Wanda Cruz

Healthy Communities Program Coordinator
(845) 292-6180 Ext. 110
wvc22@cornell.edu
Administration, Family & Consumer Sciences, Food & Nutrition

Wanda is a bilingual, native New Yorker with a AS in Business Management, a BS in Community & Human Services, three years towards a BS in psychology, two years school of banking certification from the American Bankers Association/American Institute of Banking in New York as well as extensive training on Complete Streets design related to rural roads, Safe Routes to Schools, Active Friendly Routes for Everyday Destinations, Vision Zero, Safe Routes to Parks and on Food Service Guidelines for Vending Machines, Cafés, Concession Stands and Snack Bars.

She has more than 45 years’ experience in community outreach work and 25+ in administration/supervisory positions. Over 15 years’ experience working with at risk youth and families, twenty years in County Government which included Health Department, Youth Bureau and Employment and Training. Twelve years in New York City as part of the administration of a Commercial Bank and Chair of Washington Heights Child Care Center. Presently, approaching eight years working for CCE Sullivan County (CCESC) as a Healthy Communities Coordinator for Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC).

As such, she has assisted with drafting, implementing policies and projects related to Complete Streets (Safe Routes to Schools, Safe Routes to Parks, Active Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations, Vision Zero), Food Service Guidelines and Physical Activity Access within her program measures and catchment area which includes Sullivan County Government and municipalities of Bethel, Fallsburg, Liberty, Mamakating, Monticello, Thompson, Woodridge, and Wurtsboro.

She also serves on several advisory panels in Sullivan County and is a member of the Sullivan O & W Rail Trail Alliance.

Wanda is Past President to the Middletown Lions Club, with other past positions that included Zone Chair to LCI District 20-0, and Mentor to the MD-20 Lions Leadership Institute and educated other local clubs in Orange and Sullivan County on Diabetes while providing resource materials to use when educating the public.

Some of Wanda’s achievements include but not limited to a Human Rights Commission Awards, NYS Legislative Resolution as recipient of a Human Rights Award, Professional Youth Worker Award, Youth Excellence Award, President’s Award for Outstanding Club Leadership and Devoted Service. She also received two recognitions in 2023. Smart Growth America recognized thirteen individuals nationwide as the 2023 Complete Streets Change Makers in which Wanda was one of them and on June 7, 2023, she was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship Honorable Mention Award.