Meet Maureen, our Maplean of the Month!
Maureen "Mo" De Nieva has 9 years of experience working with nonprofits and government agencies in leadership, advocacy, youth development, organizing, and public policy. She has a Bachelors and MBA degree from Dominican University of California where she’s an Alumni Board Member. She is Secretary of Marin County Young Democrats and Marin Women’s Political Action Committee, former appointed member of the Marin Alcohol, and Other Drug Advisory Board, Alternate for the Chair of the Marin Democratic Party, and AD-10 delegate to the California Democratic Party. She lives in San Rafael with the purpose of changing the leadership landscape of Marin.
Q: Where are you from?
A: Maureen De Nieva (MD) - I am originally from Honolulu, Hawaii. My mother joined the U.S. Army (from the Philippines) to become a U.S. citizen and was stationed in Hawaii. I grew up in San Jose, California. I moved to Marin originally to attend Dominican University of California for both my B.A. and M.B.A. degrees. I moved permanently to San Rafael in 2012.
Q: What attracted you to work for Marin County?
A: MD – I originally learned about Marin County career opportunities from going to school at Dominican. However, real momentum occurred when a former non-profit colleague brought me to County to do public health & policy work for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). I work in the HHS Prevention Hub to help work with community coalitions to reduce youth access to alcohol in Marin. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m passionate about working in the same community in which I reside. I see my job at County as an everyday opportunity to create impactful change in the communities we serve.
Q: Can you tell me about you taking part in the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders?
A: MD – On my days off, I am an active community member in local and state politics. I was nominated to attend a Filipino-American briefing of the nation’s top community leaders in Washington D.C. I did not attend this event as a representative of Marin County Government or HHS, but as an individual, however my community work in the North Bay helped to inform the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) regarding different issue areas. The experience was amazing to participate in because I learned first hand how other AAPI communities in the country dealt with the Affordable Health Care Act implementation, Immigration, etc. and how Marin County did in comparison. As a County employee, we are public servants. I am happy to know that my passion for community change isn’t just in my personal life, but also in the career I have today in HHS.
The interview was conducted by Jacalyn Mah on Tuesday, March 29, 2014. Photos are courtesy of Maureen De Nieva.
