María Alvarez is a strategic leader passionate about media, tech, communications and marketing. She is a strong advocate for representation in both media content, and internally in content teams. She believes in the value of diverse voices to enrich storytelling and content creation.
Ms. Alvarez is an expert on media, technology and Latino kids and parents. Alvarez designed and led Common Sense Latino, the Common Sense Media ́s program that blends culture and language to connect with Latino families and respond to their unique media and technology needs. The program empowered families to navigate the digital world with confidence, and use media and tech to learn.
Alvarez is a media personality, her work has been published in The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, Univision and Telemundo. She has been invited to present at both national and international conferences, including SXSW, the Erikson Institute in Chicago, the annual conference of health workers in Mexico and the U.S. and large parenting conferences in Mexico like Foro Moders and Parenting Global.
Alvarez is one of 14 founding members of the San Francisco Latina Giving Circle, a philanthropic movement that was started in 2012 by the Latino Community Foundation when Alvarez and 13 Latina professionals joined resources to start giving back to small Latino-led non-profits. The circle has now more than 500 members across California and has given more than $2.5 million in grants.
Maria earned her bachelor degree in Journalism in Venezuela and her master degree in Communications in Chile. She had an extensive career in Latino media, working as a producer and reporter for local and international outlets, such as CNN and Univision before working to help organizations connect with the Latino community.
Ms. Alvarez is an immigrant from Venezuela who settled in the San Francisco Bay Area almost 20 years ago, after living in Chile and Honduras. She lives with her husband, two bilingual and bicultural boys, and her mini Schnauzer, Daisy.
