Together Neighborhood Development Alliance staff holds over 110 years of combined experience in counseling and real estate development. We are cross trained and certified through multiple state and national entities.

OUR TEAM

María Steffel is the Executive Director of NeDA since 2024, and a trusted community partner and a seasoned leader in Finance and Business Administration. She is dedicated to advocating for immigrants and underserved communities. With over 25 years of experience in both private and non-profit sectors in Mexico and the Twin Cities, Minnesota, María has consistently shown her commitment to fostering fairness and access to resources.

As Executive Director, María leads the design of organizational structure, strategic planning, and program development, focusing on empowering underserved communities and building cross-cultural work environments. By forming community alliances, she aims to bring about meaningful change for the Spanish-speaking community in the Twin Cities. Her initiatives include culturally sensitive and bilingual outreach, research, grantmaking, resource allocation, reducing stigma, and encouraging people to seek help. Working with other community leaders, María brings new ideas to life, building a stronger, more supportive community and positively impacting the lives of individuals and families.



María enjoys potluck gatherings, gardening, bowling, and watching cooking shows outside of work. As a Star Trek fan, she values the show's themes of fairness, inclusion, and community-building, which align closely with her professional values.

Contact Her at 651-292-0131.

Maritza Mariani is NeDA's Associate Director. She began working with us in 1994 as a housing counselor and in 2004 she was appointed to her current position. Maritza is proud that NeDA was the first organization to offer home purchase counseling and education in Spanish. We took the lead by expanding our services to provide even great depth of programming through financial guidance and workshops; Maritza says these services have impacted the Latino community in an extremely positive way. Outside of work, she loves playing in the kitchen by ditching recipes and getting creative. She's a dedicated grandma and enjoys long walks and good books. She's proud to say she both lives and works in the West Side, Saint Paul community. Reach her at mmariani@nedahome.org or call 651-292-0131 x 252. 

Janet Barraza joined the NeDA team as a Home Ownership Adviser in the fall of 2021. Before joining NeDA, Janet worked as an Immigration Paralegal assisting families with complex immigration situations. She has also worked as an executive administrator in multiple startup businesses and has served as a VITA tax program volunteer assisting low-income families file their tax returns. She is proud to continue her passion of helping the Latino community in becoming homeowners and financially empowered. Janet believes knowledge is power, and she enjoys arming individuals with the skills they need to thrive. During her free time she likes to travel with her family, make art crafts, and take care of her two cats, Pancha and Georgie. Email her at jbarraza@nedahome.org or call 651-292-0131 x 256.

Alma Sanchez is a Home Ownership Adviser and joined the NeDA team in early 2018. Before that, she spent many years in the finance and home buying industry. Alma has called home to the West Side area since 1994 and is the proud mother of 2 children, plus 1 great dog, Blitz. She is a lover of all types of dancing and also lives for running. She is currently earning her degree in business management. Email her at asanchez@nedahome.org or call 651-292-0131 x 259.

Anais Valle is a Home Ownership Advisor and joined the NeDA team in early 2025. Originally from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Anais embodies the values of hard work and community service that resonate deeply with many Latino families. From a young age, Anais developed a passion for learning and excelling in finance and business administration to create a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

With over a decade of experience in customer service, finance, and business administration, Anais brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to empowering individuals and families. As a Financial Advisor at our nonprofit, Anais specializes in guiding clients through the complexities of the home-buying process. She is dedicated to helping individuals make informed financial decisions that align with their dreams and long-term goals.

For Anais, there is no greater inspiration than seeing others achieve the milestone of homeownership and gain financial stability. Her approach combines cultural understanding, personalized guidance, and a genuine desire to see her clients succeed. Whether navigating first-time homeownership or building financial literacy, Anais is a trusted partner in turning aspirations into reality. Email her at avalle@nedahome.org or call 651-292-0131 x 246.

Roberto Ramírez joined NeDA in 2025 as the Bilingual Asset Manager, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term sustainability and efficient operations of the organization’s housing assets. His responsibilities include overseeing compliance with local regulations, optimizing asset performance, and advancing NeDA’s mission to provide safe, sustainable, and affordable housing for the community.

With over 25 years of professional experience, Roberto brings a wealth of knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and bilingual expertise to NeDA. As a licensed realtor in the Twin Cities metro area and greater Minnesota, he has helped countless families navigate the home-buying process. His private-sector experience in logistics for international companies further honed his ability to manage complex operations and deliver impactful results.

Originally from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, Roberto has proudly called Saint Paul home since 2004. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking (and savoring) delicious meals, exploring new destinations, riding motorcycles, watching movies, and spending quality time with his family.

Roberto’s leadership ensures that NeDA’s housing assets remain a cornerstone of affordable and sustainable living in the community. Email him at rramirez@nedahome.org or call 651-292-0131 x 222.

Aurora Tucker is NeDA's Bookkeeper and joined the team in early 2019 as a Program Assistant. Aurora manages our various databases and software programs to support the day-to-day financial requirements of NeDA, including our loan portfolio. Aurora has a long background of work in hospitality, management and coaching/training on customer service. She loves helping others and enjoys the hands-on community work that NeDA does. A native of León Guanajuato, México, Aurora is a people person, dedicated to her work, family, friends, and dog, Bella. She is also an avid crafter, and loves putting together handmade cards and designing home decor projects. Email her at atucker@nedahome.org or call our front desk, 651-292-0131.

Ariela Perez is NeDA's Program Assistant and joined our staff in 2024. Ariela supports clients in setting up appointments, signing up for workshops, and assisting our counselors with administrative tasks. She has worked in the administration field since 2021 and before that was an intern at ECMC Group for three years. Ariela’s family is from Morelos, Mexico, but she was born and raised in Minnesota. She enjoys helping others, especially the Latino community, and making a positive change in their lives. When not working, she loves to be out in nature, doing garden work, and spending time with her family. She hopes one day to travel the world and rescue animals! Email her at aperez@nedahome.org or call our front desk, 651-292-0131.

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If you would like to receive counseling with us or have a question about the work we do, please fill out the form below and one of our staff members will get back to you.