on Oct 09, 2024

¡En Conversación! Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: An Interview with Ana Z. Licona

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, HR&A Advisors is celebrating the voices, stories, and contributions of our Hispanic and Latine/o employees. We sat down with Senior Analyst, Ana Z. Licona, to learn more about how her identity as a Mexican-American Latina informs her work in broadband and digital equity, her aspirations for the Latine/o community, and her thoughts on mentorship.

 

How does your identity as a Latina inform your work at HR&A?

I identify as a Mexican-American Latina, and my background has shaped all the work I do, especially at HR&A  and our Broadband and Digital Equity team. I grew up in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood in Mesa, AZ where my community did not have internet access at home. I remember having to use public Wi-Fi at school or my local public library to finish homework and complete my college applications. This personal experience drives my passion for ensuring underserved communities have access to the resources they need.

 

 

At HR&A, we back our work with data and analysis, and I always center community voices in the decision-making process — I believe it’s that qualitative and quantitative balance that results in truly impactful solutions for communities. We want to ensure that the people most impacted have a seat at the table. I’m proud to continue this work, not just in broadband but through initiatives like La Liga, where we support municipal power and leaders working to uplift their communities.

 

What are your aspirations for the Latine/o community, and how is your work at HR&A helping to make that vision a reality?

My biggest aspiration for the Latino community is to provide everyone — especially Latinas — with the tools and resources they need to achieve their dreams. Whether that’s through education, workforce development, or digital literacy, I want to make sure that no one is left behind.

 

Through our work on broadband projects, we are helping communities gain access to digital tools and federal resources that can open doors for them. For example, in Clark County, Nevada, we worked on creating an awareness campaign for households to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which provided a discount toward internet service for eligible households. This campaign reached over 200,000 county residents and helped households connect to the internet they needed for work, school, healthcare and more.

 

Additionally, we have worked with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) in launching an innovative digital equity program to support device distribution, digital skills building, and public benefit adoption in three target areas: the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the Mid-Border Region, San Antonio, and Austin. As a result, MHM awarded $21.7M to 20 organizations to carry out digital equity programs that will directly impact more than 100,000 residents with a focus on the most underserved “Covered Populations” in the region—low-income individuals, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with limited English.

 

It is an honor to see this work and investment impact communities across the U.S. Our work is not only bridging the digital divide, but it is also opening the door for many Mexican-American Latinas, like myself, who want to pursue higher education opportunities.  That’s the kind of impact I aspire to make through my work. By ensuring access to broadband and the resources it enables, we’re helping build a future where Latinas can thrive, achieve, and lead.

 

 

What has been your experience working at HR&A, and how do you support other Latinas who are new to the firm?

HR&A has been a supportive space for me to grow professionally. My partners and project managers trust my expertise, and I’ve been given opportunities to grow, including promotions and holding leadership roles within our Comunidad  Employee Resource Group (CERG). I’m excited about where my career could go in the next few years, and I feel empowered to pursue my goals.

 

During my tenure here, I’ve benefited from mentorship, especially through HR&A’s BIPOC Sponsorship Program. My mentor, Andrea, is a Latina Partner at the firm, and although she doesn’t work in broadband, she’s helped me make connections across different areas of our work. I’ve been inspired by her focus on inclusive cities, which is something I’m passionate about as well.

 

I believe it’s important to pay mentorship forward, and I love mentoring others, especially new Latinas at the firm. I’m always open for one-on-one Zoom coffees, where we can chat about everything from the recruitment process to career growth. It’s important to me that HR&A recruits and supports Latina talent, and I want to be there as a resource for anyone who needs guidance.

 

Are there any HR&A clients you’ve worked with that have particularly inspired you?

One client that stands out is Monica Gonzalez who works with Methodist Healthcare Industries in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Monica is an incredible Latina leader, and every time we were on a call, I was inspired by her commitment to equity. She consistently pushed the team to ensure that the solutions we recommended would truly benefit the communities they serve, particularly in South Texas, near the border.

 

I admired her ability to ask the tough questions, and I always felt that we were working together toward the same goal of uplifting marginalized communities. Monica is a great example of a Latina leader making a tangible difference, and it’s been an honor to work with her.