Maria Alejandra Guardado is a Toronto-born author, poet, and advocate of Salvadoran and Venezuelan heritage. Driven by a passion for youth empowerment, community building, anc social equity, Maria has made impactful contributions across politics, public service, and grassroots activism. She served under the Ontario Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services and previously held roles with the City of Toronto and Ontario’s Public Service.
A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University in Politics and Governance, Maria has enhanced her expertise through certifications from Harvard Kennedy School, the United Nations University, and the ILO’s Training Centre. Her professional experience spans immigration, finance, IT, fundraising, and marketing, and her political engagement includes work at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels across multiple provinces throughout Canada.
Maria was named a Notable Life Canada – Notable Professional Under 25 (2023) and received the Most Outstanding Individual Impact Award – Volunteer from Charity Village (2024). Most recently, she was recognized as an Emerging Leader by Women in International Security Canada (2025). She received two Certificates of Recognition from the House of Commons
(2020)(2021) for her work with Member of Parliament Julie Dzerowicz’s Youth Council.
She has served as Chief of Marketing and Partnerships for the Toronto Foundation for Youth Involvement in Politics, sits on the Global Policy and UN Committee for NATO Youth Canada-YATA NATO, and is a council member of The King’s Trust Canada. Maria mentored young women at the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment. She also facilitated mental health workshops with the Arab Community Centre of Toronto and was a Results Canada Fellow in a campaign to #ReachEveryChild. She also leads global advocacy efforts as Program Manager – UN Advocacy at Bacharlorai. Her advocacy spans across multiple intersecting lenses with a focus on marginalized communities, GBV, and youth issues all shaped by her own lived experience as a survivor of trafficking, addiction, and homelessness.
Maria’s mission is to challenge systems of injustice, uplift underserved voices, and prove that adversity can be transformed into powerful leadership and impact.