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… Championing the advancement and development of
Hispanic
Americans in the federal workforce through training and education
with a focus
on building leadership skills, leading change, and achieving
results! ...
ANNA MARIA FARIAS
Director, Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI)
US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Anna Maria Farias currently serves as the Director for the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As Director, Farias oversees the Center's successful Grant Writing Training Program which will held over fifty-eight sessions in 2008 alone, the Unlocking Doors Initiative which brings together local leaders in cities throughout the country to address housing needs, as well as other successful outreach and technical assistance programs.
From 2004-2007 Farias served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs in HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development, with oversight of 6.3 billion dollars and jurisdiction over the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program, Environment and Energy Programs, the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI), Preserve America Initiative, and oversight of 16.7 Billion for the Gulf Coast Disaster Recovery.
From 2002-2004 Farias served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Initiatives for Community Planning and Development (CPD) in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Prior to this appointment, Ms. Farias was HUD Secretary Martinez' Senior Counsel from 2001-2002.
From November 1992 until June 2000 Deputy Assistant Secretary Farias was the Executive Director of the Crystal City Housing Authority. Farias received thirteen National Awards of Merit. She was also the recipient of the Residential National Award for being the only Executive Director in the country who was raised in public housing and came back to reside there once she was named the Director.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Farias graduated from Boston University with honors and a degree in political science, languages and literature. Farias received her law degree from Temple University Law School in Philadelphia where she was also the Class President. In 1998, she attended the Harvard University JFK School of Government Programs for Senior executives in State Government. In 1999, she was certified as a Commercial Mediator.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Farias has received other Government Appointments: Special Assistant/Attorney Advisor to the US Secretary of Education (1985); Deputy Director Office of Bilingual Education (1985-1988), Counsel to a National Labor Relations Board Member (1989-1992); Legal Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Labor (1992); and Member, Wage Appeals Board and Board of Service Contract Appeals _U.S. Department of Labor (1992-1993). Appointed by Governor Bush to be Commissioner in the Texas Commission on Human Rights (1996-2001).
Deputy Assistant Secretary Farias was inducted into the Texas Women Hall of Fame for her Professional Leadership in 2000. She also received the National Hispanic Leadership Eagle Award for her Community Service. Deputy Assistant Secretary Farias was named Honorary Mayor of San Antonio, Texas in 2002. She was commissioned 'Yellow Rose of Texas' by the Governor of Texas and was named Outstanding Hispanic Woman by Image. Most recently, she was inducted into Mexico's Women's Hall of Fame as 2003's "Pride of Mexico" award recipient.