Maria Socorro Pesqueira

Maria del Socorro Pesqueira was appointed President of Healthy Communities Foundation in May 2017. She is an award-winning visionary leader and sought-after speaker on topics from health inequities to the future of philanthropy. Her civic and community involvement includes nonprofit board appointments at Forefront Illinois, Hispanics in Philanthropy, The Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Grantmakers in Health and Adler University.

At an early age, as the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, she became a translator, advocate, convener, and bridge for information and understanding. As a result, justice, equity, and collaborative effort have been her drivers for becoming a passionate servant-leader. Along with her husband and son, she resides in the region the Healthy Communities Foundation serves, a few blocks from where she grew up.