Maria Plati is POAH's communications manager working to raise the organization's public profile through marketing, media relations, public relations, and public policy advocacy. She worked as communications director for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, chief of policy and communications for the City of Newton, Massachusetts and communications staff for the Massachusetts Teachers Association. As a lobbyist for the Community Action Agencies of Massachusetts, she helped secure increased funding and legislation related to low-income housing and income support programs.  She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. She worked as a journalist in Rome, Italy under a Rotary International Journalism Fellowship. She is on the board of directors of the Harvard Kennedy School New England Alumni Association and a member of Boston Women Communicators and the Social Media Club of Boston.