When Marta Mendoza closes her eyes, she can transport herself back to Guatemala. She can see her grandfather tending to his beloved beehives while chickens ran around the backyard. She can almost taste the air, thick with the sweet scent of the mango and coconut trees nearby. More than anything, she can feel the warmth and affection of her family as they spend their days together and manage the home.

Recalling these memories of her trips to her ancestral homeland is one of several ways that Marta, Assistant Environmental Engineer who works in the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's (SFPUC) Wastewater Enterprise, feels rooted to her Latina heritage. It’s also how she bridges the distance between herself and her extended family who live in Southern California, Minnesota, and Guatemala. With this deep cultural connection, Marta has held fast to who she is while navigating new experiences.

She drew on this adaptability when she left for college at the University of California, Irvine. Suddenly immersed in an unfamiliar environment and far from the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood where she grew up in Los Angeles, she searched for belonging and community. 

Following a growing curiosity about science, she was inspired by an environmental engineering professor whose research focused on how power and energy can be used to extract, treat, and reclaim water. "Professor Rosso was so passionate — he made wastewater aeration sound fun and interesting, which it is! He could see that I was excited to learn more and potentially make this my career," said Marta. "I’m very grateful that he introduced me to an internship opportunity at the SFPUC.”

Outside of the classroom, Marta joined the student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. The group provided her a safe space to meet likeminded students interested in STEM careers. She spoke Spanish and English freely and met others who had similar upbringings as well as international students in the US for the first time.  

Honoring Latino Heritage Extends Beyond October

Today, at the SFPUC’s Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, Marta focuses on wastewater optimization and troubleshoots day-to-day challenges at the plant. Her work helps the SFPUC comply with federal and state regulations and protect public health and the environment. Oceanside treats about 20% of San Francisco’s combined stormwater and wastewater and serves the city’s west side as well as the Lake Merced urban watershed.  

Tucked away at Ocean Beach, the facility has a tight-knit workplace community. “I find the work of partnering with operations, maintenance, and engineering very meaningful,” says Marta. “This job is what I aspired to do when I was a student, and I’m thrilled that I get to do it every day with colleagues I enjoy.”

For Marta, her connection to her Latina roots remain ever present and isn’t limited to a month or a cultural observance. She enjoys listening to Shakira and Maná, a Mexican pop rock band, for example. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is especially significant for her. 

"When I think of my heritage, I think of family and food like my grandma’s tamales. On Dia de los Muertos, even if I’m not with my family for the day, they send me videos and photos so that I’m part of the celebration," Marta shared. "It’s a joyful way to remember people like my grandfather in Guatemala who has passed away.”