Barr Fellows

Claudio Martinez

Executive Director, La Vida Scholars

Claudio Martinez has worked to advance education, culture and economic development in Boston through leadership roles in the nonprofit, private and public sectors. Claudio is now the Executive Director of La Vida Scholars, a community based organization that equips low-income, high-achieving Lynn students with the resources and preparation needed to enter great colleges. Claudio also Co-directs Boston University’s BRIDGE Program (Building Refugees and Immigrant Degrees in Graduate Education).

For 17 years, including in 2005 when he was recognized as a Barr Fellow, Claudio was the Executive Director of The Hyde Square Task Force, an organization that builds the skills of inner-city youth through innovative arts and culture, leadership, lifelong learning, economic development, and community organizing initiatives.

As a neighborhood advocate, community organizer and parent Claudio has worked in Boston school reform efforts for the past 25 years, also serving as member and Vice-chair of the Boston School Committee. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Boston Foundation, the Youth Violence Prevention Funders Learning Collaborative, and Boston After School and Beyond. He is also a Mel King Community Fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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