2022 Alumni Impact Awards: Recognizes School of Public Policy (SPP) alumni (MPA, MPA Fellows, MPP and MASR) at any stage in their career who have made a significant recent contribution to their field. Nominees may work in any sector; public, private, or nonprofit. Examples may include but are not limited to driving a meaningful program outcome, contributing to new legislation, innovating a process or program, achieving a fundraising goal, brokering a partnership, etc.

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Yahaira Escribano, MPA ‘19, Program Officer, Hartford Land Bank

Yahaira Escribano is a proud life-long north-end Latina resident, a first-generation high school and college graduate, and a proud product of the Hartford School System. She earned a B.A. degree in Urban and Community Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Connecticut. She was also an Obama Foundation Fellow.

Yahaira earned her nomination as the Finance & Programs Officer for the Hartford Land Bank where she implemented a new Developer Cohort Training Program to help Hartford residents realize their potential and become project managers. This is designed to ensure equitable opportunities while preserving Hartford’s history and culture.

Yahaira previously connected residents with needed nutritional assistance through her work at Connecticut Foodshare and she has also worked with Hartford students to obtain educational scholarships and other scholastic resources through her work with the Hartford Promise. Yahaira has recently been appointed to the Hartford Board of Education.