Maria Pesqueira

Maria del Socorro Pesqueira was appointed President of Healthy Communities Foundation in May 2017. As an award-winning visionary leader, she is a sought-after speaker addressing local, national, and hemispheric audiences on a wide variety of topics ranging from private/nonprofit partnerships, health disparities, immigration reform, women and family issues, violence prevention, and the future of philanthropy.

Prior to joining the Healthy Communities Foundation, Maria served as President to Mujeres Latinas en Accion. Preceding her time at Mujeres, Maria led The National Museum of Mexican Art’s Development and Marketing team.

Her civic and community involvement includes serving on local, state and national commissions and boards including The Chicago Network, Forefront, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Cook County Forest Preserves Policy Council, IL Census Advisory Council, and The Lincoln Academy.

Her awards consist of being named a Chicago Community Trust Fellow in 2015, 1 of 50 Women of Influence by Chicago Business Journal in 2016, the Excellence in Community Service award by MALDEF in 2015, the Making a Difference Award by Chicago Women in Philanthropy in 2013, selected to AJC Project Israel Interchange for National Latino Opinion and Policy Leaders in 2016, and named one of “Forty under Forty” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Maria is the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants and a graduate of the Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Program; St. Thomas University, Mini-MBA in Nonprofit Management; and DePaul University, B.A. Latin American Studies. Maria and her husband David are proud parents of their son David Ollin.