Profile

Sendy Soto is the senior director of community impact leading the Addressing Critical Needs portfolio.  

As a leader in her field, Sendy has meticulous skill at meeting community needs and building lasting impact through systems change strategies. She has a wealth of experience in government and community service.  

To drive change, Sendy has taken on leadership roles in all levels of government.  

Prior to joining the Trust, she served as the Managing Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Housing, where she founded and led the Community Engagement, Racial Equity, and Strategic Initiatives Bureau and secured its $42M budget. In a recent capacity, Sendy advised the Illinois Department of Human Services with its humanitarian response to the surge in asylum seekers arriving from the US-MX border. She led district-office operations for then-Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, handling a wide range of complex issues. Her work also includes managing constituent service efforts during her time with U.S. Senator Richard J Durbin.  

Undoubtedly, Sendy is dedicated to making a difference in the community, and it is apparent through her involvement in community investments and advocacy initiatives at AMITA Health System. In addition, she has served as a commissioner for the Logan Square, Avondale, Hermosa Expanded Mental Health Services Program. This governing commission is dedicated to delivering accessible and affordable mental health services in these Chicago neighborhoods. 

Sendy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology from Wilbur Wright College in Chicago.