Mariana Batalla

Development & Communications Coordinator

Through her social justice driven outreach work Mariana has gotten the opportunity to create change with local organizations like ECCHO and Kinship Community Food Center. During her time at ECCHO (2023) she worked as a Community Outreach Coordinator, to develop a civic engagement event that would encourage families in marginalized communities to vote in collaboration with Wisconsin Representative Kalan Haywood Jr. At Kinship Community Food Center, she volunteers as a Stride Mentor to connect individuals with social services and local resources to help them navigate complex issues with housing, employment, and mental health. She is also a co-facilitator for an immigrant and refugee support circle at Kinship, where she fosters community by bridging language and cultural barriers.

Amongst her volunteer work, she is a recent Mount Mary University graduate with a BA in Communication with minors in Justice and Literature. She was one of two students to be awarded Mount Mary University Honors in her graduating Spring 2025 class. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Senior Leadership Award, for creating cultural events that represent Latinx identity and embodying the values of community, compassion, commitment, and competence.

With her background in justice, she strives to help Milwaukee through a grassroots approach. Her work reflects her community-first mindset and leading with an assets-based frame of mind, rather than a deficit. 

Mariana is a Milwaukee native who loves music, is a self-proclaimed movie critic, and foodie. She finds the most joy when helping others and empowering communities with an assets-based approach.