Maritza Silva-Farrell is the Executive Director at ALIGN. Prior to becoming Executive Director in November 2016, Maritza was ALIGN’s Deputy Director and Campaign Director. She is committed to driving transformational change in New York City by forging powerful alliances that benefit workers, immigrants, women, low-income communities of color, and the environment. Maritza has led or played a critical role in coalitions such as Real Affordability for All, Caring Across Generations – which secured $1.2 million in funding for undocumented and low-income seniors to access home care – the Universal Pre-K campaign and the campaign that successful halted Walmart’s plans to develop in East New York. Previously, Maritza worked with the Long Island Progressive Coalition to coordinate the Yes, In My Back Yard (YIMBY) campaign, increasing affordable housing throughout the entire island. A native of Ecuador, Maritza earned her BA in journalism from the Central University of Ecuador. She later completed a BA degree in communications from SUNY Old Westbury, where she organized with the New York Public Interest Research Group and United Students Against Sweatshops. She has also worked with Long Island Jobs with Justice on issues related to youth, labor, and immigrant rights, where she combined her passions for journalism and activism by producing short workers’ rights documentaries. Maritza’s vision is of a just and sustainable New York City, achieved by workers and community coming together to tackle inequality and climate change. Maritza is on the board of Partnership for Working Families, New York Communities Organizing Fund (NYCOFI), and the Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills.