Board of Directors and Advisory Council

Maria L. Gonzalez is a respected community services executive, advocate, and leader with more than 35 years of experience serving individuals, families, and communities throughout Northwest Connecticut. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to creating opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and improving access to critical resources for underserved populations.

Maria joined New Opportunities, Inc. in 2003 and has advanced through progressively responsible leadership roles from Case Manager to Case Manager Supervisor and ultimately Director of Community Services. During her tenure, she has overseen a broad portfolio of community-based programs and services while building strong relationships with community organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and local stakeholders.

One of Maria's most significant accomplishments was helping expand New Opportunities' presence in Torrington. Recognizing the growing needs of local families, she advocated for expanded services and community investment, helping transform a limited Energy Assistance presence into a trusted community resource hub serving more than 4,000 families annually throughout Northwest Connecticut. Today, she oversees community-based programs and supervises a multidisciplinary team of 11 employees dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals and families.

A passionate advocate for the Hispanic community, Maria has spent decades working to create opportunities through education, workforce development, youth leadership, and community engagement. She founded the Northwest Connecticut Latina Women Association in 2013 to support leadership development, empowerment, and advocacy for women throughout the region. She also established youth leadership initiatives focused on educational achievement, cultural pride, and positive outcomes for Hispanic youth.

Maria's commitment to community service extends well beyond her professional responsibilities. She has served on numerous boards, committees, and collaborative partnerships throughout Northwest Connecticut, including the Juvenile Review Board, LARC, Northwest United Way, Hartford HealthCare Northwest Region Board, Torrington Coalition to Reduce Youth Substance Use, Northwest Chamber of Commerce, The Gathering Place, Torrington Chief of Police Community Action Committee, and several other organizations focused on health, education, youth development, and community well-being.

Throughout her career, Maria has received numerous honors recognizing her leadership and community impact, including being named one of Connecticut's 50 Distinguished Latinos (2023), recipient of the Vale La Pena Award (2021), Community Leader Award from the Northwest Chamber of Commerce (2020), Woman of the Year by the Northwest United Way Women's Leadership Initiative (2019), and several additional leadership and community service recognitions.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Maria remains committed to building stronger communities, developing future leaders, and creating opportunities that empower individuals and families to achieve long-term success.