Marie Peaten, she/her/ella, is a proud Puerto Rican Taína, with a rich and diverse ethnic background. Growing up in a military family, she has lived all over the U.S. and Europe and up until recently called Florida home for over 20 years; she is now a proud new resident of New Mexico.

Ms. Peaten has over 10 years of professional experience in child welfare advocacy, and legislative and educational policy making. Before joining the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, Ms. Peaten  worked for four years at the Leon County School Board in Tallahassee, FL, where she managed the school district’s policy department on a broad range of  issues impacting educators, students, administrative staff, the school board and community stakeholders. Ms. Peaten obtained her Bachelors of Social Work degree from the Florida State University College of Social Work in 2004 and her Juris Doctor degree from Florida A&M University College of Law in 2011.

Ms. Peaten is very passionate about serving her community, during her time in Florida she served in various capacities working with unhoused persons, runaway and at-risk youth and mentoring teen mothers. As a new member of the NMCLP, Ms. Peaten is excited to build community alongside people who are passionate about radical change and brave enough to do the hard work in order to see  a more resilient future for all.