nothin JUNTA Seeks New Leader, Names Interim Chief | New Haven Independent

JUNTA Seeks New Leader, Names Interim Chief

An expert in resettlement and forced migration of Puerto Rican women and families is taking over temporary leadership of one of New Haven’s leading Latino organizations as it seeks its second new executive director in 16 months.

The temporary executive director is Brunilda Pizarro. She is stepping in at the agency, JUNTA for Progressive Action, as Daniels Reyes steps down after 16 months as executive director

The text of a JUNTA press release about the change follows:

Junta for Progressive Action’s Board of Directors announced today that Brunilda Pizarro would take over as the organization’s interim executive director February 1, 2020.

Brunilda Pizarro succeeds Daniel Reyes, who oversaw a transformation of Junta’s services and community involvement during his 16-month tenure. Reyes streamlined service delivery, re-branded Junta’s core services into three departments – Junta 360, Junta Youth and Junta Rises – and oversaw a significant increase in Junta’s fundraising following the aftermath of the state 2018 budget crisis.

We are very excited to have such an innovative and creative leader take the helm of Junta,” Leta Highsmith, Board Chair said. The entire Junta Board of Directors is proud of Daniel’s incredible work during his tenure and appreciate his foresight in seeking out such a gifted interim replacement.”

Reyes is leaving Junta to take a position as the Chief Program Officer at The LGBT Center in New York City. Reyes’ last day will be January 31, 2020.

Pizarro will work jointly with Reyes in transition until February. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead such a historic institution at this important time” Pizarro said. At a time when Latinx communities and immigrants feel under assault, Daniel has done an amazing job of reaching out to allies throughout New Haven and the state of Connecticut. As the oldest Latinx-community based non-profit organization in New Haven, Junta has a unique role in helping migrants forge a new life in this city.”

Pizarro, who has been active with Junta since 2018, most recently served on Mayor Justin Elicker’s Transition Team. Pizarro holds a Master of Environmental Science from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, New Haven became a climate refuge city for families displaced from Puerto Rico. Pizarro’s thesis centered on understanding the impact of forced migration on Puerto Rican women and highlighted Junta’s pivotal role in facilitating the resettlement of families to New Haven.

Pizarro looks forward to building on the progress set forth by Reyes and pledges to continue the legacy of Junta as a beacon of hope for the Latinx community in New Haven.

About the organization: The mission of Junta for Progressive Action is to collaborate with Latinx communities in the Greater New Haven area to advance the social, economic and civic environment for all, while embracing Latinx cultural traditions. In order to achieve our mission, Junta takes a whole person approach to service provision and engagement in community advancement. We are a diverse organization, representing all of Latin America, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba and the United States. For more information, see: https://www.juntainc.org/.

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