Raquel A. Vazquez, Founder & CEO
Raquel is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Empowered Block. For over 16 years, Raquel has spent her career in community development work, ranging from finance, constituent services, community outreach, policy analysis, and affordable housing development in New York City and Washington, DC.
Raquel has overseen over $10 billion in community development investments throughout her career. She has dedicated her career to advance equity, foster investment, and strengthen public-private partnerships in underserved communities.
Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Raquel is proud to be a Black & Latina community development professional. Raquel has a Master’s in Public Administration, Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Finance, and a double Bachelor’s in Sociology and Latin American & Caribbean Studies.
She has received numerous honors including appointment to the NYS Real Estate Board, Harlem Community Planning Board #10, as well as fellowships from the Council of Urban Professionals, Morgan Stanley, Next City, and 92Y Women in Power.
Raquel currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Neighborhood Design Center.
To learn more about Raquel, check out her website or LinkedIn.