This is a picture of Leticia Colon de Mejias (second from the left) in 2009 when she won a REACH neighborhood service award. She was working as an education coordinator at Hartford Hospital where she implemented programs in adult basic education, English as a second language, and computer classes. She helped employees set a long-term vision for their future and make those dreams a reality. One example of this progress was her student Raymond Ortiz. “When I met Leticia I was working in the warehouse at Hartford Hospital,” Raymond said. “Now, thanks to her, I’m a Purchasing Assistant and a student at Capital Community College pursuing a business degree with a major in accounting.”

In addition to her work at Hartford Hospital, Leticia volunteered extensively. She volunteered as a mentor for incarcerated youth and for a program with the Connecticut ballet. She wrote children’s books focusing on environmental themes. Out of this passion she started a nonprofit called the Green Eco-Warriors that aimed to teach kids that we must use our gifts to save energy and protect the planet. Her work was noticed by Hartford Hospital’s Vice President Kevin Kinesella. “I wish we had a hundred of her,” he said. “The initiative she took in implementing the adult education programs, and more importantly in making them so successful, has been a real inspiration. On top of that, her volunteer activity outside of work is an inspiration to the whole community.”

So, where is she now? You might have expected that she moved up the job ladder at Hartford Hospital and is a vice president or president by now. That certainly would have been within reach for her. But Leticia is not one to follow a conventional path. “The winding path is more fun.” she said. So she blazes her own trail. In 2008 Leticia learned about climate change, and the impact it was going to have on our world. At that point, she gave up watching TV “cold turkey” and set aside time for doing tasks she found more valuable. “I’m one of those people that once I know, I can’t pretend that I don’t,” she said. “Once I’ve seen it, it’s real for me and I need to do something about it.”

With the remote control down, Leticia learned the greatest contributor to many health issues was energy. She was convinced that something needed to be done. Eventually, she quit her job at Hartford Hospital and entered the unknown. “People thought I was crazy,” she said. After extensive research she decided to start her own business – Energy Efficiency Solutions. The business makes energy efficiency upgrades to residential and commercial properties. The business is led by people of color and true to form, the top leadership of the company started at entry level positions and moved their way up as they were developed by Leticia.  Four former employees even started energy efficiency businesses of their own. Energy Efficiency Solutions has excelled, winning multiple awards locally and nationally.

Today, you can see Leticia testifying before members of Congress and speaking on the TedX stage (video below) with seemingly endless energy. In 2019, however, you would have seen her in a wheelchair. Leticia had a spinal disease that caused her to lose the use of her right hand. One day as she was trying to answer the phone, she fell and suffered multiple injuries including some to her spinal cord.  As Leticia was receiving medical attention, she got even more bad news: she also had cancer. 

Leticia was terrified. “I was afraid my ideas would die with me,” she said. She needed to have a spinal fusion and knew her chances of recovery were not guaranteed. Leticia began to plan for her death, recording all of the ideas she wanted to still see come to life, and figured out how existing work could be divided up to continue on without her.

In June of 2020, Leticia went to Hartford Hospital for surgery without the highest of hopes. Due to COVID restrictions she entered the building by herself. But as soon as Leticia rolled through the door, a smiling face reminded her that she wasn’t alone. Leticia was greeted by one of her former students at the hospital who had gone through Leticia’s training program and furthered their career. Leticia then met her nurse –  a former student. And then met her anesthesiologist- another student. 

“I started to cry,” Leticia said. Her dedication hadn’t been forgotten. When her former students found out she was having surgery, they arranged their schedules to make sure that someone was always by her side. Over 1500 other students who couldn’t support her in person showed their love by sending text messages of encouragement. Leticia had spent decades pouring into people, helping them to understand their gifts and how to use them. Now that vast network had become Leticia’s net, determined to use its strength to hold her up when she couldn’t do so herself.

Going into the surgery Leticia knew that her ideas weren’t going to die. When she woke up from the surgery, despite all odds, she knew she too would live alongside them. Leticia was given the gift of being able to carry out the plan she prepared before her death. She would be the one to carry her ideas forward along with everyone who joins in along the way.

So if you think that Leticia sounds like a superhero, she would agree with you. She would say that you are a superhero too. “Everyone has superpower,” she said. These powers need to be used for good, to protect the planet, and leave it better for the kids who come after us. Leticia, however,  isn’t interested in being a lone Wonderwoman. She is building a Justice League. All are welcome and all are needed to take on the crisis facing our generation and every generation to come. Don’t think that you aren’t qualified to join this effort. “At the end of the day, sometimes one person can really change the world,” Leticia said. “We often don’t think of it that way; we feel small and insignificant. But we’re not insignificant and small. One person can spark an entire movement.”