Mayor Kasim Reed today thanked Monica Fuentes, Chief Service Officer, for her service and commitment in leading several of the City’s strategic initiatives, including the Welcoming Atlanta initiative and overseeing the city’s efforts to establish an Office of Immigrant Affairs. Fuentes will leave her position with the City of Atlanta on September 30 to join Atlanta-based Welcoming America, a national non-profit that helps communities across the country achieve prosperity by becoming more welcoming toward immigrants and residents. She will serve as the Director of their new Washington, D.C. office.

In her current role, Monica developed and oversaw social welfare policy and programming for the City of Atlanta. She focused on leveraging strategic partnerships and building community infrastructure, focusing on immigrant integration, youth and public art. Under her leadership, the City established an Office of Immigrant Affairs. The office serves as the liaison between the City of Atlanta and the immigrant and foreign-born community, builds capacity with city government to better support immigrants and refugees, and implements the 2014 Welcoming Atlanta Working Group immigrant-integration recommendations.

“During her time with us, Monica has been an invaluable member of my senior team,” said Mayor Reed. “Her passion for public service has helped strengthen our city’s relationships with a number of vital constituencies. Monica leaves us with a substantial record of achievement, and I wish her the very best in her new role. I am sure she will exceed expectations at Welcoming America.”

“I am grateful to Mayor Reed for the opportunity to have served the City of Atlanta,” said Monica Fuentes. “Under Mayor Reed’s leadership and guidance, I learned the Atlanta way of addressing pressing social issues - a true partnership between municipal government, nonprofits, the corporate and philanthropic community. I leave Atlanta amazed by the work that happens at the local level when everyone is committed to the prosperity of their community and I’m honored to have been a part of it during my tenure.”

Monica first joined the City of Atlanta as the Deputy Director of Communications for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in (insert year). Prior to joining the city, Monica worked on President Obama’s re-election campaign, first as a Regional Political Director for the Democratic National Committee and then as the Regional Voter Protection Director for East Central Florida. Monica also served as the Director of Government Relations for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where she directed the organization’s advocacy and policy efforts on a range of topics including small business, access to capital and immigration.

“Welcoming America is proud to call Atlanta home,” said David Lubell, Executive Director for Welcoming America. “Mayor Reed’s leadership with the Welcoming Atlanta initiative is already a nationally known model for what cities and communities can do to welcome immigrants and create a community where all their residents can prosper. We are thrilled that Monica will join us to help replicate what we’ve accomplished in Atlanta in communities across the country.”