34 CityAndStateNY.com
MICHAEL NIEVES
President and CEO Hispanic Information and Telec ommu nic ations Network Keeping the Hispanic community across the U.S. informed remains the core mission of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, where Michael Nieves has served as president and CEO for the past five years. The network, a Spanishlanguage version of the Public Broadcasting Service, delivers educational and entertainment content to 44 million homes across the country. Before HITN, Nieves held senior posts in the New York City Council.
and aggressive. She’s certainly delivered, convincing Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Council to boost the wages of members who work as partners in de Blasio’s 3K program. With the union’s merger with DC 37, expect Medina to be even more forceful in fighting for her members.
Lourdes Zapata is guiding South Bronx economic development.
62 RALPH DA COSTA NUNEZ
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President and CEO Institu te for Children, Poverty and Homelessness
ELISA VILLANUEVA BEARD
As the homelessness crisis in New York City continues unabated, Ralph da Costa Nunez remains on the front lines, underscoring its root causes and providing shelter services. The president and CEO of the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, and its sister nonprofit, Homes for the Homeless, he offers both policy proposals and practicality to the battle against homelessness, notwithstanding an unsuccessful takeover attempt of a senior home in Manhattan.
CEO Teac h for Americ a
Elisa Villanueva Beard rose through the ranks at Teach for America, bringing her experience as a corps member to her role as CEO. Beard also held posts as chief operating officer and executive director of the nonprofit’s Rio Grande region, bringing a wealth of on-the-ground knowledge and expertise to roles that have helped expand the group’s regions from 22 to 51, with 62,000 leaders.
61 KIM MEDINA
Executive Director Distric t Cou nc il 1707 When Kim Medina became executive director of DC 1707, she promised the early childhood educators union that she would be progressive
63 RAFAEL CESTERO
President and CEO Commu nity Preservation Corp. Rafael Cestero’s expertise in the affordable housing market couldn’t come at a more
critical time for New York City. As president and CEO of Community Preservation Corp., Cestero approved $840 million in capital spending across New York state through an array of products, including construction lending, agency lending and equity investing platforms. With housing affordability more important than ever, Cestero remains integral in bringing relief.
development before serving as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s chief diversity officer, where she worked to build a more multiethnic state workforce. With her deep well of knowledge about SoBRO, the Bronx native is in the right place at the right time.
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Non-executive Board Chair Popu lar Inc .
LOURDES ZAPATA
President and CEO Sou th Bronx O verall Ec onomic Development Corp. Things have come full circle for Lourdes Zapata, the first Latina and woman to lead the decades-old community development organization where it all began. Zapata began at SoBRO as director of community
65 RICHARD CARRIÓN
Richard Carrión has his finger on the pulse of the financial market in Puerto Rico and New York through Popular Inc. – whose well-known subsidiary, Popular Bank, remains dominant in Spanishspeaking neighborhoods. Outside of banking, Carrión is a member of the International Olympic Committee, where he’s been tapped to lead the 2023 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup.
As the homelessness c risis c ontinu es u nabated, Nu nez is on the front lines.
ICPH; OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
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August 24, 2020