Born in Mexico City, Mexico; education: Ph.D. cultural anthropology New School for Social Research; career: early teaching and government jobs including work at Human Resources Administration [HRA] with city government; September 11th: low flying plane, television coverage, building collapse, comparisons to Spain and Basque terrorism, importance of commemoration; United Way: senior vice president for community investment, allocation of funds and strategies to create community change--homelessness prevention, education, workforce development and access to healthcare, post-9/11 changes in service and government involvement; September 11th Fund: initial meetings between Community Trust and the United Way, work with Seedco, board impetus and organization, program rationale, definition of victim status, decision to work through community-based organization instead of direct service, telethon to raise funds, continuing regular operations with United Way, challenges of working with middle-class population from service perspective, early emergency allocation and cash assistance, expansive view of affected community including a consideration of non-traditional families and areas, question of fraud, Red Cross and definition of victim, negative press coverage and unfair maligning of Red Cross and other charities, preparedness, shift from fund to standard operations, settlement amounts, Chinatown post-9/11, outreach and challenges vis-à-vis mental health assistance, case worker recruitment and demands, reminiscence of colleagues especially Joyce Bove; trauma: Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, perception of as extended event.
