Leonor learned about the conference through a former retired employee of the USCCB. She volunteered for the I Encuentro in 1984, and the experience was so fulfilling that when an opportunity arose to work here full-time, she took it without hesitation.  Leonor was delighted to take a job at the conference and eager to use the skills she learned while earning a secretarial certification.  She continues to find it very rewarding to be part of the Catholic experience in her current role as Staff Assistant within the new Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church.  Leonor’s work has allowed her to feel a greater sense of connection to her Latin roots and the Hispanic community in general, which according to her is in need of reaffirming its faith as it continues to look to the Catholic Church as a refuge for its soul. Some of Leonor’s greatest highlights have been working at Encuentro 2000 in Los Angeles and at Convocation ‘95 in San Antonio, Texas.

Leonor is the proud mother of two sons, Jesus and Jorge.  They have achieved everything she had hoped for them when they first immigrated to the United States from Peru.  Leonor says she also feels very lucky to have excellent coworkers at the conference, friends that she considers part of her extended family.  

Beverly came to the conference in 1988 as Executive Director in the newly formed Subcommittee for African American Catholics and served in this capacity through 2007. She has been is a long time advocate and community organizer of inner city parishes and schools from her days of working in the Catholic Church in her native Baltimore to becoming a nationally known speaker on combating racism and affirming diversity.  Beverly has received numerous awards and is often sought out for her advice. She is particularly proud of receiving the prestigious Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. award from the Archdiocese of Baltimore for work in civil rights, the 1998 Woman of the Year award from the Baltimore Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and an Honorary Doctorate from Siena College in Loudonville, NY. Beverly led a delegation of African American Catholic women to an international meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.  She also participated in a Conference in Enugu, Nigeria to implement the U.S. Bishops document on Solidarity with Africa.

Beverly currently serves the conference as an assistant Director in the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church and serves as staff to the Subcommittee on African American Affairs.  She will continue to use her extensive experience to organize our dioceses and national organizations around issues that impact evangelization of African Americans to the Church.