BWJP Welcomes Brittany Tucker, as the new Senior Project Manager/Staff Attorney of the Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP)
I’m a Michigander through and through, I’ve lived in other places but there’s no place like home. I received my…
Women’s History Month 2023- Maritza Valdez Fagin, M.P.A
This month, in honor of Women's History Month, we are honoring Rising Stars and Mothers of the Movement. Today, we are highlighting Rising Star, Maritza Valdez Fagin, M.P.A. by
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Maritza Valdez Fagin, M.P.A., is currently the Director of Operations at BWJP. She specializes in organizational development, capacity building, nonprofit management, sustainability, and grants management and compliance. Previously serving as Assistant Director of Grants Management at BWJP and as Assistant Director of National Training and TA Initiatives at Esperanza United (formerly Casa de Esperanza), she brings over 10 years of experience in the operations, development, and oversight of foundation, corporation, and government grants to expand and strengthen the capacity of organizations working to end gender-based violence. Maritza also has experience training and providing technical support nationally on these topics.
During her college years at Texas A&M University, Maritza was involved in various social justice causes, which inspired her educational path. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Women’s Studies, and later earned a Master of Public Administration degree with a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management. It was the recommendation of a mentor and professor that led her to move from Texas to Minnesota to find work opportunities in the nonprofit sector that could blend together her formal education with hands-on experience in groundbreaking organizations. Serendipitously, she found an opportunity at Casa de Esperanza, which launched her career and established a passion for culturally specific advocacy to end gender-based violence. As a Latina in the movement and a survivor, her time at Casa de Esperanza was foundational and life-changing.
Maritza’s work took even more meaning personally after she became a mom to two daughters. She works tirelessly for her family, kids and community to create a better future for their lives. When she gets time to recharge, Maritza enjoys spending time with family, laughing and playing with her kids, gardening, and catching up on pop culture.
