Amy Cruz

Amy Cruz is a recent graduate from Columbia University where she earned a B.A. in Urban Studies with a concentration in Sociology. While earning her degree she coordinated numerous events while at CU including fundraising events for Camp Heartland (a camp for children infected/affected with HIV/AIDS), career panels, and university visits from local middle and high schools. Originally from Long Beach, California, she began her work experience in New York City as an intern for Senator Schumer and soon developed an interest in working within the urban community to improve the quality of life for its residents, adults and youth alike. From this first internship, she learned the importance of the non-profit sector and thus began the search for her niche within it. During her last academic semester, she simultaneously interned at the United Way of New York City and Aspira of New York where she further defined her interest in working in the non-profit sector to improve the life of urban youth and learned that a sustainable community can only be achieved through effective programming that targets the issues facing its youth.