Philadelphia, PA – Mayor Jim Kenney today announced Joanna Otero-Cruz will serve as Deputy Managing Director for the Community Services cabinet. Within this post, Otero-Cruz will lead and oversee operations for 311, the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), and the Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Services.
“Joanna comes to the City having served in key leadership roles for organizations that serve and meet the needs of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable,” said Mayor Kenny in a statement. “I am confident that she will bring her passion for service to this position, and will help realize our mission of providing not only efficient and effective City services, but also opportunity to all Philadelphians.”
Most recently, Joanna Otero-Cruz led Pennsylvania’s oldest Latino non-profit organization, Concilio, since 2010, serving as community leader and voice for the needs of women, children, and families across the state. As the Executive Director of Concilio, she oversaw the organization’s foster care services, youth development programming, and children’s health work. She also led the organization and Latino community’s historic events – the Hispanic Fiesta and the Puerto Rican Week Festival culminating with the Latino Parade on Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Parkway.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity to continue serving the Philadelphia community in my new role in the Kenney administration,” said Otero-Cruz. “My work in developing, implementing and managing successful culturally-appropriate health and social service initiatives has helped to prepare me for this experience, and I look forward to serving the many communities of Philadelphia.”
In 2014, Otero-Cruz led the relocation of Concilio from its home of nearly 45 years to a brand-new 30,000 square-foot facility in the Hunting Park neighborhood. She is credited with bringing Concilio into a position of strong financial health, as well as building on the capacity and goodwill of the organization among the civic and public leaders of the city and state, and the community members that utilize its services.
Otero-Cruz is an active and respected voice for equity and access at the city and state level.
She serves as Pennsylvania Commissioner for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and currently serves on the CEIBA Coalition where she has held various officer positions over the past five years. Her leadership in the area of victim’s services earned Concilio the new appointment of East Division Victims Services’ provider by the City of Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Otero-Cruz holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Peirce College in Business Administration with a concentration in management.