Rita Santelia

Rita provides executive supervision, administrative oversight and strategic planning to implement the agency’s overall vision. A graduate from the Hunter College of Social Work, she started her career as Social Worker at PS 8 in the Bronx prior to joining MMCC in 1991, working in positions of increased responsibility, from camp counselor and youth services director to Assistant and Associate Executive Director. Rita’s commitment and passion for MMCC’s work led her to become the agency’s CEO in 2017. As a leader at MMCC, Rita has emphasized a holistic approach that addresses the multiple needs of underprivileged individuals and families, to help them attain more self-sustainability and build brighter futures. She has played a pivotal role in the development, delivery, and extension of key services for clients of all ages, including day care, youth and camp programs, workforce development, and a wide range of support services that connect clients to the necessary resources. Rita’s clear vision for the MMCC’s future is based on her extensive knowledge of the community’s needs and her conviction that MMCC is truly “Building Communities One Life at a Time.”