Dan Cortez
Member, Advisory Board
Dan Cortez is the Community Engagement Specialist for the Chelsea Police Department in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Dan works closely with residents, community leaders, elected officials, business owners and community-based organizations along with police personnel to create meaningful relationships and partnerships aimed at improving the safety and well-being of the community.
Previously, Dan worked as Manager of Community-Based Initiatives on Substance Use Disorders for Mass General Hospital’s Chelsea Health Center, and he currently chairs the Chelsea Hub, a multi-disciplinary approach to reducing risk and connecting individuals and families to services. He is a member of the Department of Children and Families Area Board, and sits on numerous advisory committees while serving in a variety of leadership capacities in Chelsea.
Dan is originally from Phoenix where he was Director of Leadership Programs for a Valle del Sol, a large Latino-based nonprofit and served on numerous boards and commissions. A graduate of both Valley Leadership and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, he received the “Outstanding Alumni” award from the Hispanic Business Alumni Association at his alma mater, Arizona State University.
He has written columns for The Phoenix New Times and Latino Perspectives Magazine focusing on the Mexican-America experience in Arizona. He enjoys supporting local businesses as well as organizations that provide music instruction, leadership training and that promote college-going initiatives for Latino youth.