National Leadership Program, Spring 2018
Ana Lucia Figueroa
Ana Lucia Figueroa was a Policy Fellow in the National Leadership Program at RespectAbility. Born in Mexico, she grew up in Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico. In contrast to Washington, Hermosillo is located in the dessert, and it is very hot. At the age of 23, she already has experienced working as a process analyst for the government in the Institute of Educational Credit of the State of Sonora. In the government, she learned that inclusive education is the only path for people with disabilities in a humane society. Figueroa worked in a program that pays for interpreters for students with hearing impairments. She also has participated as a translator in events like “Vosh Arizona Ophthalmology day” in Hermosillo.
Figueroa finished her Bachelor of Business Administration in July 2017. She has participated in exchanges such as “Hands Across the Border Program” between the states of Sonora, Mexico and Michigan, USA. She has been part of leadership groups since she was in elementary school, but mostly in high school and university. Her professional interests in the future include helping people with disabilities by focusing on inclusive education. She believes that being a Fellow with Respectability will help her gain knowledge and a broad vision of the problems facing people with disabilities. Beyond that, she believes this experience will give her the tools to help people with disabilities in her country. She aspires to work in social media and in government programs that help those who need it the most.
Figueroa loves to travel. She believes that when you visit new places, your mind expands as you experience different perspectives of life. For this reason, she has attended many seminars, including Public Ethics and Integrity, Conflicts and Mediation, Emotional Intelligence in Service Institutions and others. She enjoys listening to music, which makes her feel happy, and she believes that a positive attitude can solve most problems. Her mantra is “Stay positive.”
