Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto
Encyclopedia
Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto (born c. 1951) is the first woman and Latina
to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.
to New York City
in the 1940s in search of better jobs. She received her primary education in the "Barrio" before her family moved to Newark
, New Jersey
. There she received her secondary education and graduated from high school with honors.
Vizcarrondo-De Soto earned her Bachelors Degree from Kean University
and went on to earn her Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration at Columbia University
. She continued her education by attending the JFK School of Government, where she received executive training. She then attended the Business School at Harvard University
.
In 1989, Vizcarrondo-De Soto was an alumna at the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She later became a fellow in the National Hispana Leadership Program and also in the International YMCA
Leadership in Geneva
, Switzerland
.
in Trenton, New Jersey
. On November 4, 1993, Vizcarrondo-De Soto was elected to the Board of the New Jersey Council of Grant Makers, thus becoming the first Hispanic to be elected to a countywide post in the history of the Essex County Government.
where she is chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. She is also involved in the following: member of the Education Committee of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
, board member of the New Newark Police Foundation, New Jersey's Institute for Social Justice and chair in the Essex County Human Service Advisory Council.
Vizcarrondo-De Soto is pursuing her postgraduate work in the area of public policy and during her free time enjoys diving, golfing and cooking Puerto Rican meals.
Latina
Latina is the feminine form of the term Latino.Latina may also refer to:*Province of Latina, a province in Latium , Italy**Latina, Lazio, the capital of the province of Latina**Latina Nuclear Power Plant*Latina , a district of Madrid...
to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.
Early years
Vizcarrondo-De Soto's family moved from Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the 1940s in search of better jobs. She received her primary education in the "Barrio" before her family moved to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. There she received her secondary education and graduated from high school with honors.
Vizcarrondo-De Soto earned her Bachelors Degree from Kean University
Kean University
Kean University is a coeducational, public research university located in Union and Hillside, New Jersey, United States. Kean University serves its students in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions with a dedication to intellectual and cultural growth and is best known for its...
and went on to earn her Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. She continued her education by attending the JFK School of Government, where she received executive training. She then attended the Business School at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
In 1989, Vizcarrondo-De Soto was an alumna at the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She later became a fellow in the National Hispana Leadership Program and also in the International YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Leadership in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
ASPIRA
In 1980, Vizcarrondo-De Soto became the executive Director of ASPIRA, Inc of New Jersey. She was instrumental in the creation of chapters in different parts of New Jersey serving over 10,000 Latino youth. In 1990 she founded and directed until 1993 the Center for Hispanic, Research and Development at the New Jersey Department of Community AffairsNew Jersey Department of Community Affairs
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The department is headed by Commissioner Lori Grifa...
in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. On November 4, 1993, Vizcarrondo-De Soto was elected to the Board of the New Jersey Council of Grant Makers, thus becoming the first Hispanic to be elected to a countywide post in the history of the Essex County Government.
United Way of Essex and West Hudson
Vizcarrondo-De Soto renounced from her position in ASPIRA and joined United Way. On April 1, 1996, was became the first woman to be named president and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson. As president she established two programs which have received national recognition, "Project Leadership" and "Success".Honors and recognition
Some of the honors and recognitions which she has received are:- 1999 - Featured on the October issue of Hispanic Magazine.
- 2000 - Named one of the most influential persons in New Jersey.
- 2003 - One of three people to be honored with the Maria DeCastro Blake Community Service Award by the New Jersey Hispanic and Research Center.
- 2005 - Recipient of the Newark Now Spirit of Newark Awards - The Broker Award.
- 2005 - Honored by El Diario/La Prensa as one of the most distinguished Latinas in 2005.
Later years
Vizcarrondo-De Soto is also an active member of various organizations. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Bloomfield CollegeBloomfield College
Bloomfield College is a four-year private liberal arts college located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Bloomfield College is chartered by the State of New Jersey and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
where she is chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. She is also involved in the following: member of the Education Committee of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center , in downtown Newark, New Jersey, United States, is the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States...
, board member of the New Newark Police Foundation, New Jersey's Institute for Social Justice and chair in the Essex County Human Service Advisory Council.
Vizcarrondo-De Soto is pursuing her postgraduate work in the area of public policy and during her free time enjoys diving, golfing and cooking Puerto Rican meals.