María Osorio

María Enriqueta Osorio, our Chief of Staff, supports special projects, advises teams, and ensures alignment across the Executive Team. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer and has held multiple leadership roles since joining the organization in 2017. Her background includes work with the CSU system, St. John’s Community Health, UCI, Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, New Jersey Work Environment Council, Shanti OC (formerly Laguna Shanti), and other justice-focused organizations. Her 43-year work history is defined by a consistent, nearly exclusive focus on mission-driven nonprofit initiatives supporting the rights and livelihoods of diverse communities, including immigrants, LGBTQ+, older adults, neurodivergent communities, people with disabilities, renters, and workers, in particular, farm workers. This extensive and diverse professional experience has reinforced her commitment to learning and working environments that understand and meet the needs of communities with a wide range of educational, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
A strong advocate for social justice and people-centered leadership, María believes in the tenets of service to others and tikkun olam (“repairing the world”)—humanity’s responsibility to make the world a better, more just place through social action, charity, environmentalism, and acts of kindness. Over the years, she has volunteered with several organizations, ranging from canvassing to serving as an educator on issues such as AIDS education, tenants’ rights, workers’ rights, and more. Currently, she is active in community service via the National Council of Jewish Women and Scouting America. María holds a JD from CUNY School of Law, an MPA from CSULB, and a BA in Art Studio from UCSB. María lives in Lakewood, CA, with her husband, son, mother, and two cats.