Maria Elena Perez

Maria Elena is a member of the organization’s senior leadership team and has administrative oversight of organizational operations, including human resources and financial management, and works with senior staff to ensure program alignment.  

She previously served as the organization’s Director of Community Mobilization and is a national expert on the Latina experience at the community level. Maria Elena authored the NLIRH report, Advancing Reproductive Justice in Immigrant Communities: Promotoras(es) de Salud as a Model.  She is an experienced national spokesperson on Latina issues.

Academic and advocacy institutions have recognized Maria Elena’s important leadership role.  Maria Elena was recently selected as a New York University Lead the Way Fellow, a unique capacity building and leadership initiative for women of color leaders. In 2006, Maria Elena was selected to participate in the National Women’s Law Center’s Progressive Leadership and Advocacy Network and was also selected as an Immigrant Advocacy Fellow through an innovative leadership initiative sponsored by the New York Immigration Coalition and the Social Justice Leadership Collaborative.

Prior to NLIRH, Maria Elena held positions at Cabrini Immigrant Services and Make the Road New York.  She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University.