Inaugural Director of the Westchester Center for Racial Equity at the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester
Maria Smith Dautruche (she/her) is the inaugural Director of the Westchester Center for Racial Equity at the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester. She also manages a new initiative at Race Forward that will support local organizing in support of honest education, action, and leadership. Prior to these roles, Maria was a Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the National Urban League after more than 5 years as Vice President in the Partnerships & Advancement Office of the historic civil rights organization. Maria’s career includes fundraising roles at the Smithsonian Institution, National Black Child Development Institute, Sports and Arts Foundation (now New York Edge), the New York Junior Tennis League, and Wave Hill. Maria is also a co-founder of New Voices for Reproductive Justice – a powerful organizing force for the health and well-being of Black women and girls, women of color and LGBTQ+ people of color at the local, state (PA and OH) and national levels. Maria currently serves on the boards of Data for Black Lives and Awesome Foundation NYC. Importantly, Maria is a true friend, supportive wife, and doting mom. She is curious and inquisitive. She enjoys laps in the pool and naps on her couch.
Importantly, Maria is a true friend, supportive wife, and doting mom. She is curious and inquisitive. She enjoys laps in the pool and naps on her couch.
Workshop Topic: Empowered Women Eliminating Racism
Hear from women who are doing the work – the inner work to heal themselves and the external work to make their communities and the world a more racially equitable place for us all. Through stories of their personal experiences, attendees will be inspired and also receive applicable tools to build their own resilience and make true impact.