Althea Gonzalez is the North Carolina Program Manager for Hispanics in Philanthropy. Previously Althea worked as the Manager of Health Parity Programs at the Buncombe County Medical Society, serving the medical practices and patients of Buncombe County with interpreter services in 14 languages as well as coordinating other programs which address health care issues for racial and ethnic minorities. She is also a trainer and workshop facilitator providing courses in Public Speaking Skills Development, Multiculturalism in the Workplace, and Latino Cultural Awareness for a variety of clients including the Susan G. Komen for the Cure NC Triangle Affiliate, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, and the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.
Althea is actively involved in the community and passionate about facilitating community connections. She is a member of the Non-Profit Pathways Advisory Committee and previously served as Board member of Nuestro Centro (Asheville’s first Latino Center), the Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council, and the NC Human Relations Commission. She has facilitated community sessions on race relations such as the African American/Latino Conference, Building Bridges, and Afrotina. She is a long-time Toastmaster and Assistant Director of Womansong, a community chorus. Althea received a B.A. from the University of Chicago in Romance Languages and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Adult Education, specializing in Training & Development, from NC State University.
Born and raised in Miami, Althea is a first generation Cuban-American. She speaks Spanish fluently and has a working knowledge of Portuguese. After living in Miami, Chicago, Seattle, Cleveland, and Washington DC, she moved to Asheville in 1994. She lives in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina with her son and two dogs.