My name is Patricia Vargas, originally from Mexico. My professional journey with Esperanza began during the challenging period of COVID-19, where I served as Program Manager in collaboration with UCLA, working on community outreach in the City of Los Angeles. It was a great achievement to overcome during the pandemic while working shoulder to shoulder on the streets of our community..

In January 2023, I transitioned to the role of Pest Management Program Manager with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The mission is to reduce pest-related risks through education while focusing on underserved African American and Hispanic families living in the over-populated neighborhoods of South Los Angeles.

I also had the privilege of representing our organization internationally by participating in the World Climate Research Programme's Open Science Conference that was held in the Central African country of Rwanda in October 2023. This opportunity allowed me to showcase the progressive environmental policies in Los Angeles, particularly the ban on urban oil drilling in residential areas due to its dangerous health effects from air pollution. The conference also gave me valuable information into other global climate research efforts alongside researchers worldwide.