It is with great pleasure that the New Futures Board of Directors announces that Mario Paredes will join New Futures as our new executive director on June 1, 2010.

A longtime, highly respected community leader in Washington State, Mario is currently the executive director of Consejo Counseling and Referral Service, an award-winning agency that provides culturally competent services to underserved Latino communities, especially families with children. Under Mario’s leadership over the past 12 years, Consejo has grown from a local agency with a $2.2 million annual budget to a statewide agency with a $6 million annual budget. In addition, Mario has led two successful multi-million-dollar capital campaigns during his tenure there. As a result, Consejo has been able to greatly expand its programming and extend its reach to better serve hundreds of low-income, immigrant families in our region.

Mario brings to New Futures a proven track record of successful management, effective advocacy, and strategic coalition building. In recognition of his leadership, both Mario and Consejo have received numerous honors. Mario currently serves on the boards of the Minority Executive Directors Coalition, Washington Community Action Network, and the Casa de Esperanza National Advisory Board, and is a former board president of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. He earned a masters degree in Non-Profit Management from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Western Washington University. As an immigrant to the United States from El Salvador, Mario brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing the children, youth and families in New Futures’ programs.

We are thrilled to welcome Mario to New Futures, and he is excited to join our team as well. “I greatly look forward to working together with New Futures’ families and with schools, along with New Futures’ many other community partners, to reduce educational disparities and ensure that all children and youth are able to thrive.”

You will have an opportunity to meet Mario at New Futures’ Get Inspired! Benefit Breakfast on Wednesday, May 5, at the Washington State Convention Center. If you haven’t already made your breakfast reservation, please do join us that day in welcoming Mario to New Futures. And if you have made your reservation, please forward this great news to others and encourage them to join us on May 5 to welcome Mario.