Once a month, NEPA Diana Perez Pantoja goes to the Consulado de Mexico en Indianapolis to represent NEP.

There, as a guest of the Mexican Consulate and Eskenazi Health, she shares tasty samples, gives wellness tips, and signs up participants for her classes.

“It is a beautiful place,” Diana said, “and it is filled with people who want to know more about how to be healthy.”

Diana was discovered by an Eskenazi Health staffer who handled the hospital’s health outreach services to the local Mexican community. The woman found one of Diana’s brochures and invited her to participate in a women’s health fair at the consulate. The event was so successful, Diana has become a regular.

Diana said she structured her classes around the needs of her students. She keeps her groups small “because it is more comfortable for the people to be in a smaller class. They can speak without feeling like many people are watching them.”

Her classes are also done online.

“All are virtual because, for Hispanic people, it is hard for them to go out because of work, or transportation, or the moms have babies,” Diana said. “I have tried different times and these work best for the people in my class.”

As a Colombian native who who taught at an area college before coming to the U.S., Diana said she understands what her clients are facing.

“When you are new, it’s good to have a place you can come to for help,” Diana said.

“When you move to a new country, it’s hard. You don’t know anything about the culture or the city. I think the Mexican consulate is a good place because they offer lots of services in one place for everyone. People from all over can come and get help.”