Victoria Foundation Appoints Sara Peña to Board of Trustees

The Victoria Foundation Board of Trustees is proud to announce Sara Peña as our newest trustee. Sara is a passionate leader and advocate who has dedicated her life to driving positive change in the Latinx community, specifically growing the leadership of boys of color and the political power of Latina women. She joins the foundation board with an impressive background spanning two decades and a commitment to advocating for social justice, across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, private entities, and government.

"We are thrilled to have Sara join our board. We will benefit from her deep connection to Newark, specific expertise in our strategic focus area to promote Youth Self-Determination, and her breadth of experience in policy and advocacy," shared Frank Alvarez, board president of Victoria Foundation.

Sara is the Director of External Affairs at PSEG, and previously served as the Director in the New Jersey Department of State's Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development, where she led initiatives focused on advancing the rights and representation of Hispanics and Latinx communities. Her exceptional leadership was recognized when she was named to NJ's Insider 100: Policy-Makers Power List for her work in expanding the Center's reach and increasing its budget by $2 million.

An avid advocate for education and community empowerment, Sara served as a Biden-Harris national policy volunteer on the Education Committee in 2020. Additionally, she contributed her expertise to New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Sheila Oliver's Human and Children Services Transition Advisory Committee in 2018.

Inspired by her son Anthony, she founded the Boys to Leaders Foundation in 2013, a non-profit organization focused on empowering young men through leadership training, educational programs, and personal and professional development.

Sara's commitment to empowering women and Latinas is evident in her active involvement with organizations such as LUPE (Latinas United for Political Empowerment) Fund, Inc., where she served as President for three years and currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past President. She has also contributed her leadership to the Executive Board of LUPE and actively engages in advancing the mission of empowering, educating, and engaging women from all walks of life.

Mayor Ras J. Baraka of Newark appointed Sara to the Commission on the Status of Women, where she serves as an ambassador, policymaker, and advocate for women's issues. She is also a proud fellow graduate and 2022 Honoree of the Leadership Newark Program, where she was recognized for her leadership and commitment to Newark's betterment.