A Fond Farewell to Maritza Romero
From NWHF Programs Manager Cleo Tung:
It’s with deep gratitude and warm wishes that we say goodbye to our colleague and friend, Maritza Romero.
Maritza’s journey with NWHF started long before she officially joined our team. As a community leader and advocate, she was part of the early visioning that shaped the Civic Health initiative. So when she came on board as a Program Officer, it felt like a full circle moment.
In her time at NWHF, Maritza brought heart, humility and clarity to all she did. She led our Justice Reinvestment Equity Program with care and clarity and stewarded powerful gatherings with our grantees. She also led our Advancing Disability Justice work, leaning into that role with curiosity and a strong commitment to learning.
While we’re sad to see her go, we’re excited for what’s ahead. Maritza is headed to El Paso to be closer to family as she raises her two adorable littles and sets out on her next great adventure.
Maritza, thank you for the heart and commitment you brought to this work and for always keeping community at the center. We’ll miss you and will be cheering you on always!
A few words from Maritza:
Being part of NWHF was truly a dream come true. Although my time here was brief, the experience was profound—not only for me, but also for my family, who had the joy of joining me on many of my travels around the state.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow within the philanthropic sector. At NWHF, alongside my colleagues, I found guidance, patience and understanding. I carry with me many memories, including:
Being part of the Justice Reinvestment Equity Program—not only as a program officer at NWHF, but also as a grantee in my previous role with The Harbor—provided me with a firsthand understanding of the importance of funds that directly support culturally specific organizations and culturally responsive services to promote healing and advance community safety.
Connecting and building relationships with local leaders at our beautiful community dinners, from being in community with Klamath Falls to gathering in Redmond and Washington County.
Building connections and learning from our grantees and partners in Civic Health and JREP during convenings and gatherings.
And finally, working on Advancing Disability Justice, having the opportunity to get to know incredible disability justice leaders, funding partners, and the fabulous and fierce consultant Shilo George.
In this short time, I have been fortunate to build connections with communities and leaders across Oregon and Southwest Washington who advocate for equity, justice, liberation, healing and the well-being of all. Each one is doing powerful work, and I’m honored to have met you and been welcomed into your communities and organizations.
Thank you for being part of my journey. I may be saying goodbye to my role at NWHF, but this is not a goodbye to the fight for justice and equity for mi comunidad, and I will continue la lucha soon at my new home: El Paso, Texas.
To connect with me and stay tuned in to my next chapter, you can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Algunas palabras de parte de Maritza:
Ser parte de NWHF fue un sueño hecho realidad. Aunque mi tiempo aquí fue corto, la experiencia fue profunda —no solo para mí, sino también para mi familia, que tuvo la dicha de acompañarme en muchos de los viajes.
Estoy agradecida por la oportunidad de conocer y ampliar mi aprendizaje en el sector de la filantropía. Fue en NWHF, junto a mis colegas, donde recibí guía, paciencia y comprensión. Me llevo muchos recuerdos, entre ellos:
Ser parte del Justice Reinvested Equity Program, no solo como program officer en NWHF, sino también como beneficiaria en mi rol anterior en The Harbor — me brindó una comprensión de primera mano sobre la importancia de los fondos que apoyan directamente a organizaciones culturalmente específicas y a servicios culturalmente receptivos para promover la sanación y fortalecer la seguridad comunitaria.
Conectando y construyendo relaciones con líderes locales en nuestras hermosas cenas comunitarias, desde estar en comunidad en Klamath Falls hasta reunirnos en Redmond y el condado de Washington.
Fortaleciendo lazos y aprendiendo de nuestras organizaciones beneficiarias y aliados en Civic Health y JREP durante nuestros convivios y eventos.
Y, por último, trabajando en el Advancing Disability Justice, que m permitió la oportunidad de conocer a increíbles líderes de justicia para personas con discapacidad, aliados y la fabulose y poderose consultore Shilo George.
En este corto tiempo, he tenido la fortuna de formar conexiones con comunidades y líderes en todo Oregón y el suroeste de Washington, quienes luchan y abogan por la equidad, justicia, liberación, sanación y el bienestar de todas las personas. Cada uno está haciendo un trabajo poderoso, y me siento honrada de haberles conocido y de haber sido recibida en sus comunidades y organizaciones.
Gracias por ser parte de mi camino. Puede que esté diciendo adiós a mi rol en NWHF, pero esto no es un adiós a la lucha por la justicia y la equidad para mi comunidad, y continuaré la lucha pronto en mi nuevo hogar: El Paso, Texas.