Extra-Ordinary Woman: Anita Friedman

Women of Peace Corps Legacy interviews an “Extra-Ordinary Woman”, Anita Friedman. Anita currently serves as the Director of Arlington County’s Department of Human Services (DHS), where she oversees the delivery of services to approximately 50,000 Arlington residents striving to maintain a healthy, safe and economically secure life.Featured Guest: Anita has been with DHS for 15 years, also serving as Deputy Director and Economic Independence Division Director. In her role as DHS Director, she has been instrumental in major initiatives to reduce homelessness, expand behavioral health services, strengthen the social safety net, and center racial equity in the Department’s policies and practices. Prior to her work in Arlington County, Anita worked for over 20 years in international development, managing social and economic development programs, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean. She held senior programming and operations positions at the Peace Corps, Latin American Youth Center, Inter-American Foundation, and Partners of the Americas. Anita was awarded Arlington County’s Woman of Vision Award for her work on conducting the 100 Homes for 100 Homeless Arlingtonians Campaign. Anita has a Masters degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelors degree from Vassar College.Podcast Host:Maryann Minutillo has an extensive career in international development and public service. She is a founding member of Women of Peace Corps Legacy and a co-founder of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. She has served as a mentor for mid-level professionals at Peace Corps for WPCL since the program began. Prior to her work at Peace Corps, Maryann was Director of the Department of State’s Family Liaison Office. In this position she oversaw community, education and family support programs at the State Department and United States Embassies throughout the world.  She was Peace Corps Country Director in Bolivia, Acting Regional Director and Chief of Operations for the Inter-America and Pacific Region and Senior Advisor to six Directors of Peace Corps.  Throughout her life, Maryann has had a strong interest in cultural adaptation and the impact of international transition and crisis situations on families and particularly on women’s careers.Women of Peace Corps Legacy (WPCL) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance women and girls empowerment to create a more just, equitable, inclusive, and safe world for future generations.  WPCL seeks to partner with and highlight the work of those existing organizations and programs that are effectively addressing the issues of women and girls.