Fil-Am deputy mayor among lifetime achievement awardees in New York

Maria Torres-Springer/CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK CITY — Last Thursday, City & State hosted its annual Corporate Social Responsibility Awards ceremony, celebrating leaders in business, nonprofits and government who are dedicated to supporting New York.

Among the honorees was Maria Torres-Springer, recently appointed as New York City’s first deputy mayor. 

In her speech, Torres-Springer, the first Filipina to hold this position, shared a poignant reflection on her journey into public service.

Just a week after moving to New York City, she experienced the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As she commuted home from Brooklyn, covered in dust and debris, she felt a deep connection to the City and its residents.

Maria Torres Springer/CONTRIBUTED

“This was a time when we were all banded together in a desperate attempt to find safety,” she recalled. “But from that moment on, we were also united in the work of rebuilding our city. That day, I decided to dedicate my life to serving the people of New York.”

The Responsible 100 awards, organized by City & State, honor civic-minded leaders like Torres-Springer who selflessly serve the community.

This year’s honorees include former City and State officials who continue to advocate for New Yorkers as nonprofit leaders, as well as entrepreneurs in the energy sector driving the transition to clean energy.

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Lawyers, bankers and corporate executives committed to missions beyond profit maximization were also recognized. 

City & State shines a light on these unsung heroes, acknowledging their dedication to community engagement, volunteerism, diversity, equity, inclusion, ethics, transparency and philanthropy.

City & State is a leading publication that focuses on the intersection of politics, policy and business in New York. It provides in-depth coverage of the people and issues shaping the State and City, offering insights into the dynamics of governance, civic engagement and social responsibility.

Torres-Springer’s journey is deeply rooted in her family’s immigrant experience. Her parents emigrated from the Philippines to New York, facing financial struggles and relying on Section 8 vouchers and food stamps during her childhood. 

Torres-Springer earned her bachelor’s degree in ethics, politics and economics from Yale University, followed by a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She resides in Brooklyn with her husband, Jamie Torres-Springer, president of Construction & Development at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and their two daughters.

Maria Torres-Springer with her husband, Jamie Torres-Springer, and two daughters. CONTRIBUTED

Her impressive career includes serving as a senior policy advisor in the NYC Deputy Mayor’s office for economic development, as well as holding the roles of chief operating officer at Friends of the High Line and executive VP at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, she was appointed Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services and later led the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where she oversaw significant redevelopment projects.

In December 2021, Mayor-elect Eric Adams named her deputy mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, making her one of the first Asian Americans to assume such a role.

Following the resignation of Sheena Wright, she was appointed first deputy mayor in October this year.