A Message from President
Berenice Felix-Baca

Since 2015, I have had the pleasure and honor to serve on PHN’s Board of Directors with the culmination of being President this past fiscal year. I am very proud of the work that we have accomplished together and know in my heart that our successes to date would not have been made possible without the hard work and dedication of the Board of Directors and active PHN members.

Throughout the last five years, I have also had the privilege of meeting countless members, City staff, sponsors, and partners that share the same passion for helping one another be successful within the City organization. To those I have met, it is my commitment to continue to cultivate our relationships because I know our paths will cross again.

As I transition into the Past President/Advisory role, I would like to ceremoniously pass the leadership baton to an already demonstrated City and PHN leader, Samantha Tavares. I am certain that, as President, Samantha will take PHN to a level beyond our initial expectations. I cannot wait to see what you and your new Board of Directors have in store for 2020-2021. Please know that I will always make myself available to assist in a way needed.

PHN has become a large part of who I am, and I will always hold the organization and its members in a very special place. This is not goodbye but rather a “see you around at the upcoming PHN events and activities”.  Hasta pronto PHN amigos y amigas. ¡Suerte!

Berenice Felix-Baca

PHN Past President

A Message from Incoming President Samantha Tavares

When I first came to the City of Phoenix in 2014, I felt like an outsider. A transplant from the San Francisco Bay Area, I was nervous about how I would fit in at such a large organization. One of my first assignments at the city was to research how other employers utilized employee resource groups. I saw how successful these groups were in other organizations and wanted our city to experience the same success. From there, I was hooked! I needed to be part of PHN.

Fast-forward six years and here I am, your new president. 2020 has been an emotional ride and I do not see it stopping anytime soon. We are living through the COVID-19 pandemic, high unemployment, and most importantly, our country is experiencing the long overdue awakening of systemic racism. One, two, or all three issues is/are directly impacting you and your family. Since PHN’s inception, we have strived to promote the advancement of Latino employees in our city through professional development opportunities and increased access to information, events, and support, all the while promoting and practicing inclusion. It is critical we provide a stage for deep discussions and with your participation, we can be the catalyst that moves these important conversations into action. PHN is here for all employees, and we need to lean on each other as we move our city forward.

Professional development has always been one of core values and during these uncertain times, PHN is committed to building a culture of learning. I encourage you to:

1. Renew your PHN membership. You will continue to receive PHN communication and access to PHN-member exclusive events, such as our 2020 Webinar Series. Visit phoenixhispanicnetwork.org to see our line-up for the year.
    
2. Mark your calendars for our upcoming events. We are intentionally providing a space for learning and to discuss trending and relevant topics. If you have ideas for topics, we want to hear them. Please email us at phx.hispanic.network@phoenix.gov.
    
3. Participate and be engaged. We want you to be involved and stay connected. Email us to learn more about development opportunities in PHN this year.
    
4. Motivate a colleague looking for personal and professional development opportunities to join. Help be part of our mission.

Many thanks to Berenice and Luis for their work on the board and congratulations to Sonya and Bettina for their appointments. Congratulations to Vanessa and Nick as they begin their new roles. This board is full of mesmerizing leaders in our organization and I look forward to working with each of you.

As I transitioned to life in the Valley of the Sun, PHN helped me grow and connect with people in our beautiful city. I am grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to experience this year with you.

Stay safe, healthy, and hopeful.

Samantha Tavares

PHN President

2020 Webinar Series

The Phoenix Hispanic Network is excited to announce a new, interactive webinar series highlighting a variety of topics to help foster the professional and personal development of PHN members. This is an added benefit to PHN members only. The webinars will engage PHN members in conversation on topics such as innovation, employee engagement, mental health, etc. The first webinar of the series, “PHN Year in Review & Self Care,” is available to view online. Use password: 8v%#MM^#

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FY 2020-21
Calendar of Events

PHN is excited to release the calendar of events for the upcoming fiscal year. The events will held either in-person or virtually depending on the circumstances at the time of the event. 

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