Maria Gabriela Fuentes has been a Credentialed Family Peer Advocate since 2019. At NYU McSilver, she works as a Family Peer Support Training Specialist in support of the PeerTAC project. In this role, Maria develops online and in-person training and technical assistance programming, with a particular focus on integrating family voices across project activities.
Maria holds an Associate Degree in Social Work and is currently pursuing an Associate in Criminal Justice at Eastern Gateway Community College. Previously she has worked for the Jewish Board’s Prevention and Intervention Program as a Family Advocate/Case Manager for a school-based mental health program active in five New York City public schools, and she has volunteered for NAMI-NYC and NAMI Queens/Nassau since 2013.
Maria is a native of Ecuador, a longtime resident of NYC, and a proud parent.