In his latest appointment, Mayor Jim Kenney has tapped Joanna Otero-Cruz to lead up the city's community services cabinet.

“Joanna comes to the City having served in key leadership roles for organizations that serve and meet the needs of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable,” Kenney said in a statement.  “I am confident that she will bring her passion for service to this position, and will help realize our mission of providing not only efficient and effective City services, but also opportunity to all Philadelphians.”

Otero-Cruz has served as the executive director of Concilio since 2010. A social service organization based in North Philadelphia, Concilio is also the oldest Latino nonprofit in the state.

In her term there, she has overseen foster care services, youth development programming, and children’s health work. She's also largely credited with improving the organization's financial health, and improving its reputation statewide. In 2014, Concilio relocated to a state-of-the-art 30,000 square-foot facility in Hunting Park.

The Kenney administration also notes Otero-Cruz's leadership in historic community events such as the Puerto Rican Week Festival, which culminates in the Latino Parade on Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Parkway.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity to continue serving the Philadelphia community in my new role in the Kenney administration,” Otero-Cruz said in a statement.  “My work in developing, implementing and managing successful culturally-appropriate health and social service initiatives has helped to prepare me for this experience, and I look forward to serving the many communities of Philadelphia.”

As the deputy managing director of the City's community services, Otero-Cruz will be tasked with overseeing operations for 311, the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), and the Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Services.

On March 11, she will be stepping down from her position with Concilio. Regarding this departure, the organization's board president Antonio Valdez said that “Joanna will continue to do what she has done so well here at Concilio: engage with Philadelphia’s communities and connect residents with the services they need."