United Way of Dane County has announced today that Baltazar De Anda-Santana will be their new Director of Community and Volunteer Engagement. With his expertise, De Anda-Santana will work to increase community volunteerism and align the efforts of volunteers with the goals of Dane County businesses and non-profit to achieve United Way’s mission. He will also increase the impact of volunteers and non-profits in the community.
“Volunteerism is a driving force behind United Way’s mission to unite the community to achieve measurable results and change lives,” said Renee Moe, president and CEO of United Way of Dane County. “Baltazar brings his deep volunteer management experience to United Way. His passion to connect corporate, community and youth volunteers to community needs is an incredible asset. We’re thrilled to have Baltazar join United Way’s family!”
Most recently, De Anda-Santana headed up the Latino Academy of Workforce Development (LAWD), a culturally competent, bilingual adult education, training and employment program whose primary goal is to create a safe, culturally competent space that empowers Latino adults to succeed and integrate into the economic and educational systems of Dane County. The program began in 2011 as a response to the need of culturally and linguistically competent programming in Dane County.
De Anda-Santana is an expert community organizer, bringing together government agencies, nonprofits and numerous other groups to lead LAWD into becoming the largest program of the Vera Court Neighborhood Center, Inc. He also coordinated LAWD’s large volunteer force, as well as created and oversaw LAWD’s numerous classes and events.
“I’m excited to bring the relationships I have built throughout the community to United Way,” said De Anda-Santana. “Volunteers are a great resource in Dane County and I can’t wait to bring together all parts of the community and change lives through volunteerism.”
Madison Magazine named De Anda-Santana to its People of the Year list in 2011. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a degree in Multimedia and Digital Arts. De Anda-Santana’s will begin part-time on June 1, as he completes the transition process at LAWD and begins full-time at United Way on July 1.
