Mario Paz (he/him) is the Executive Director of Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, which helps immigrants and diverse families obtain the skills and resources they need to overcome the challenges of poverty and displacement. Built 130 years ago as the country’s second-ever settlement house for immigrants, Good Samaritan restructured in 1994 as a bilingual (English/Spanish) family resource center. The organization has centers in the Mission District and Bayview-Hunters Point and operates two preschools in the Mission District. Good Samaritan serves nearly 900 families annually, most of whom are from low-income communities of color and/or immigrant households. The organization prioritizes adaptability to meet the ever-evolving needs of their community. For example, during the COVID pandemic, the organization rapidly shifted its focus to distribute emergency aid to more than 1,200 food-insecure families who would have otherwise gone hungry.
Mario has led Good Samaritan since 2006 and has served children, youth, families, and communities through the nonprofit and public sector for over 30 years. He is a member of numerous boards of directors, including the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission, the Mission Council, the San Francisco Community Investment Advisory Council, and he helped found and co-chair the San Francisco Family Services Alliance. Mario has received many awards for his community work, including from Grantmakers for Children, Youth, and Families and the Stanford University Haas Center for Public Service.
As stated by Mario, “Those of us working in the nonprofit human services sector witness the struggles of the people we serve every day. In the face of overwhelming suffering and need, we are constantly called upon to do more.” Figuring out how to establish a better work-life balance and modeling this commitment for his team is a priority for Mario during his sabbatical so he can “reflect, build energy, and look at what the future might hold.”