Family Advocate, Communities in Schools

Chatham Health Alliance Resource Hub Project Team Member

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It has long been said that “necessity is the mother of invention.” Twenty years ago, it was necessary for Maria Soto to become a very inventive mother in order to successfully advocate for her own child’s individual needs within the school system. It wasn’t long before friends and neighbors began to come to Maria seeking her help for their children…and she found herself set upon a lifetime path of family advocacy. 

Having joined the agency in 2006, Maria coordinated the Hablando Claro/Plain Talk Program.  She continues to serve Chatham’s Latino community in her role as Family Advocate, combining her passion for its mission with generous helpings of patience and persistence.

"Working with the Alliance has been a great way to 'bridge the gap' - connecting available resources to the families who are in need of those supports. Utilizing the Alliance's network of caring community members has enabled us to deepen critical relationships with community members, build trust, and discover new opportunities for meaningful collaboration. We look to the Alliance as a connection point for this collaboration, and are excited about building on some of the successes we have shared together in recent weeks! Thanks to the Chatham Health Alliance and their active partners for all of the efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of many of our County's most vulnerable youth and families." -Maria Soto

TRACY BURNETT

Director, Chatham Health Alliance

Chatham Health Alliance Obesity Subcommittee Member, Student Health Advisory Committee, Haw River Steering Committee, Recreation Advisory Committee

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Tracy is a native of Chatham County, born and raised in Bear Creek Southwest part of Chatham County. Tracy has been with the County for 29 years as the director of Parks and Recreation. When she started, Chatham County had one park. Today there are five. Under her leadership, the county opened Southwest District Park, Northeast District Park and The Park at Briar Chapel, renovated Northwest District Park and set aside 268 acres for future parks with one area located in Moncure. She also led the expansion of 4.6 miles of the American Tobacco Trail in Chatham and made improvements to 15-501 Canoe Access, Hwy 64 Canoe Access and South Bynum River Access (aka Bynum Beach Canoe Access). Open space, trails, greenways and blueways are a big part of the county and she completed the Brooks Creek trail corridor study and help create a Haw River Trail Committee. Just currently, she opened the County’s first community center located in north Chatham County.

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“I am thankful to have the opportunity to be involved with the Chatham Health Alliance. The opportunity to collaborate with other agencies and departments in the Alliance to serve the community has been very impactful. I am always impressed how the Alliance finds creative ways to serve the community. I serve on the Obesity Subcommittee and I am always excited about the energy and passion from the members.” - Tracy Burnett