Raquel Vazquez is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Empowered Block, an equity driven community development consultancy. The Empowered Block assists mission-driven  private, non-profit, and public sector clients with transformative projects involving affordable  housing development and policy, economic development, community engagement, racial equity  in community programs, and other community development initiatives. 

With over 15 years of community development experience, Raquel has overseen over $8 billion  in community development finance investments. Her work has ranged from affordable housing,  economic development, policy and legislative affairs, loan originations and portfolio  management, impact investing, and community organizing. She has worked in governmental 

housing and social services/economic empowerment agencies, private lending institutions, and  non-profit and for-profit affordable housing development organizations. 

Originally from New York City, Raquel is uniquely equipped to solve a broad range of challenging  issues with innovative policies and programs. Raquel is committed to serve communities,  especially underrepresented, historically under-invested communities through her contributions  to the community development field. Raquel has a longstanding commitment to public service  and has been appointed to several boards, including the Montgomery County, MD Community  Development Advisory Committee and the Central Harlem, NY Community Planning Board #10. 

Raquel Vazquez holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the New York University Wagner  Graduate School of Public Service, a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Finance from the  Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College, and Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Latin  American & Caribbean Studies from Binghamton University. She has received many special  recognitions from programs including the WACIF Ascend Capital Accelerator, Montgomery  County AMBER Fellowship, TEDCO Leading Women Fellowship, Next City Vanguard Fellowship,  Council of Urban Professionals Fellowship, Morgan Stanley / ANHD Community Development  Fellowship, among others.