Maria Medina has dedicated her career and leadership to supporting institutions and companies in better including and serving marginalized communities to achieve equitable outcomes and access to opportunities. She is the System Director for Equity Initiatives for M Health Fairview, Minnesota’s largest healthcare provider and one of the state’s largest employers. Her expertise and experience spans community organizing, business strategy, and application of public health frameworks to tackle racial and health disparities. She has worked with communities and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally, and her heart is in mentoring youth, women, and people of color to grow their leadership and impact.
Beyond her work in healthcare, Maria co-founded La Red Latina de Educacion Temprana, a network of over 400 Spanish speaking family, friend and neighbor childcare providers working to change Minnesota’s early childhood system and grow healthy and school ready children. As Minnesota’s first Latina mayor, elected in 2018, she has championed policies supporting affordable housing, climate resilience and removing barriers to opportunity for youth, women, and people of color, shaping a future where equity and justice are priorities across sectors. Maria received her Masers in Public Health from the University of Minnesota.
