Luz Corcuera with the Florida Department of Health in Manatee is our Wonder Woman today. Luz, born in Lima, Peru moved to Florida 15 years ago from Toronto, Canada where she practiced family and group therapy.  Luz, who is passionate about maternal child health, early literacy, and community-based programs, served as program director for Healthy Start Manatee for 12 years. During her tenure with Healthy Start Luz was credited with making Manatee County the model across the state for working with a population with language barriers. Major Connie Shingledecker (another of our 25 Wonder Women) credits Luz with changing the face of law enforcement within the Hispanic community.

Luz is now Community Health Director at the Florida Department of Health in Manatee, where she oversees the implementation of integrated, community-based health education and prevention initiatives.

Luz believes that education and empowerment are key to building a healthy community, from the moment parents think about having a child.  She considers Manatee a community with heart where everything is possible if we work together to ensure that every person can access health and education.