Maria Chaparro is the ENLACES Project Coordinator at the US-Mexico Border Health Association—ENLACES is a CDC project funded to build capacity and strengthen effective and meaningful participation in the HIV Prevention Community Planning process. The ENLACES project has proven effective in increasing the participation and leadership of Latinos in CPGs (community planning groups) in states such as Utah, Alaska, North Carolina, Kansas, New Jersey, West Texas, Delaware and Northern California. Ms. Chaparro has been involved in HIV Prevention Community Planning since its inception in 1993, and served as the Region III Co-Chair and State Community Co-Chair for New Mexico from 1993 to 1999. Currently, she continues to foster collaborative partnerships with Capacity Building Assistance (CBA) providers such as the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum and the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities (African Americans) to create opportunities for dialogue among impacted communities via skills building workshops delivered at the annual HIV Prevention Leadership Summit.
Born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Maria Chaparro began her career in AIDS Prevention in 1993 with Families & Youth, Inc.(FYI) as the Hispanic/Latino Outreach Specialist for South Central New Mexico. Under her direction, FYI was able to expand its HIV/AIDS prevention programs throughout the region, including the implementation of the Syringe/Needle Exchange Program that is still in operation today and is among the best models in the state of New Mexico.