Latino Power Players

Tiffany spent years as a public defender fighting the brutal system of mass incarceration before running for office. In 2021, she became the council member representing District 22, including Astoria, Rikers Island, and parts of Jackson Heights, Woodside, and East Elmhurst. In the Council, she has passed legislation to support survivors of gender-based violence, protect abortion care, move homeless New Yorkers to permanent homes, and more. She is the co-chair of the Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus.

Maggie Castro is senior associate state director for AARP New York, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization focusing on the 50 plus; responsible for outreach, education, engagement, member experiences, federal, state and local advocacy organizing, and all Hispanic initiatives. Ms. Castro brings almost 40 years of professional experience, in the private and nonprofit sectors, with a background in life coaching. She is a fierce advocate who finds joy in spending time with friends and family.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Trust yourself and embrace your uniqueness. Doubts will arise but it’s a sign to push harder and keep notes of your past wins, no matter how small. Go back to those from time to time to remind yourself that you’ve done great things before and you can do them again.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Growing up in a culture that values family connections, traditions and resilience has created my identity. The food, the music and the richness of my culture is entrenched at my core. To speak two languages connects me to my roots and provides a sense of belonging. Language isn’t just a means of communication, it bridges the gap between generations. My heritage isn’t just a label, it’s a mosaic of gifts that will continuously shape me.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I have had many proud moments in my career. As a passionate advocate, my proudest moments are the ones where I am making a positive impact in the lives of others, whether through community work, volunteer work, or personal coaching.

Miguel currently serves as vice president, community engagement at Healthfirst. He provides strategic direction to a team that creates mutually beneficial partnerships that achieve community and organizational objectives. He has led a significant organizational transformation that has expanded the impact of the team while empowering individual team members to achieve at a higher level. Miguel has over 25 years of experience in community relations, strategic planning and driving results.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
You are stronger, braver, and more resilient than you can imagine. Proceed through life fearlessly!

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Being Latino has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of family and relationships. The food, the music, the language, and the culture are all means to deepen relationships with the people who are important in our lives. My current work as a community engagement leader is a natural extension of the strengths that I have developed in being fully and authentically Latino. 

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I am blessed to have had the opportunity to alter the trajectory of many of the employees that I have had the privilege to lead. It has been a great source of pride to learn that I have helped them to think about challenges in a different way, to feel valued and appreciated, and ultimately, to achieve more than they thought possible.

Rafael brings over 30 years of experience tackling the most pressing housing challenges facing cities today. Under his leadership, CPC has become one of the largest CDFIs in the country dedicated to multifamily and affordable housing finance, having invested over $15 billion to fund the creation and preservation of 230,000 units of housing nationwide. He previously served as commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and cohosts the podcast The Housing Problem.   

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Work hard, be willing to learn, and keep an open mind about the world. You’re young and full of energy and you want to make an impact right now. Slow down and take in the information and opportunities around you. Learn from people with experience, listen to what they have to say and add that to your fund of knowledge. You’ll find doors opening where you may not have originally been looking. 

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Growing up, the importance of family and community was always front and center. These are the people who will support you through thick and thin. Be proud of your history and identity and embrace it because it’s important to know where you come from. Build relationships in your community and help lift up your community. I’ve tried to build my life and career around both of these ideals.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I’ve been in affordable housing for over 30 years, and it’s a path that has had a lot to offer. Professionally, being appointed as commissioner of the NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development by Mayor Bloomberg was a seminal moment in my career. It was a validation of the work I had been doing, but importantly it was an opportunity to do that work and make an impact on a much larger scale.

Guillermo Chacón is the president of the Latino Commission on AIDS and founder of the Hispanic Health Network. Chacón is a vocal advocate for addressing the barriers to accessing health care. Chacón serves as chair of the NYC Procurement Policy Board, on the Community Advisory Board for the HIV AIDS Service Administration, HASA/HRA and as commissioner for the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Guillermo Chacón serves on the board of the New York Immigration Coalition.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Always think to honor your parents, loved ones, family and mentors. Pay attention to details. Remember that trust is one of the most important aspects of life. Hard work, learning from your peers, listening and communication is everything and will shape your success in life. Do everything with passion, love and responsibility.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
It is an essential part of my DNA and my GPS of life. Being from El Salvador, and a proud Latino serves as my north star in representing my community with love and in honoring the legacy of my family and my superhero San Oscar Romero. The struggle against social injustices is rooted in my heritage.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I always strive to make my wife, Donna, our kid Cenia, my parents Rita, Juan Antonio and family proud, so far is currently serving in the U.S. Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)

Manuel Chinea serves as chief operating officer of Popular Bank, a subsidiary of Popular, Inc., a 130-year-old financial institution headquartered in Puerto Rico. He oversees all operations and business activities for Popular in the U.S. Mainland, concentrated in New York, New Jersey and Florida. Throughout his career, Manuel has been a vocal advocate for financial literacy, education, and the importance of supporting the small business community. He currently serves on the board of the Hispanic Federation.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
In today’s world, success is correlated to collaboration and teamwork. Yet we don’t place enough value on empathy, integrity, and the ability to communicate effectively. I would advise my younger self to prioritize developing those skills. Depth of knowledge and technical abilities will come with experience, but listening, connecting, gaining trust, and inspiring people to reach their potential can only be achieved through leading by example and displaying the character that engages and motivates others. 

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
My heritage has helped me appreciate the importance of inclusion. It has led me to proactively seek out and appreciate diverse perspectives. Whether it’s about Popular creating a workplace built on respect or making sure that our retail banking network and product suite offer equitable access to banking services, our efforts are rooted in our commitment to inclusion and economic empowerment. 

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
The success of Popular Foundation, turning 20 this year, always makes me proud. We are employee-funded and focused on supporting financial literacy, education, and community development programs. Since 2022, for every dollar contributed, Popular matches $2, amplifying the good work of the Foundation. We’ve awarded more than $6.5 million to nonprofits in our markets and every year I am humbled by the generosity of our people and by their commitment to the communities we serve.

After serving as president of Naugatuck Valley Community College for 12 years, Dr. Cocco De Filippis returned to Hostos, where she had previously been provost and senior vice president for academic affairs (2002–2008). Now as president of Hostos, she is the first Dominican woman to lead a CUNY institution. A published author and literary critic, she is recognized internationally as a pioneer in the field of Dominican women studies and Dominican authors in the U.S.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Never forget the importance of values and always adhere to the golden rule.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
My heritage taught me that all people are important; that hope and joy are to be embraced; and that hard work and education are key to helping families and communities thrive.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
There are many proud moments in my life. Two come to mind: 1) Celebrating with my husband and our children the earning of my CUNY Ph.D.  2) Celebrating with my husband and our children (all college professors now) my return to CUNY as the first Dominican/American woman to be president of a college.

Robert Cordero has led Grand St. Settlement since 2015, stewarding the organization’s growth from $15 million to an over $60 million operating budget – guiding the settlement house into its second century of service in the Lower East Side, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Robert fosters a commitment to creative thinking and innovation to amplify impact while remaining focused on Grand Street’s mission, vision, culture and values to serve over 17,500 New Yorkers.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I would advise my younger self to stay balanced and focused. Work is never as important as health, family and community. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to learn this valuable lesson in my early professional years.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I am a proud Puerto Rican. My grandparents moved to Chicago in the 1950s – from working as macheteros, harvesting sugar cane with machetes in the fields- to securing good, blue-collar factory jobs that allowed our family to thrive. Every day I want to give back to the community, especially to help those who need an opportunity to succeed at Grand Street and beyond.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
My proudest career moment is the recent expansion of our federally supported Head Start program in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and now in the Bronx, for the first time in our 108-year history. We will deliver high-quality child care and social services to hundreds of families in highest need, and I’m really proud of that.

Marcos Crespo joined Montefiore in July 2020 as senior vice president for community affairs. Most recently, Mr. Crespo retired from his 11-year run as an elected member of the NYS Assembly where he served in various leadership roles including: chairman of the NYS Committee on Labor, chair of the Puerto Rican & Hispanic Task Force as well as co-chairing the New York Stands for Puerto Rico initiative launched by Governor Andrew Cuomo among other roles.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Professionally, to trust my instincts and to never doubt that I belong. While self-doubt played a huge role in my career and while I managed to pull through, I often wonder how much more I could’ve set out to achieve. Lastly, I would implore my younger self to hold tight to my loved ones and balance work/life with the same fervor I put into my career.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Personally, critical thinking and social adaptation were early lessons trying to understand between my Puerto Rican and Peruvian culture. I had to adjust to name-calling while living in Puerto Rico, Peru and NY and being labeled between the Puerto Rico/Peru kid and another name in NY.  Experiencing first-hand the differences within the educational systems and values in Peru, PR and NY sparked a passion for advocacy and policy that led me to the field of politics.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Getting elected to the NYS Assembly was the greatest honor. But the proudest moment was when I called my father, to tell him I just walked out of the HR offices of Montefiore Einstein as the SVP, and within the same building that he once kept a commercial paint shop, as well as the same institution that 30 years prior, gave us an apt when we found ourselves homeless and made The Bronx home.

Catalina Cruz has the privilege of representing New York State Assembly District 39, one of the most diverse districts in the nation, encompassing the neighborhoods of Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, as well as parts of Middle Village and Rego Park. Since taking office in 2019, Catalina has passed more than 20 new laws to combat food insecurity, curtail the high cost of health care, protect aging New Yorkers and so much more.