Lucille Roybal-Allard: “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise to pay tribute to the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Later this…”

“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I rise to pay tribute to the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Later this year, NHLI alumnae will gather in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of this nationally recognized leadership development institute. A national Latina organization based in Washington, D.C., NHLI was founded in 1987 in response to the U.S. Department of Labor's Glass Ceiling Initiative. This seminal study found that while minorities and women were making substantial gains in entering the workforce, they were not equally represented at mid and senior level management positions in government or corporate sectors. The study also found that Latinas were significantly underrepresented on corporate boards and in nonprofit and political arenas. Over the past 25 years, NHLI has become a vital resource for Latinas and a key player in cultivating Latina leaders serving America today. In partnership with Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership, NHLI graduates have become a formidable cadre of well- educated, highly skilled, and committed Latina leaders. They are a veritable ``who's who'' in many communities and disciplines, and the impact of their collective leadership is felt throughout the country. Through various mentoring initiatives and community service projects, NHLI alumnae have directly impacted thousands of Latinas in every State and in Puerto Rico.…”