Marta Cruz-Concepción
Marta Cruz-Concepción is a native of Puerto Rico who has worked with migrant workers’ communities since she arrived to the USA. In her youth, she became focused on community causes following her family’s footsteps in civic engagement. She has been inspired by women like Isabel
Rosado-Morales, Gloria Steinem and Dr. Norma Rocklage (Sisters of Saint Francis, Oldenberg IN).
Marta graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Liberal Arts & Communications, and MA in Spanish. She earned a MA in Linguistics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and continued graduate work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has been a teacher to school-aged children, and a university professor. Her area of academic specialization is late 20th and early 21st century literature and narratives of Spanish-speaking, Afro-Caribbean women writers in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.
As a community leader, Marta has always led or participated in efforts supporting civic activities and social justice initiatives in the places she has lived. From Indianapolis as a student leader starting the citywide and on-going Hispanic celebration -Fiesta, and Indianapolis Children’s Bureau, to Melbourne working in support of justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Currently, she is a City Council member for the City of Cloverdale, in Sonoma County California.
As Council member she chairs the City/School District Relations Subcommittee and the City Public Works Subcommittee. Marta has been a mentor for high school student-liaisons to the Council. She serves on the Board of Zero Waste Sonoma, and in the League of California Cities’ Community Services group for the Redwood Empire Division. In June 2020 Marta completed the statewide Seminar on Water Education for Latino Leaders, receiving recognition from Senator Mike McGuire, Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore, and Assemblyman Anthony Rendón. Her focus continues to be educational access for all children and youth, food security for the elderly, and healthcare as well as housing access for underrepresented communities.