Latin American and
Native American (LANA) ERG

The purpose of the LANA ERG is to:

• Advance a diverse and inclusive work environment for Latin American and Native American employees

• Develop a community of employees to celebrate the diverse cultures and unique gifts that Latin American and Native Americans bring to Berkeley Lab

• Increase visibility and awareness of the LANA community through internal and external activities

• Attract, retain, empower, and inspire Latin American and Native American employees to achieve their fullest potential across the spectrum of employment opportunities at Berkeley Lab

• Bring awareness to Latin American and Native American students to STEM and Operations fields 

• Dia de Los Muertos Cafecito Ofrenda Virtual sharing: We provided a virtual space for people to share things that connected them to our culture and share pictures of their ofrendas.

• Co-hosted an event with the LAMBDA ERG, Screening of film, Acuitzeramo

• Used LANA ERG videos highlighting what LANA is doing at the Lab at various talks and cafecitos

• Hosted the Groove Lounge.

• Hosted speakers Beatriz Cuartas and Edward Rios from Community for the Advancement of Latinos at DOE (CALDOE)

• Hosted speaker Dr. Juan Meza from UC Merced

• Membership Meetings: met quarterly, setting goals and dividing tasks.

• Highlighted LANA members in the "Elements" 3Q4 series.

• Continued hosting Cafecito Social Hours with loteria and all-member meetings.

• Co-hosted an event with WSEC poetry by Kim Shuck and Georgina Marie Guardado speaking about Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women

• Organized Native American Month storytelling events Andrea Delgado Olson Native American Women in STEAM and Computing

• Raised LANA banner during Latin American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Month.

• Met with Director Witherell to discuss invisibility of community issues and a lack of voice from the Lab of issues that impact LANA community. 

• Met with our Executive Sponsor, Blake Simmons, for a general discussion on LANA.

Blake Simmons, Division Director, Biological Systems and Engineering