Hispanic Center Head Resigns, Takes Statewide Advocacy Post

Ingrid Alvarez-DiMarzo, who took over as executive director of the Hispanic Center in 2009, stepped down this month to take the newly created job of state director for the Hispanic Federation in Connecticut.

According to a press release from the Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury Inc., which is now called the Multicultural Center of Western Connecticut, DiMarzo will be based in Hartford. She will lead the Hispanic Federation’s recently-launched expansion into Connecticut including supporting member nonprofit agencies and coordinating advocacy efforts on behalf of the state’s 500,000 Latinos.

"I'll be working out of Danbury, too," DiMarzo said. Some of that work will involve registering Hispanic voters and then getting the vote out during elections. "We've been a member of the national organization."

“We are very excited to have Ingrid Alvarez-DiMarzo join the HF Team and lead our capacity building and advocacy efforts in Connecticut”, stated José Calderón, President of the Hispanic Federation.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said he and DiMarzo worked well together and he'll miss her at the center. DiMarzo took over the job from Maria Cinta Lowe, who ran the center since its founding. 

"She came in and did a great job of righting the ship at a difficult time," Boughton said. "She's grown the organization and made is stronger since then."

Andrea Contreras, a Western Connecticut State University nursing graduate, a committed volunteer at the Center for the past 4 years, and member of the Board of Directors, will step in as Interim Executive Director.  

"On behalf of the Hispanic Center Board of Directors, its volunteers, and community allies, I would like to sincerely thank Ingrid for her achievements and immeasurable contributions to the Hispanic Community in the Greater Danbury are,” says Carlos Valenzuela Chairman of the Board of Directors.