Iris Rodriguez-Rosa

Iris Rodriguez-Rosa was born in New York City and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She began her public service career helping the disenfranchised, learning to advocate for tenant housing concerns, and eventually taking a position with the Greenpoint Williamsburg Coalitions of Community Concerns. There, she helped develop a districtwide convention where organizations could express and share community concerns. In only one year, Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa alone was able to have over 90 groups represented, including more than 600 residents.

In 1979, Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa became the youngest appointed Community Board District Manager at age 23. In 1986, she joined the New York City Parks Department, where she found her love of open spaces and how to maintain them. Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa served as Chief of Recreation in the Bronx and Queens for over 20 years, providing a host of recreational services to the public. She became the Bronx Parks Commissioner in June 2015, overseeing all county parks, which totals over 7,000 acres.

For more than 35 years, Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa has been dedicated to making an impact and inspiring individuals in the Latino community and beyond. In 1987, she and a group of “Parkies” started the Latino Society. In addition, she still serves on the Grand Council of Hispanic Societies, which encompasses other fraternal organizations including the Housing Authority Hispanic Society, Department of Sanitation Hispanic Society, New York City Transit and others. Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa has also served in Brooklyn and the Bronx on various hospital community advisory boards and on the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Board.

Overall, Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa derives the most pleasure out of her very loving family. Her anchor and best friend is her husband, Manuel Rosa, the children in their lives - Sylvia, Jasmine, Rosa, and Jason, and especially her grandchildren, Noel, Sophia, Annabel, and Rafael. Family means everything to her, and the traditions in her Puerto Rican heritage like “La Bendicion” are constant. Ms. Rodriguez-Rosa’s desire is to continue to serve as an inspiration to others through mentorship, guidance and sheer love of life.