Elizabeth Peña is the special assistant for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. Before joining the Department of Labor, Elizabeth worked as a researcher in the Presidential Personnel Office on the Biden-Harris transition team. She has worked in various campaigns as a policy and political researcher and vetter. In her hometown of El Paso, Texas, Elizabeth worked and advocated for small businesses at the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. During the 2020 election, Elizabeth was the co-founder of Know My Ballot, a small organization aimed to provide educational, unbiased political information and resources to the public in both English and Spanish. Elizabeth holds a juris doctor from DePaul University College of Law and a bachelor’s in political science and international relations from St. Mary’s University. As a first time District of Columbia resident, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her husband and 1-year old son exploring the city.
- What led you to work for ILAB? When did you know you were in the right place with ILAB?
I joined ILAB as a political appointee for the Biden-Harris administration. Before coming to ILAB, I was a researcher in the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) at the White House. When my time as a researcher was coming to an end, I knew I wanted to work in an office that worked on human rights and international relations. I was very fortunate that I was able to interview with ILAB because they encompassed everything I was looking for. After all, labor rights are human rights. Being able to work in an office that makes a difference not only domestically but internationally on these issues has been such a great and humbling experience. I knew I was at the right place when I started to see the impact our work has for other workers around the world. In particular, as a Mexican-American with family still in Mexico, it was incredible to see the work our USMCA team does to help workers understand their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. - How does your Latina/Hispanic identity shape your work?
My Latina/Hispanic identity shapes my work by providing me with the core values that are embedded in me, like strong work ethic, compassion, and resilience. I pride myself in being able to communicate in both English and Spanish because I’m able to connect to more people and have a bigger impact. Just recently, ILAB, in collaboration with other DOL agencies, launched MigrantWorker.gov/TrabajadorMigrante.gov as a resource for migrant workers. This website is a one-stop shop for migrant workers to know and understand their rights when working in the United States. This project hit home for me because I come from a family of migrant workers and having the opportunity to contribute to the creation of this website, especially being able to help translate the valuable information into Spanish, was very rewarding. - What advice would you give to professionals who want to grow as a leader?
I recognize that Latine/Hispanic people may at times lack a sense of belonging or have impostor syndrome (because I have!), but I say that no matter how scared or nervous you feel, make sure your voice is always heard and never be afraid to be yourself. Take risks, take chances, and live outside your comfort zone. By doing this you’ll be able to grow not only as a person but professionally as well.