Member Spotlight: NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities with Maricela Brea

This month we are excited to spotlight Maricela Brea, a NYATEP member and recent graduate of the NYATEP Workforce Policy & Advocacy Academy. Maricela is currently the Workforce & Inter-Government Relations Director for NYC: ATWORK for the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). In this role, Maricela uses her extensive background in program implementation and facilitation to work with employers and job seekers with disabilities to achieve a collective goal. The goal is to get as many NYC residents who want to work an adequate, and accessible job.

Maricela earned her professional diploma in Counseling and Professional Services, Master of Science in Education with a Specialization in Counseling and Personnel Services from Fordham University, Graduate School of Education. She began her career as a career counselor and honed her skills in developing strategic partnerships. She says it was her work then that helps her now understand employers when she is talking with them about cultivating a culture of equity at their companies. Maricela brings her own standard of excellence to every project she creates a framework for. She excels at managing complex projects, leading teams, and building consensus, these are skills she brought with her to the Mayor’s office. Today Maricela works with businesses all across NYC to find the most qualified candidates while encouraging companies to increase their efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities is leading the way to ensure that all people living in NYC communities have the same opportunities and resources. Maricela and her staff work to ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. They are committed to creating an inclusive society for all because when equity is the main focus everyone benefits even people who do not have disabilities.

One major challenge is that not all disabled New Yorkers have access to reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation. Maricela notes that at times when a person is offered a job, the lack of accessibility at train stations and in office settings, creates huge barriers to sustainable employment. MOPD is an essential part of the city's efforts to create a more inclusive and knowledgeable workforce. The office works with employers, both private and public, to improve on the job accommodations leading the way for more people with disabilities to enter the workforce. They also help businesses hire qualified employees with disabilities by providing expert advice about workplace accommodations and disability etiquette and awareness.

Through Maricela’s leadership and the dedicated team of the NYC: ATWORK program, over 322 people with disabilities have found jobs in healthcare, information technology, hospitality, finance, transportation, business services, and in multiple city agencies. Positions range from entry level to management with an average annual salary of $55,000 in jobs that provide benefits and economic mobility. The NYC: ATWORK program has been recognized nationally and has been a means of supporting individuals with disabilities accessing sustainable wages and creating a more equitable City for all!

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Maricela Brea
Workforce & Inter-Government Relations Director for NYC: ATWORK
NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
[email protected]

ABOUT MOPD

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities works hand-in-hand with other City agencies to assure that the voice of the disabled community is represented and that City programs and policies address the needs of people with disabilities. To learn more visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mopd/index.page