United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Esperanza Cantú, MPH has extensive work experience in various organizations and roles. Most recently, they worked at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan as the Sr. Director of Community Information Exchange (CIE) and Integration Services. Prior to that, they held positions as the Director of Health Initiatives and Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion at the same organization. Esperanza also worked as a Senior Fellow at The George Washington University with a focus on health equity.
Cantú has been actively involved in public health at the local and state levels. Esperanza served as a Commissioner on the Public Health Advisory Commission for the City of Detroit's Health Department. Esperanza was also a part of the Hispanic/Latino Commission for the State of Michigan.
Earlier in their career, Cantú worked as the Director of Community Health Planning and Engagement and as a Project Leader for Special Projects at the City of Detroit's Health Department. Esperanza also had roles at Wayne State University Law School as a Fellow at the Detroit Equity Action Lab, at Authority Health as a Manager of Health Equity and Collaboration, and at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation as the Director of Development and Marketing.
Cantú started their career as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the University of Michigan Health System and as a Summer Service Learning Coordinator at the Llano Grande Center for Research and Development. Throughout their career, they have demonstrated a dedication to promoting health equity and community engagement.
Esperanza Cantú, MPH obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Kalamazoo College. Esperanza later completed an Executive Master of Public Health degree with a focus on Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan. Additionally, they briefly studied Ecología at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in 2009 and 2010.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
We mobilize the caring power of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to improve communities and individual lives across Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Macomb counties in measurable and lasting ways. IN OUR REGION, NEARLY 40% OF HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLE TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Southeastern Michigan, families in our community were struggling. Now, the situation is dire. People are struggling to find jobs, or they’re working, but not making enough to provide for their families. Parents are forced to choose between feeding their children and paying the rent. Senior citizens have to go without prescriptions. Children struggle to keep up in school. College students have to go without health care. This is a problem in every city in our region — and the problem is growing. This affects your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. This is everyone’s problem. Without stable households, children will never be able to thrive. And if children aren’t thriving now, they won’t be prepared to build stable households in the future — or a stable community. Together, we can break the cycle. At United Way, we work to build communities where all households are stable and every child can thrive.