin@ communities and strengthens culturally responsive approaches to ending domestic and sexual violence. The team works to build knowledge in the field, evaluate programs, and support advocates, researchers, and organizations working to create safer communities.