Silvia Henriquez

Silvia Henriquez is responsible for the overall management, fundraising and administration of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

Silvia has positioned NLIRH as one of the leading organizations working to advance the reproductive health and rights of Latinas. Within the first two years of her tenure, she increased national visibility through the 2004 March for Women’s Lives and the National Latina Summit. Subsequently under her leadership, NLIRH has developed a successful organizing and leadership development training curriculum, a national policy agenda and built coalitions with state and national partners that advance a reproductive justice advocacy effort. Through her work at NLIRH, Silvia has published articles in “Social Policy, Organizing for Social and Economic Justice and Democratic Participation” and “Conscience, The Newsjournal of Catholic Opinion.” Silvia is a frequent media commentator on reproductive health, rights and justice and immigration topics. She has been quoted in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post, Roll Call, El Diario, and cnn.com.

Prior to her leadership position at NLIRH, Silvia worked with various reproductive rights organizations. She was the National Campus Coordinator at the Feminist Majority Foundation, the Outreach Director at the National Abortion Federation and a Policy Analyst with the Latino Issues Forum where in 2003, she co-wrote, “Our Health, Our Rights: Reproductive Justice for Latinas in California.”

Silvia currently sits on the Board of Directors of both the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Guttmacher Institute. She is one of three recipients of the Ms. Foundation for Women’s 2010 “Woman of Vision” Award.  In 2010, Silvia also received the the National Organization for Women’s “Woman of Action” Award. In addition, Silvia was recognized by the National Women’s Health Network at their 30th Anniversary, as one of 30 activists working on behalf of women’s health. Silvia is also the recipient of the 2005 Young Professional Award from the American Public Health Association. Under her leadership, NLIRH was granted the Alfred F. Moran Public Advocacy Award from Family Planning Advocates of New York State. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in International Affairs and a Master’s in Women’s Studies both from George Washington University.