Organizer, Fundraiser, Nonprofit Strategist
Maria is from Mount Vernon, NY where she was first introduced to faith-based and coalition community-organizing as a young child through the Coalition for the Empowerment of People of African Ancestry (CEPAA). In 2004, while still an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, Maria co-founded New Voices for Reproductive Justice to promote the complete health and well-being of black women, girls, and femmes. The organization is still headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, with offices in Philadelphia and Cleveland as well.
Maria has been a professional fundraiser and nonprofit strategist for 15 years, having raised more than $100 million for organizations such as Wave Hill (Bronx, NY), the National Black Child Development Institute, the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC), and the National Urban League (New York, NY).
Maria has been a Leading Organizer with Purpose Productions, helping artists and organizers with strategic planning, crowd funding, administration and other crucial needs. Maria has been coordinating the New York Youth Justice Initiative since 2018 and is a current Westchester County African American Advisory Board member.