The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc., has selected new board officers, including a former state representative, a retired state judge, and a prominent Lawrence attorney. The GLCAC Board of Directors elected President Socrates De La Cruz, Esq., Vice President Christina Minicucci, Secretary Mark Newman, and Treasurer Annie Gilbert.
“As a son of Lawrence, I know how important GLCAC is to our communities, and I look forward to working with our strong board and dynamic staff to deliver for the people of Greater Lawrence,” said De La Cruz. “In these turbulent times, our team has the courage, the moral fiber, and the experience and expertise to lead and deliver.”
De La Cruz and Gilbert joined the board in 2018. De La Cruz, who previously served as Vice President, founded De La Cruz Law, a criminal defense and personal injury firm, and De La Cruz Properties, a real estate investment, holding and management firm. Gilbert, who was re-elected as treasurer, is a former Andover Select Board member.
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Minicucci and Newman joined the board in 2024. Minicucci, a former State Representative from the 14th Essex District, serves as the Development Director for MeVa Transit. Newman is the retired First Justice of the Essex County Juvenile Court.
The Board of Directors also welcomed three new members: Janice Phillips of North Andover, Maria Silva of Andover, and Julia Silveiro of Lawrence. The directors serve 10-year terms and represent the four core communities in GLCAC’s service area. Each brings a wealth of expertise in areas ranging from finance to strategy and community engagement.
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“GLCAC is fortunate to welcome these dedicated individuals to our organization and blessed by the service of our departing board members,’’ said Vilma Martinez-Dominguez, GLCAC’s Executive Director. “Their unique perspectives and diverse skill set will be instrumental as we work together, navigating the challenges ahead to serve the needs of the Greater Lawrence community.’’
Janice Phillips is the district director for State Senator Barry Finegold. A community advocate with years of experience working with governmental and non-profit organizations and the public, she has been instrumental in building coalitions. Phillips is also the chair of the North Andover Select Board and has a wealth of knowledge in municipal finance. She has been involved in several organizations, including the North Andover Farmers Market; North Andover Drama Guild; North Andover School Building Committee; and North Andover Merchants Association.
Maria Silva is the director of business operations for the Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District in Marlborough. She previously held a similar position for the Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover. Silva has a wide skill set in business, including budgeting, bidding and purchasing, and overseeing maintenance, technology and food services. Silva has been a member of the Massachusetts Association for School Business Officials.
Julia Silverio is the founder of Silverio Insurance Agency in Lawrence. Silverio is the first Latina appointed as a Justice of the Peace for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the first Dominican woman elected as a City Councilor for the City of Lawrence. She has served on the Lawrence General Hospital Board of Overseers, and on the boards of the Central Catholic High School, Lawrence Partnership and Greater Lawrence Foundation.
At a recent annual meeting, GLCAC also extended its sincere appreciation to three outgoing board members, each of whom brought years of experience, energy, and vision to the organization. They are Board Chair Johan Lopez, who served since 2015; Laurie Burzlaff, a member since 2018; and Ezequiel Cruz, who joined in 2019.
About GLCAC
GLCAC is a multi-faceted social services agency that assists more than 36,000 individuals through a range of programs, including early childhood education, fuel assistance, WIC nutrition assistance, immigration services, lead poisoning prevention, child abuse prevention, English-language lessons, and workforce training.
