Title or Function
- Assistant vice-rector of the Faculty of Development / Associate Professor of the School of urban and public affairs
Institution/Organization
- University of Texas in Arlington, USA
Regional Center
- International
Email Address
Biography
In her book, co-authored by Mirle Rabinowitz Bussel, Maria pursues the work they started in order to elaborate a typology of private foundations committed to community development in the United States in order to make comparisons with Canadian foundations. The book is called Catalysts for Change: 21st Century Philanthropy and Community Development (Routledge, 2013).
Maria’s research interests include the role of private foundations in provoking change in low-income communities. She is particularly interested in global community projects or initiatives and the processes used to actively engage residents in the change process. Being a Spanish speaker, she is also interested in the role of immigrants and Hispanic urban populations as actors of community development. Maria is interested in Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital as applied to the community participation of urban residents of under served neighborhoods.