October 2, 2025
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Grace shares candid stories about growing up as the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, interpreting for her parents, and how those early experiences shaped her pursuit of law and public service. She traces her path through the Human Resources Administration, from attorney to agency leader, and describes navigating crises like Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic—fighting for immigrant families, expanding access to SNAP, and supporting the city’s workforce through unimaginable loss.
Now leading United Way of New York City, Grace speaks to the urgent challenges facing New Yorkers as federal cuts to food and health benefits loom, and underscores the role nonprofits and partners must play in keeping families fed, healthy, and stable. She also offers sharp advice for the city’s next mayor: hire technocrats, not ideologues, and focus on the basics—ensuring people are nourished and cared for.
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