* Her immigrant story: from Santo Domingo to NYC, and navigating life in NYC as a young Latina
* How she first got involved in civic engagement, grassroots organizing, and policy
* Her roles in government and nonprofits before joining City Hall
* How she envisions “race of your own” by owning identity, representation, and power in public service
* The challenges and opportunities of leading citywide cross-sector initiatives
* What’s next for New York and for her own leadership
Some of her prior work:
- Director of Community Relations, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. She led external relations strategy, community partnerships, and government collaboration
- Chief of Staff to New York State Director of Nonprofits. Ana managed a $25 million poverty reduction initiative, media campaigns, public outreach across regions
- Program Manager, Civic Engagement (NE Region), NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials). She led grassroots outreach, citizenship support, stakeholder engagement
- Education: Associate degree from Hostos Community College (CUNY), Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Columbia University
This episode is for anyone interested in the intersections of race, leadership, urban governance, and community power. Ana’s story is not just about personal resilience but about systems, partnerships, and reimagining possibilities for equity in one of the world’s most complex cities.
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A Race of your Own Series
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