Vanessa Barrios

Vanessa Barrios is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, currently serving as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives at the Regional Plan Association since June 2015. Key achievements include leading the Health Regions Planning Exchange, facilitating community engagement workshops on equitable adaptation, and providing technical assistance to state programs. Previous roles at the Regional Plan Association involved drafting testimonies on housing and environmental issues, as well as contributing to significant planning documents. Vanessa's early career encompassed a role as an Intake and Referral Case Manager at People Assisting The Homeless, where over 600 clients were assessed and placed into housing. Educational qualifications include a Master's degree in Urban Planning from New York University and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside.