Martha has spent most of her life helping and serving others: her family, community, and country. After graduating high school, she joined the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist, analyzing, organizing, and disseminating Intelligence gathered. Martha deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, providing real-time Full Motion Video analysis to coalition forces. Alongside pilots and military leaders, Martha planned, implemented, directed, and executed missions.
While still in the military, she attended Harold Washington College in Chicago and continued her involvement with the community by interning at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Emergency Preparedness and Response team. There, she aided in creating and facilitating training with several government agencies.
As her contract with the United States Navy was ending, Martha decided to continue her education and not reenlist. She received a full-ride scholarship and in 2016, transferred to Vassar College, where she later graduated in May 2020. During her college years, she interned at World Relief, where she assisted refugee families in settling into their new lives.
Upon her return to Chicago, Martha began working as a Prevention Specialist at Rincon Family Services. There, she implemented an evidence-based curriculum in community schools, facilitated a youth committee, conducted outreach, organized community events, and established relationships with the community. In January of 2023, Martha became a member of the HACIA family, becoming the Program Coordinator for the Business Capacity programs at HACIA.
