"I arrived without papers, we live poor," says Jennifer Molina, "we didn't have much and I think that as I grew up with little that helped me."
"My mom was single and I could really see the need for politics in people's lives," she adds.
Molina is now spokesperson for Hispanic Affairs for the president, Joe Biden, and one of the most relevant Latina officials in the White House, along with Pili Tobar, deputy director of Communications;
Julie Chávez Rodríguez, director of the Intergovernmental Affairs office;
and Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón, chief of staff of the first lady, Jill Biden.
Our correspondent in Washington, DC, Cristina Londoño, spoke exclusively with the four of them within the framework of Women's Month.
"It's a great honor": this Latina came to the US as undocumented and now works with Joe Biden
Jan. 1, 202103: 14
[Three Latinos among the first chosen to fill positions in the White House with Biden]
Molina, who was born in Colombia, also spoke during this meeting with Amelia, a Venezuelan political asylum who studies Culinary Sciences, and took advantage of the meeting to advise her: "Don't give up hope. There are very frustrating days when you don't know what's going on. to pass".
Tobar, for his part, spent time with Jesús, a migrant who was born in the same land as his father, and spoke of the nostalgia with which he learned to live: "The most difficult thing for me has been to leave Guatemala, to leave my family and there were times when I thought, what am I doing? I'm missing seeing my brothers grow up, seeing my great-grandmother. "
Tobar was the communications director for Biden's campaign, and also served as the deputy director of America's Voice, an organization where she advocated for migrant rights.
In addition, she was national director of Hispanic Media and press secretary of the Democratic National Committee.
"It's hard to believe," says Pili Tobar when she is nominated by Biden as deputy director of communications.
Dec. 1, 202002: 30
[The granddaughter of activist César Chávez talks about her grandfather's influence for his new role in the White House]
Reynoso, chief of staff of the first lady, recounted her recent visit to a detention center for immigrant minors on the border and spoke about a 4-year-old girl who was without her father and mother, an image that is engraved in her mind .
"As a mother, you see the situation of these children and your soul breaks," said Reynoso, a lawyer and former ambassador to Uruguay, among other charges.
The officials also explained a bit what it is like to work with one of the most powerful couples in the world: “Obviously there is deference, respect but, in reality, they are both very casual and that is not just from now.
All their lives both have always been very given to people, "said Tobar.
From left to right: Jennifer Molina, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón and Pili Tobar. Telemundo News
[Biden elects women and minorities to lead a diverse government that "looks like America"]
"I am with the first lady every day and she is one of the simplest people I have ever met in my entire life. There is no way to describe the simplicity of that person," Reynoso said.
Chávez Rodríguez, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, spoke of what it feels like to see the bust of his grandfather, César Chávez, the legendary Chicano activist, in the Oval Office of the White House: "I feel very proud, not only because of me, but for the Latino community. "
If his grandfather were alive, he said, he believes he would ask him to use his government position to fight for the rights of peasants.
When the four were asked if they had presidential aspirations, they laughed a little and then explained the magnitude of the responsibilities that the Government entails: "I think this has made me realize that at no time would I like that," Tobar summarized, " I've seen how difficult that job is, the tough decisions that have to be made. "
