Marie Mintalucci

Taking Steps toward Achieving Her Vision to Help Deserving Women Who Live in Developing Economies

Written By CoWORKer Linda Jay

CoWORKer Marie Mintalucci has recently been taking giant steps toward her vision:  she plans to start a program that offers personalized savings plans for specific goals (e.g., sending a child to school) to underserved women in developing economies worldwide.  Marie recently received an excellent new opportunity to make her dream, a program called WomenSave, come true.  Global Partners for Development, an international nonprofit, based in Rohnert Park, is committed to community-led development in East Africa.  GPD has offered Marie a chance to turn her idea into reality in the approaching year, 2020.

A consultant for ten years for The Hunger Project, Marie currently oversees its Microfinance Program, which partners with local communities in rural Africa to improve access to basic financial services for women, especially, through Credit Unions.  Coincidentally, her contract with THP ends in December.

Marie went to high school in France, an experience that set her on a path to want a career and a life filled with travel.  For her education, she attended the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and earned a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University. 

Six years ago, Marie and her “wonderful husband, Dominic,” their newborn baby Max, and their dog Charlie moved to Petaluma.  Dominic’s job offer to be a hand surgeon at Santa Rosa Orthopedics sealed the deal.  Marie wanted to move back to the Bay Area, where she had grown up, so they drove across the U.S. from Philadelphia to Santa Rosa.  Now, “one house and two more kids [Miles (4) and Zoe (2)] later, we pinch ourselves that we live in such a wonderful community.” Marie’s mom lives nearby, in a Santa Rosa assisted living facility.

Marie loves to hike (esp. at Helen Putnam Park), and to cook, when she has time.  Traveling is also high on her list of likes.  Last year big family adventures included travel to Ireland, Colombia, and Poland.

As for her impressions of WORK, here’s what Marie says: “WORK has been great for me.  Since moving to California, I have been working remotely, which I find isolating sometimes.  Despite all the technology that connects us!  I first joined WORK five years ago.  I really enjoy coming into a space that allows me to focus, get my work done, and feel the community of other people around me.”

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