Guillermo Linares

Dr. Guillermo Linares is the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs of the City of New York. He was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2004. [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00EED8173AF936A25754C0A9629C8B63|publisher="The New York Times"|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=2004-06-15|title=Metro Briefing New York: Manhattan: Immigrant Affairs Post Is Filled]

In 1991, Linares made history by becoming the first Dominican elected to public office in the United States when he won a New York City Council race.Fact|date=June 2008 As a member of the Council, he advocated for quality education, vital health services, and affordable housing. Linares also served in a national capacity as a member of the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. President Bill Clinton appointed him in 1999 as chair of this Initiative.

His advocacy on behalf of workers, immigrants, and families started 30 years ago in Washington Heights, where he worked as a school teacher. He then ran for membership of the local school board there. In the 1980s, Linares and others were responsible for the building of public schools for the growing immigrant community in Washington Heights. He was also a part of a movement to establish key institutions that continue to serve Dominican and Latino populations.

Linares emigrated to the United States in 1966. He supported his family and financed his college education by working as both a chauffer and a cab driver. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degree from City College of New York, and a professional diploma in administration and supervision from Fordham University. He recently achieved his doctorate in education from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Linares is married to a public school principal and has two children.

References

External links

* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/imm/html/about/bio.shtml NYC.gov: Dr. Guillermo Linares]