It is a rarity when Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation (GWPF) welcomes a new Advisor to their Advisory Board. However in the last year, they have welcomed two new Advisors. In early 2019, they welcomed Sherelle Carper, President of the National Association of Negro, Business and Professional Women’s Club, as an Advisor. In October of 2019, GWPF welcomed another new Advisor, Radio Host veteran, Maria Viola Sanchez.
A native Californian, Maria Sanchez graduated from Fielding Graduate University in August 2019 with a Master’s degree in Media Psychology. Maria also graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, with emphasis on Marriage & Family Therapy in June 2017. She was a presenter at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention in August 2019, and has spoken on a three-member panel, “Giving Psychology Away: Using Media to Your Advantage”. Having found her calling as an interviewer, Ms. Sanchez transitioned from being the producer of the highly rated “Mark and Kim Show” to the most listened to talk radio station in America – KFI AM 640, Los Angeles. During her stint at KFI, she was a permanent weekend host and often served as the substitute host for such talk radio favorites as Bill Handel, John & Ken, Phil Hendrie and Wayne Resnick.
Maria has been a talk radio host for over 25 years. She started at KFI AM 640, the most listened to talk radio station in the United States. Subsequently, after numerous iterations of the “Maria Sanchez Show” she evolved into daily podcasts which were released on The Maria Sanchez Show website every weekday as the interviews with her live guests were completed. The show consisted of her latest podcasts and there is an archive full of both earlier podcasts and videos on YouTube which Maria recorded when she worked with KADY-TV.
Following an invaluable professional experience in the largest market in the country, it was only a matter of time before Maria developed “The Maria Sanchez Show.” A topical, sometimes controversial, occasionally eclectic, always listener-friendly, audience-pleasing talk show heard on TALK 650 KSTE in California. It was not long before “The Maria Sanchez Show” was considered Sacramento’s must hear radio from 9am to noon, Monday through Friday.
Maria has served on the Board of Trustees as a full voting member, and Student Body President, since she was elected in September 2018, at Fielding Graduate University. As though she is not sufficiently busy, Maria is also currently working on her dissertation that concerns itself with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She has become an avid activist in the eradication of the procedure, which affects 200 Million girls and women in the world, according to the World Health Organization. She became so passionate about ending the practice of FGM, that she attended a two-day conference in the U.K. in April of this year about the excision of the genitals of girls. She later attended a United Nations event in June this year, and is currently traveling within the U.K. this month to attend, “Working Together to End FGM.” During her trip, Maria is wasting no time in her role as an Advisor to GWPF; she has arranged to meet with partners of GWPF and former Global Woman Award recipients to discuss the future of ending FGM.
Sanchez had planned a special trip to Washington, D.C., just to attend the Global Woman Awards and the Walk To End FGM on October 18th and 19th respectively last month. Although she had hosted GWPF’s Executive Director on her radio show prior to her trip to Washington, it was the first time she and any of the members of the organization had met. The ByLaws of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation state, “The Board of Directors shall establish an Advisory Board to be a support for the foundation. The members of the Advisory Board are expected to contribute their expertise and thoughts to the current and future work of the foundation. They are asked to be available for possible telephone calls from the Board of Directors seeking advice. They are also asked to help raise funds for the foundation, serve as an Advisor for at least one term, but not limited to five years, be an ambassador for the mission through engagement and communication, an advocate for public policy, and introduce the organization to new opportunities for their programs.” The Advisory Board does not meet in person as does the Board of Directors, but if they find it necessary; they can convene via teleconference at their discretion.
She set up a fundraising team on the Walk To End FGM registration site, and within less than two weeks, Maria had raised enough money to take first place among the teams. Her team did indeed end the race in first place by Walk Day. She said, “I did not expect to receive a prize for helping to raise funds for such a worthy cause.”
Maria teams up with Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator, Michael D. Brown on the show, “Shadow Politics”. She said, “The Senator and I talk about politics, current events, newsmakers, and visit with our guests as a part of our weekly program. ‘Shadow Politics’ is a grassroots radio talk show. For more than 200 years the people of the Nation’s Capital have ironically been excluded from the national political conversation. With no voting member of either house of Congress, Washingtonians have lacked the representation they need to be equal and to have their voices heard. ‘SHADOW POLITICS’ provides a platform for them, as well as the millions of others nationwide who feel politically disenfranchised and disconnected, to be included in a national dialog”.
When Maria was approached about serving as an Advisor to GWPF, she reacted with these words, “I am honored and I am humbled by your invitation. I wholeheartedly and with tremendous humility accept the invitation to join the GWPF Advisory Board, effective at your earliest convenience. Thank you for the honor and the privilege to continue working towards the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation in our lifetime!”
With the passion that Maria Sanchez displays for ending FGM, taking a seat on the Advisory Board of GWPF could not be a better relationship.
Comments and questions to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org or call (703) 832-2642
