Hispanic employees at CHI Health say they hope to bring more Hispanic people into the health care industry, while also making current employees feel welcome. That’s why they started ‘HOLA,’ CHI’s Hispanic Outreach and Leadership Affinity group.Kandy Truong is the clinic administrator for the CHI Health clinic at 42nd and L in South Omaha.”I would say 80% of our staff our bilingual in Spanish, so they have an affinity in regards to the Hispanic Heritage,” Truong said.She has Vietnamese heritage, but she’s determined to advocate for the many Hispanic employees and patients at her clinic. So, she joined HOLA.”(I have) more than 20 years in health care, I have not seen the growth that I would like to see within the communities of color,” said HOLA President Selene Espinoza.”I moved to the United States at the age of 14, I did not speak the language, not a word,” said Espinoza about her experience. HOLA started in 2019 but stopped holding meetings because of COVID-19. They held their first meeting this week for the first time since then.Espinoza said the group aims to help Hispanic employees get to know each other within the company.”Externally, we wanted to focus on the community, on the Latino community. How could we be of service to our residents and say, ‘this is what CHI has to offer?'” she said.Espinoza already leads a program with CHI and the Latino Center of the Midlands, where they help high schoolers find career paths in health care. Espinoza hopes HOLA can also help support that program. “I knew that there was already a lack of interest within the Latino community,” Espinoza said. “Maybe not knowing what the education is like to get into health care, maybe not having those mentors that would really guide them through that path and that career.”Espinoza wants young people to, “Believe that you are enough, that you deserve an opportunity just like everybody else.”
Hispanic employees at CHI Health say they hope to bring more Hispanic people into the health care industry, while also making current employees feel welcome.
That’s why they started ‘HOLA,’ CHI’s Hispanic Outreach and Leadership Affinity group.
Kandy Truong is the clinic administrator for the CHI Health clinic at 42nd and L in South Omaha.
“I would say 80% of our staff our bilingual in Spanish, so they have an affinity in regards to the Hispanic Heritage,” Truong said.
She has Vietnamese heritage, but she’s determined to advocate for the many Hispanic employees and patients at her clinic. So, she joined HOLA.
“(I have) more than 20 years in health care, I have not seen the growth that I would like to see within the communities of color,” said HOLA President Selene Espinoza.
“I moved to the United States at the age of 14, I did not speak the language, not a word,” said Espinoza about her experience.
HOLA started in 2019 but stopped holding meetings because of COVID-19. They held their first meeting this week for the first time since then.
Espinoza said the group aims to help Hispanic employees get to know each other within the company.
“Externally, we wanted to focus on the community, on the Latino community. How could we be of service to our residents and say, ‘this is what CHI has to offer?'” she said.
Espinoza already leads a program with CHI and the Latino Center of the Midlands, where they help high schoolers find career paths in health care. Espinoza hopes HOLA can also help support that program.
“I knew that there was already a lack of interest within the Latino community,” Espinoza said. “Maybe not knowing what the education is like to get into health care, maybe not having those mentors that would really guide them through that path and that career.”
Espinoza wants young people to, “Believe that you are enough, that you deserve an opportunity just like everybody else.”
