Joanna Otero-Cruz: Irrefutable Leader
She works in favor of Latino communities
On the shoulders of Joanna Otero-Cruz rests a responsibility that only people like her with the skin and soul of a leader can carry out without losing the way or postponing opportunities, because her role focuses on the needs of women, children and families of Philadelphia.
Joanna Otero-Cruz of Puerto Rican origin, has built a solid career as a public servant. As Deputy Managing Director of Community Services – City of Philadelphia, she oversees the City’s community service programs including: Office of Immigrant Affairs, Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP).
She also runs the Townwatch, Civic Engagement, Philadelphia 311, Philadelphia Rising, Foster Grandparent Program, and Vista volunteers. And from these scenarios, she summons and relies on community leaders to make the benefits of each city program arrive.
“We have different platforms to get input from community members and I hope that continues, that there are more opportunities for Latinos and communities to speak out about it.”
It is a committed, tireless work, which she has known how to fulfill, to the point of becoming recognized as a highly respected reference in favor of equity in this city, pride of the Latino community.
Activist and persevering
Joanna Otero-Cruz is a very active and influential voice at the municipal and state levels with responsibilities as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Pennsylvania Commissioner for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.
And in the clerical sphere, she has also had an outstanding participation, of which we highlight her work as a member of the Papal Fund during the historic visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia in 2015. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Prison Society, Youth Valley House and CEIBA (Housing Coalition), holding various official positions.
Latin solidarity
Her sensitivity to community causes has led her to hold similar positions. For more than 6 years, she has served as Executive Director of Concilio (Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations), the oldest Latino non-profit organization in Pennsylvania.
As the Executive Director of Concilio, she directs foster care services, youth development programming, and child health work. He also directs the organization of historical events of the Latino community such as: the Hispanic Festival and the Puerto Rican Week Festival that culminate with the Latino Parade on City’s Parkway.
Her leadership in the area of victim services earned Concilio the new appointment of Victim Services provider for the Eastern Division by the Philadelphia City District Attorney’s Office.
Deserved honors
Joanna Otero-Cruz is a recurring contributor to the initiatives of Hispanic Media, our publishing house, to benefit the empowerment of Latino women, a cause for which she fights shoulder to shoulder with community leaders and exhausts opportunities to honor her Hispanic roots.
The community has rewarded her for tireless work, conferring numerous accolades and nominations, including the Community Impact Award at the Hispanic Choice Awards, Philadelphia’s Business Journal 40 under 40, Aetna Healthcare – Latina Leadership Award Recipient.
The solidarity which feeds her will to work and exhausting efforts to consolidate programs and events that dignify the quality of life of their Latin American citizens. All of this makes her an irrefutable Latino leader.
By: Daniela Chirinos Arrieta
