State Director
Cynthia began her journey with Clean Water Action Massachusetts in 2024 as Co-Director and now serves as State Director. A proud New Bedford native, she carries a family legacy rooted in service and resilience, from Puerto Rican and Taíno ancestry to a great-grandfather who captained a ship aiding Cape Verdean migrants escaping colonial oppression. That lineage shapes her understanding of how colonial history and environmental injustice intersect in today’s climate crisis.
Later in life, Cynthia worked in her community on many issues, including housing justice and the preservation of green spaces. Then, friends in the community asked her to run for office! Cynthia won a breakout grassroots campaign for the Rhode Island State Senate. Her tenure as a state senator was marked by a strong commitment to climate advocacy, helping pass groundbreaking legislation.
Cynthia brings a broad and accomplished background in public service, nonprofit management, and policy innovation. She has built and reimagined systems that recruit and develop new leaders, expand grassroots power, and align fundraising, outreach, and policy strategy toward long-term structural change. As State Director, she also serves as Co-Chair of the People of Color Caucus and as a member of the national Diversity Council, which advances equity-centered practices across the national organization.
Cynthia brings her People-centered, equity-based systems design to the Clean Water Action team. She is passionate about fighting for clean air, water, healthy living conditions, and justice for everyone. Her personal and professional work is a testament to her commitment to environmental justice and to the power of collective action to bring about meaningful, lasting change.
