10-15-2023 Women to Watch - Flipbook - Page 7
United Way Women
Advancing Equity, Access,
and Opportunity
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we proudly celebrate the achievements and contributions of our Hispanic friends,
neighbors, and peers who enrich the cultural tapestry of our community.
We’ve witnessed this community’s growth and been inspired by the enormous contributions Hispanics make across
Greater Baltimore. We’ve also seen the struggles of too many Hispanic families in our community. Our work in housing,
education, health, and economic advancement helps strengthen their lives.
We’re proud to shine a light on three inspiring Latinas from our United Way familia.
Liz Acosta
Herelys Parks
Gabriella Giannini
Associate Vice President
Community School Coordinator at
Director of Grant Writing
of Governance
United Way partner school, Bay
Brook Elementary/Middle School
Liz works with United Way’s regional
Applying United Way’s equity lens to
grant writing extends far deeper than
advisory boards and supports our
As part of her job, Herelys develops
data and words. “A big part of my job
Board of Directors and key
strong partnerships between the
is being able to empathize and get
committees. “We are taking huge
school and other nonprofits to
into other people’s shoes, and to tell
steps to meet the needs of the
support students and their families
a strong story when conveying need,”
Hispanic community, from increasing
with a wide range of needs, from
says Gabriella. United Way’s support
outreach and offering
school supplies to healthy meals via
of the Hispanic community has
Spanish-speaking volunteers at our
a food pantry. “Partnerships are so
included significant grants to local
service events, to recruiting more
important because a student’s needs
nonprofits and neighborhood leaders
Hispanic employees and board
go beyond academics. A child
who are driving positive change in
members, to providing more
cannot do well if they’re struggling at
our region.
resource information in Spanish.
home. When you can make a
When you speak to someone in their
difference in someone’s life, it’s the
language, you speak to their
best feeling you can have.”
heart—that’s where change begins.”
Learn more about our work to
advance equity, opportunity,
and access for all at uwcm.org.
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