Community organizer is first-ever Hispanic CHA resident to sit on Board of Commissioners

CHICAGO (Jan. 17, 2017) - Cristina Matos, the first-ever Hispanic resident to serve on the Chicago Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, made her first appearance as an official Board member Tuesday at CHA’s monthly board meeting. Matos, a resident of CHA’s Southeast Scattered Sites, was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Nov. 16, 2016 and will complete the term of retired former Commissioner Harriet Johnson. She will serve until July 7, 2019.

“Cristina is known as a determined community organizer who has very strong ties and relationships with residents and elected officials,” said Board Chairman John T. Hooker.  “Those relationships and that experience will be of great value to CHA and also be vital in her future contributions to CHA.”

Matos has performed effective work in neighborhoods. She secured private and public donations to organize events for youth in the South Shore neighborhood, and planned and directed fundraising events.

“I am grateful to Mayor Emanuel for this opportunity and I look forward to helping the agency provide housing and build communities and help residents on their road to self-sufficiency,” Matos said.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Matos is also a board member at Immaculate Conception Parish, and formerly at Corazon a Corazon, a non-profit organization that served the Latino community.

She has served as a project coordinator with the Mexican Community Committee of South Chicago and Ada S. McKinley Community Services; and has served as a customer service representative at SER Central States, Chicago Family and Support Services and Nan McKay and Associates.