A Powerful Advocate, Yesenia Peck Wears Many Hats, Making a Difference in Nebraska
MY FIVE: A series where we ask Omahans to share their five favorite things
By: Xitlally Velasco
Originally an attorney for the Supreme Court in Lima, Peru, Yesenia Peck wears many hats to be a potent leader and advocate for the Omaha community and surrounding areas. She came to the United States 19 years ago to attend a conference where she met her husband.
Like most immigrants arriving in the U.S., Peck took on multiple jobs, such as a housekeeper and working in a restaurant, to become stable. Eventually, she started to volunteer around in the community. She came across the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which she said she took as her second family; currently, she’s their volunteer President. The NHCC serves the Nebraska business community by offering services and programs in the areas of education, networking, leadership, innovation, and economic development.
“I wanted to be involved with an organization because I didn’t want to feel the pain of not having my family and my career,” Peck said.
Outside of her volunteer time, Peck has been with the Nebraska Public Power District for eight years, where she is their Diversity Manager in Columbus. As the largest company across the state, NPPD sends Peck to various rural areas such as Kearney, Scottsbluff, Madison, etc.
“The cool thing with that is that they allow me to take the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, meaning that I can visit Latinos and Hispanics and ask what their needs are,” she said. “So if there’s something going on, I bring that need back to the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.”
Peck plans to stay with the NHCC, but she does want to look for another group of individuals to start taking over. She’s in the process of restructuring the organization.
“So far, I haven’t met people that work for people without an interest,” she said. “I’m not stopping my dreams because of the chamber, but I think the most important thing in the community arena for me is to find people that are as passionate or more for the Latino business community.”
Peck believes it’s important for Latinos to be involved in the community and to themselves visible.
“Be who you are and let them know who you are. If you see one opportunity, one, take it and run.”
We asked Peck what are five things she can’t live without, and this is what she shared…
Studying.
“At the end of every year, I evaluate how I have grown as a professional.”
-Yesenia Peck
I have to study because I’m afraid that if I don’t gain knowledge, I haven’t done anything. At the end of every year, I evaluate how I have grown as a professional. Right now, I’m getting my Ph.D., so I know I’m gaining knowledge. But there was a gap between my Master’s and Ph.D., where I had to do something, so I got certifications from Cornell University. After that, I felt good because I was growing professionally.
2. Reporting.
“I feel like I’m cheating if I work from home.”
-Yesenia Peck
This is something weird, but I can’t go without seeing my boss and going to Columbus. We have the option to work remotely, but I just feel like I have to go to the office or else I don’t feel good. I feel like if I don’t go, I’m going to be in trouble, and sometimes I’ll call my boss, and he’ll just laugh. I go to Columbus three to four times a week. I feel like I’m cheating if I work from home.
3. Working.
I’m a workaholic; I’ll admit it.
I think it has something to do with when I came and found five jobs because I didn’t want to feel the pain of my son, family, country, and career not being here. I was an attorney over there; here, I was nothing. I was just thinking I have to work, work, work. I could be chatting with you, and I keep thinking about work, even on the weekend.
- Yesenia Peck
4. My agenda.
“I have my agenda where I write every single thing.”
-Yesenia Peck
I’m criticized all the time about it, but I need to have my agenda and sticky notes with me. You may be thinking, well, those are common in an office, but no, I need to have them in my car right next to me and everywhere else. And with my agenda, people will say to use my phone. But no, because your phone can get lost or it can fail. So, I have my agenda where I write every single thing.
5. Chocolates, coffee, and wine.
On Coffee:
“It’s kid’s temp because I work even in my car, and I can’t have my coffee burning me.”
- Yesenia Peck
Godiva chocolate is my favorite. I’ll go to Family Dollar and buy Godiva’s chocolate turtles with pecans - that’s my thing. Another one is coffee, for sure, but I’m trying to wake up my organs in a more gentle way each morning. If my coffee is from Starbucks or Scooters, I like a small or medium mocha, kid’s temperature, and no whip. It’s kid’s temp because I work even in my car, and I can’t have my coffee burning me. At home, I like four creamers and four Splenda’s. And finally, something I can’t be without is drinking my wine.
Xitlally Velasco is a University of Nebraska at Omaha journalism student with a concentration in public relations and advertising, and a minor in Psychology. Velasco is the Marketing and Public Relations Digital Content Curator at Lozafina. Send your tips and story ideas to office@lozafina.com