For two decades, María Isa has been a leader in youth multicultural arts programming in the nonprofit sector collaborating with public schools throughout the state of Minnesota, including Saint Paul Public Schools and Minneapolis Public Schools. This work has extended to Tribal Reservations including Red Lake, Leech Lake, and Little Earth.

Since being insulin dependent after being diagnosed as a Type-1 diabetic at 16 years old, María Isa has been a recognized advocate for insulin affordability for all. In 2019, leveraging her position as a Wilder Foundation CEP fellow and prominent activist, María Isa was a leading voice in the #Insulin4all Movement, which led to the passage of the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act.

María Isa has been one of Minnesota’s leading and most recognizable local recording and performing artists, infusing community voice in her music. She received a Governor’s Commendation in “recognition of her promotion of Latino culture through her outstanding songwriting and music career.”

She has leveraged her art in support of movements for justice, including environmental and Indigenous-led movements against extractive projects that threaten Minnesota’s land and waters.

After the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, María Isa led Minnesota’s humanitarian relief efforts in collaboration with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation’s El Fondo Boricua. These efforts secured over $500,000 and vital resources to send to community-based organizations providing emergency support on the island.

On June 20, 2022, María Isa petitioned the United Nations, connecting global tribal movements for sovereignty with the decolonization of Puerto Rico. See her full statement here.

María Isa, while hosting Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, led work to educate incarcerated youth through a cultural arts lens. These outstanding efforts earned María Isa the recognition of “Rising Latina Star” by the National Hispana Leadership Institute.

Given María Isa’s prominence as a community advocate and leader, she was appointed by Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flannagan to the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board’s Public Engagement Task Force.

María Isa served as a leading voice and community organizer in the movement to “Keep Saint Paul Home,” partnering with local organizations like WSCO.

María Isa has been an active ally in the labor movement and a leader in the fight for a $15 minimum wage, partnering with organizations like SEIU and CTUL.

María Isa has long supported immigrant-owned small businesses and platformed new local BIPOC artists through creative economic development initiatives.

From 2008-2015 María Isa served as a writer for the Star Tribune’s Community Voice column.