At Providence, we believe in the power of human connection. Every day, we see firsthand the benefits that come from intentional collaboration, not just between clinicians and patients but between our caregiver teams as well. That’s why we’re proud to offer a variety of Caregiver Resource Groups, where caregivers with shared backgrounds and experiences can connect, learn from, and educate others. Caregivers seeking professional guidance and support can also participate in mentorship programs offered by some of these groups, like Somos Providence Latinx Caregiver Resource Group.

Laura Reyes, Chair of Somos Providence Latinx Caregiver Resource Group and Senior Program Manager in Patient Experience, talks about the positive impacts of the six-month mentorship program she helped launch. “The stories I’ve heard about what they get out of it—not only the mentee, but the mentor—are incredible,” says Laura. “The mentors get to develop their leadership skills and learn how to build relationships. The mentees benefit in that they are paired up with someone that is in a field related to theirs, and so they get career advice.”

The career mentorship program has grown steadily since its inception. The first cohort included eight caregivers: four mentors and four mentees. For the second, participation surged to 24.

Further evidence of the mentorship program’s success: mentees are advancing their careers. Laura shares an inspiring story: “There was one mentee who wanted to advance in her position, and once she was done with her relationship with her mentor, she went for the role and got the role. She had guidance on what things to bring up in the interview process.”

Laura not only manages the program but she’s a mentor herself. A seasoned public speaker, she is mentoring another caregiver who wants to enhance their public speaking skills. “Our mentors and mentees all say the same thing: We need this at Providence,” she says. “We need to pair up people that have similar interests so that you can pave the path for someone else to elevate their position, to find a career path, and also just to have our voices heard.”

This is critical because leadership should reflect the community, Laura emphasizes. “When you look at our patient base, there’s a lot of people of diverse backgrounds, and so we want to get into leadership positions. The mentorship program provides a way for people to do that.”

Career development doesn’t end with the mentorship program. The Somos Providence group regularly hosts speakers to inspire and guide caregivers on their professional journeys. Recently, Martin Schreiber, Vice President for the Mission Leadership Institute at Providence, delivered a motivating talk. Laura reflects, “He said, ‘Find your summit, find what it is that you want to do.’ He talked about the people that you align with to get there, trusting yourself, being spiritual. Somos Providence helps caregivers engage with people we hope they find inspiring in their roles and lives.”

The name of their group, Somos Providence, holds profound meaning in terms of professional development, Laura shares. Translated from Spanish, it means “We are Providence.”

“The message behind our name is that we want to be included,” Laura says. “We want to be heard. We want to be promoted. We want to engage with people of all levels of leadership. We want a seat at the table, we have a lot to offer, and we represent the community in many ways. So, if you give us a chance, we will blow you away with what we can do.”

Read more about diversity at Providence.