For immediate release

WASHINGTON – The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) today announced the poster selection to accompany the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month national theme: Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation. Both the theme and poster reinforce the need to ensure diverse voices and perspectives are welcomed in decision-making processes, thereby helping to build stronger communities and a stronger Nation. NCHEPM members, Federal agency partners, Employee Resource Groups and members of the general public selected the theme through a substantive voting process. 

Ms. Irene Matos Chan, a senior Information Technology manager in the Square Tech Computer Repair & Training Center for the Castle Square Tenants Organization submitted the winning theme, stating: 

"I am biracial and I wanted to represent my Hispanic culture and the Hispanic countries. I want people to connect to their Hispanic culture and show it and express it to their community. [The poster] expresses that you should be proud of your race no matter what it is , and be proud to show it and represent it. "

From September 15 to October 15 each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, histories, traditions and cultural diversity of Hispanic/Latino/Latinx Americans whose heritage is rooted in 20 Latin American countries and territories: Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. The NCHEPM supports the Federal government’s observance activities by selecting the annual theme and poster to be used. 

The national observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting September 15 and ending 

October 15 of each year. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. 

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The NCHEPM advocates for the improvement of Hispanic participation and representation in the Federal Government. For more information about the Council, visit www.nationalcouncilhepm.org. 

WASHINGTON – The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) Board of Directors was made aware on May 11, 2022, that the organization was the victim of a data breach. An unauthorized third party was able to access a Listserv file containing the personal and professional contact information of individuals listed as members of the Council from the last 10 years. As a result, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of nearly 500 NCHEPM members may have been exposed to others.

What personal information could have been accessed?

The personal information that was accessed included linkable PII: first and last names, physical addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses.

Is the security or confidentiality of members’ personal information at risk at this time?

The Board of Directors immediately secured the vulnerability to its network, accounts and platforms, ensuring that the PII of NCHEPM Members was no longer accessible. Moreover, the Board began an investigation of the matter to develop a better understanding of what had taken place and how. The Board also is reviewing its internal policies and data management protocols, and has implemented enhanced security internal

measures to help prevent this type of incident from recurring in the future.

Why are Members being notified?

The privacy and security of NCHEPM Members’ personal and professional information is very important, and the Board of Directors wanted Council Members to know about the possible exposure of their personal information.

Do Members need to take any action?

Members do not need to take any action at this time.

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The NCHEPM advocates for the improvement of Hispanic participation and representation in the Federal Government. For more information about the Council, visit www.nationalcouncilhepm.org.

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2022 — The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM), announced the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Observance Theme: “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” The theme encourages us to ensure that all voices are represented and welcomed to help build stronger communities and a stronger nation. The announcement was made during the Council’s March meeting. NCHEPM members, associates, and partners from various federal agencies and affinity groups, including the general public, selected the theme through a voting process, which started in February 2022 with 15 theme submissions.

Ms. Ily Soares, Supervisory Accountant at Farm Credit Administration (FCA) submitted the winning theme, stating “Hispanics in the United States are a diverse group who bring a rich combination of language, culture, educational backgrounds, and experience to the great American experiment. This diverse background brings with it a wealth of ideas and perspectives. One uniting factor within our Hispanic community is our desire to be included and represented in all aspects of American society. As has been proven, when different voices are sitting at the metaphorical table and included in key decisions, the entire community benefits from greater solutions that address concerns from all people. Whether it be education, government, business, or the environment, ensuring that all voices are represented provide results in better and more thoughtful decisions. These improved decisions support the greater good and minimize any negative impacts to marginalized communities and people of color. We call on citizens of this nation from all walks of life to look around and welcome new voices to the table. This will help us build stronger communities and in turn, a stronger nation.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the contributions and importance of Hispanics and Latinos to the United States and those American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The NCHEPM supports the federal government’s observance activities each year by leading the process to select the annual theme federal agencies will use to conduct their Hispanic Heritage Month observances.

The Hispanic Heritage observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100- 402.

The NCHEPM is a membership-based organization consisting of an executive board, members, associates, and partners from multiple Federal agencies and other organizations from across the United States, advocating for the improvement of Hispanic participation in the Federal Government.

WASHINGTON – The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) today announced a call for poster submissions for its annual Hispanic Heritage Month national theme. This year’s theme, Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation, reinforces the need to ensure diverse voices and perspectives are welcomed in decision-making processes, thereby helping to build stronger communities and a stronger Nation.

NCHEPM members, Federal agency partners, Employee Resource Groups and members of the public are invited to submit poster entries with a limited two-paragraph description of the meaning of the artwork by Monday, April 18, 2022. Entries must be submitted via the Council’s website Submit Poster Here (nationalcouncilhepm.org) or e-mail to nationalcouncilhepm@gmail.com with “2022 HHM Poster Entry” in the subject line.

Voting will take place April 20-25, 2022, and the winner announced by the May 2022 NCHEPM monthly meeting.

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The NCHEPM advocates for the improvement of Hispanic participation and representation in the Federal Government.

Each month, the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers hosts informative and dynamic virtual meetings for more than 500 members. We are currently looking for federal agencies to partner with us to host these monthly events.

If you are an Hispanic Employment Program Manager (HEPM), Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM), Selective Placement Program Coordinator (Schedule A Coordinator), Veterans Employment Program Manager (VEPM), or an Equal Employment Opportunity, Human Resources or Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) practitioner, we invite you to partner with us by providing the virtual platform and call-in number we need to host our meetings!

Host agencies will have their logo featured on all meeting materials, and will receive special acknowledgement by the NCHEPM Chair at the start of the meeting.

Many hands make the work light! Choose today to make a positive impact on the work of the Council and in the DEIA space.