Maritza Martinez

Maritza Martinez, Senior Associate, Fellow and Alumni Programs
212.400.3958
Maritza@echoinggreen.org

Before joining Echoing Green as a program associate, Maritza was the administrative coordinator at AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, an organization that integrates work for social change, Jewish learning, and community-building. Additionally, she recently completed her Masters degree in Nonprofit Management at the New School's Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy. Before moving to New York, Maritza worked at the Whitman-Walker Clinic and Friends of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. She is a certified human resources professional and has five years of human resources experience.

Why do you do what you do?

wdydwyd sign: I see potential in shards of glass.

I wanted my sign  this year to incorporate my interest in social justice and social entrepreneurship but also my passion for creating. In the world of social justice, the shards of glass refer to the things that are broken in society and I see social action and social entrepreneurship as ways to repair or redesign these broken elements. More literally and creatively, I have been known to repurpose broken glass into shiny new mosaics as well.

I do this work in honor of…

All the people who need new solutions to the challenges they struggle with on a daily basis.

What is the most surprising part of your job?

I think it would surprise people to know how much my retail gift wrapping skills (and love for origami) have come in handy at Echoing Green.  We have many volunteers that help us do the work we do and making them feel appreciated is part of my job.  I can be found curling ribbon, wrapping gifts, and plumping tissue paper more often than one would think.

When not working, what are you caught doing?

I tend to watch  crime shows like CSI, NCIS, Bones and Criminal Minds to unwind from a stressful week of work.  There is something soothing about knowledge trumping evil.  I also love to create.  This summer, I took up vermiculture composting and gardening but I also love sewing and crocheting.  This winter, I plan to give knitting another try as well.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut.  It was the 80s and space was cool.  There is something alluring about exploring unchartered territory.  I was even a member of Young Astronauts of America in 3rd grade, where all the cool kids got together to talk about space and chomp on freeze dried ice cream.

What is your favorite podcast or blog and why?

I have to say that Cake Wrecks is one of my favorites.  It shows how creativity and ingenuity can go terribly wrong.