Magnolia Contreras, a member of the board of the directors of the Economic Development Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn), has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the state’s Hispanic community by El Planeta newspaper.
Contreras and the others on El Planeta’s Powermeter list were honored at a reception at the Museum of Fine Arts on Feb. 27.
“The award is about recognizing people who play a leadership role in helping the Latino community,” said Contreras. “It is about influence and setting a strong foundation to move the Latino community in Massachusetts forward.”
Contreras came to Lynn from the Dominican Republic as a child. She graduated from Lynn Classical High School and Boston College and earned a master’s degree in social work from Simmons College and an MBA from Suffolk University.
For the last five years, Contreras has run the community benefits office at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, working to reduce the disparities that exist in cancer prevention, treatment and care.
In addition to her work with EDIC/Lynn, Contreras serves on the board of the Lynn Community Health Center and Lynn Shore and Atlantic Rest Homes. She formerly served on the board at LynnArts, Lynn Economic Opportunity, My Brother’s Table and Catholic Charities North.
“I have been very involved in a number of initiatives over the years,” she said. “I have strong roots in Lynn and I have chosen to live here.”
El Planeta, the state’s largest-circulation Spanish publication, has released its Powermeter list annually since 2006.