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2023 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
Panelists
Keynote Speakers
Training
Networking
Awards
2023 HONOREES
Maria Luna has been called “a political legend in Washington Heights” by the Daily News (May 19, 2011). Maria was the first Dominican party official elected in the United States and the first female Dominican member of the Democratic National Committee. Maria has been politically involved in Upper Manhattan since 1983. She has also served on Community Board #12 for over 27 years, including as its Chairperson. A retired manager of the accounting department of the American Museum of Natural History, Maria has served on countless statewide and nationwide committees, as well as on the Board of a number of not-for-profit organizations in Upper Manhattan. In November 2008, Maria was elected first Vice-Chair of the New York State Democratic Party. She is also the former chair of the Executive Committee of the N.Y. County Democratic Committee. Maria Luna also serves as the 33rd Precinct Council President, and she is the host of Dialogo Democratico, a monthly show that has been airing on Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) for over 25 years.
Mirtha Colón, a Honduran-born Garifuna activist and social worker who assists Caribbean migrants in The Bronx and travels widely supporting the issues of HIV prevention, sex education and cultural preservation.
It is important to note that since 2008, Garifunas in New York observe March 11 to April 12 as Garifuna-American Heritage Month "in commemoration of the 226th Anniversary of the forcible transfer by the British of the Garifuna people from their ancestral homeland St. Vincent ‘Yurumein’ (presently known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines) to Central America in 1797.”
It is important to note that since 2008, Garifunas in New York observe March 11 to April 12 as Garifuna-American Heritage Month "in commemoration of the 226th Anniversary of the forcible transfer by the British of the Garifuna people from their ancestral homeland St. Vincent ‘Yurumein’ (presently known as St. Vincent and the Grenadines) to Central America in 1797.”
Yaritza Mendez was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Migrated to Brooklyn, NY at the age of 10 with her younger brother, her father and a suitcase full of dreams. At the age of 14, Yaritza crossed paths with Make the Road New York (MRNY). She was inspired by their mission and work they were doing to support undocumented students to further their education. For her, it was unfair how some of her classmates could not afford a college education because they did not have a social security number. At MRNY, Yaritza and other young students gathered multiple times per week to strategize on what needed to be done to change the system. That work resulted in what we know today as the Jose Peralta NYS DREAM Act.
In 2016, she returned to MRNY as their Citywide Technical Assistant for ActionNYC. Shortly after, Yaritza began taking on more leadership roles within the organization. Most recently, Yaritza became MRNY’s Co-Director of Organizing overseeing all of their immigration and housing initiatives.
In 2016, she returned to MRNY as their Citywide Technical Assistant for ActionNYC. Shortly after, Yaritza began taking on more leadership roles within the organization. Most recently, Yaritza became MRNY’s Co-Director of Organizing overseeing all of their immigration and housing initiatives.
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