SoBRO: South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation

In September 2009, SoBRO welcomed Lourdes Zapata back to take charge of the Community and Economic Development Department. She is taking over the day to day management of the Department from Senior Vice President Neil Pariser, who will remain with SoBRO part time to focus on real estate development projects.

Ms. Zapata brings to SoBRO over 20 years of experience in community development work. After working at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest--a nonprofit, civil rights law firm that strives for social justice through impact litigation, systemic reform community organizing and advocacy--and receiving her M.P.A. from NYU in 1993, Ms. Zapata first came to SoBRO in 1997. At that time, she took the position of Director of Community Development, the same department of which she is now Senior Vice President. From 1997 to 2005, Ms. Zapata was responsible for the development of hundreds of units of low and medium income housing, mixed use and commercial property. Her efforts also led to the investment of tens of millions of dollars in South Bronx real estate.

In 2005, Ms. Zapata left SoBRO to work for the City of Newburgh, New York. She directed the city government's development efforts in Newburgh for four years, managing property, guiding investments, and participating in the large scale redevelopment of the city's waterfront area.

While she enjoyed working for government, nonprofit work was always where Ms. Zapata's heart was. When SoBRO President Phillip Morrow called and offered her a job working in her native Bronx, at an organization she knew and believed in, she couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Now, SoBRO is excited to have Lourdes Zapata rejoin and lead our community and economic development team. With a staff of 50 individuals working to revitalize local businesses, develop high quality housing, and improve the general quality of life in the South Bronx, Ms. Zapata is poised to make a major impact on the communities SoBRO serves.