Maria Pesqueira

Don Quixote Leadership Award

El Valor is honored to present Maria Pesqueira with the Don Quixote Leadership Award at this year’s Don Quixote Dinner on June 27th. She has been a steadfast advocate for Latino communities, with a lifelong commitment to advancing health, education, and equity through compassionate leadership.

As the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, Maria Pesqueira learned the power of voice, advocacy, and connection at an early age, serving as a translator and advocate for her family and neighbors. These formative experiences ignited a lifelong commitment to service, community, and collaborative leadership.

Since 2017, Maria has served as the President of Healthy Communities Foundation, where she leads with a bold vision grounded in equity and partnership, and the belief that those closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions.

Prior to this role, Maria was the President of Mujeres Latinas en Acción, the nation’s oldest Latina-led organization focused on advancing the well-being of Latinas and their families. She also held a leadership role at The National Museum of Mexican Art, one of the country’s most prominent first-voice institutions celebrating Mexican art, culture, and identity.

Beyond her professional leadership, Maria is a respected voice in philanthropy and civic life. She shares her time, expertise, and perspective to various local and national organizations dedicated to building a more just and inclusive society. Peers and civic leaders alike have widely recognized her leadership and impact.

Maria lives in Chicago with her husband and their dog, Luna, just blocks from where she grew up and within the service region of the Healthy Communities Foundation. They are proud parents of an adult son whose commitment to civic engagement reflects their family’s dedication to building a better future for their community.