History, Mission, Goals & Priorities

For more than two decades, the National Council of Hispanic Employment Managers (the Council) has
worked to empower and assist Hispanic Employment Program Managers (HEPMs) and other diversity-equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) practitioners in building coalitions and networks to enhance the recruitment, development and retention of Hispanics in the federal workforce. The programs and initiatives we develop and implement inform the work of these practitioners, thereby improving the sustainability and overall success of the work they undertake.

With this mission in mind, in 2022 the Council restructured and added several new Board positions (e.g., Treasurer, Membership Coordinator, and Marketing/Advertising Coordinator) and established five subcommittees with leads: Coalitions & Partnerships; K-16 Outreach; Training/Continuing Education; Programs &; Events; and Recruitment & Hiring. This change to the governing body of the organization will propel forward the work we plan to undertake this year. 

In 2023, the Council will not only continue its existing partnerships with the Senior Executives Association (SEA), we also plan to continue educating, empowering and inspiring DEIA practitioners through a variety of new initiatives and activities:

• Establishing the Council as a 501C3 or 501C6 for better fiscal positioning;

• New website with archives, governance documents, historical information on the Council, downloadable resources, links to important information and more;

• Coalitions with Minority-Serving Institutions, with an emphasis on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the promotion of Hispanic-Serving Institutions week;

• Coalitions with national Minority-Serving science, technology, engineering, mathematics and

  medical (STEM) organizations;

• Coalitions with the Office of Personnel Management’s DEIA Office, the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council, and the Chief Diversity Officers (CDO) Council;

• Structured training program for practitioners wishing to develop their unique portfolios and areas of responsibilities;

• Cross-partnerships with sister organizations such as Federally Employed Women (FEW), Blacks in Government (BIG), Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAGE) and Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC);

• One- and two-day in-person and virtual summits in the summer and autumn to provide a forum for learning and development, networking and the exchange of ideas and solutions to long-stand challenges;

• Enhanced connections to the Senior Executive Service and other federal leaders through the Council’s expanded SES Roundtable and Speed Mentoring events;

• Improved outreach to K-12 schools and districts with an emphasis on promoting degrees and careers in STEM;

• Continued emphasis on the important role Hispanic Employment Program Managers play in the strategic planning and recruitment and outreach efforts of federal agencies, and the influence they have in the community they serve;

• Greater push for a DEIA-specific occupational series with clear career paths and developmental opportunities, to include the certifications and qualifications necessary to succeed in these jobs;

• And much more!

Moreover, this year, each quarterly member meeting will focus on highlighting practitioners at all levels within and outside of the federal government who are making immense strides in the field of DEIA, provide robust training opportunities, and establish a forum for participants to learn from one another. Council membership remains open to HEPMs and other DEIA practitioners, as well as to those who would ally with us in our effort to weave DEIA into the fabric of the federal government’s daily operations. 

While our 2023 agenda seems ambitious, it is absolutely achievable. We believe we have the right people in place to accomplish our goals; moreover, we are uniquely positioned to continue advocating for advances in DEIA, and the recruitment, development, promotion and retention of Hispanics and all underserved individuals.