Maria Paulina Zapata Cardona
Sunnyvale
Summary
Bilingual outreach and engagement specialist with over five years of experience in strategic community engagement, event planning, and partnership development. Dual master’s degrees in International Law and International Relations with demonstrated success in leading outreach initiatives, drafting reports and communication materials, coordinating multi-stakeholder events, and supporting civic and educational programs. Committed to strengthening community-government partnerships and advancing institutional missions in diverse environments.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Leader Program Manager
Sunnyvale Community Services
Sunnyvale, CA
04.2025 - Current
- Designed and implemented the Community Leader Program, strengthening civic leadership and participation among Hispanic residents through training, advocacy materials, and public engagement events.
- Drafted impactful outreach materials and reports to communicate program goals and outcomes to partners, city officials and key stakeholders.
- Led coordination with public agencies, educational institutions, and civic leaders to host workshops and civic engagement tours, aligning community priorities with organizational strategy.
- Prepared briefing notes and regular program updates for internal leadership and external partners to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
- Monitored and analyzed outreach data to evaluate program effectiveness and guide future initiatives.
Community Engagement Specialist
Sunnyvale Community Services
Sunnyvale, CA
08.2022 - 04.2025
- Managed planning and logistics for large-scale community events, serving hundreds of participants and coordinating 60+ partner organizations.
- Served as liaison between local schools, government representatives, and nonprofit partners to increase access to services and information.
- Developed targeted programs — including digital literacy, ESL classes, and entrepreneur mentoring — based on community needs assessments.
- Prepared quarterly reports detailing outreach activities, stakeholder engagement, and performance metrics.
- Led workshop facilitation and post-event analysis to inform improvements and strengthen outreach strategies.
TV Reporter
Agencia Efe
Madrid, Spain
01.2017 - 12.2018
- Managed online public engagement strategies and led communications across multiple platforms.
- Produced audiovisual content.
- Researched and covered topics of local interest.
- Wrote and edited high-impact informational scripts for distribution.
Education
No Degree - International Politics
Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, California, CA05-2019
Master of Arts - International Law
Complutense University of Madrid
Madrid, Spain06-2018
Master of Arts - International Relations & Communication
Camilo Jose Cela University
Madrid, Spain06-2017
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Carlos III University of Madrid
Madrid, Spain09-2015
Skills
- Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement
- Event Planning & Logistical Coordination
- Bilingual Communication (Spanish/English)
- Drafting Remarks, Reports & Correspondence
- Public Speaking & Workshop Facilitation
- Community Needs Assessment & Data Analysis
- Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Collaboration
- Briefings & Stakeholder Preparation
Accomplishments
- Mentored community leaders leading to multiple civic commission appointments.
- Recognized as Volunteer of the Year for contributions to leadership development and community engagement (City of Sunnyvale, 2023).
- Special Congressional Recognition Certificate. Hispanic Leader (2025)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Community Leader Program Manager
Sunnyvale Community Services
04.2025 - Current
Community Engagement Specialist
Sunnyvale Community Services
08.2022 - 04.2025
TV Reporter
Agencia Efe
01.2017 - 12.2018
No Degree - International Politics
Los Medanos College
Master of Arts - International Law
Complutense University of Madrid
Master of Arts - International Relations & Communication
Camilo Jose Cela University
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Carlos III University of Madrid
Recognized as Volunteer of the year (City of Sunnyvale, 2023)
I was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for the Community Leader program I oversee in Sunnyvale