Mauricio Garcia

Mauricio Garcia is the Senior Vice President for Programs at UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), where he provides overall strategic oversight of the organization’s programming—education, health, housing and financial empowerment, and workforce development—ensuring its alignment with and advancement of UnidosUS’s vision, mission, and values. For nearly 20 years, Mauricio has worked at the intersection of civil society, government, and the private sector to strengthen our communities and strive for social and economic justice.

Prior to UnidosUS, Mauricio served as Chief Program and Engagement Officer at Friends of the High Line, a nonprofit organization and a public park on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City, where he oversaw its local and national place-based initiatives, including High Line Art, community engagement, youth development and education, and the High Line Network. In that role, he spearheaded the Friends of the High Line’s efforts to become a more equitable park and institution, connecting people, particularly those under-resourced and historically underrepresented, to the cultural, educational, and economic opportunities on and off the park. Mauricio also served as Deputy Director at Cities of Service, an initiative of the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation that supports an international network of mayors and other city leaders to build stronger cities by engaging their residents.

Mauricio’s other experiences include overseeing a portfolio of programs that helped individuals develop skills, gain employment, access healthcare, and advance in their careers at Seedco; leading financial empowerment services at Change Machine; and supporting a national network of AmeriCorps members at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).

Mauricio received a Master’s of Public Administration from the City University of New York’s Baruch College and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Oakland University. He previously served on the board of directors of Teens for Food Justice and is a proud graduate of the Coro Leadership New York program. Mauricio is originally from the Detroit area and lives in Jackson Heights, Queens.