Richfield's Mayor Gonzalez a force in advocating services for communities of color She reflects on her childhood, racial disparities and her work helping Minnesota families, people of color, and immigrants find decent housing, education, healthy foods and jobs. By Dee DePass Text size Copy shortlink: After co-launching day-care provider training for the Latino community, spearheading Blue Cross Blue Shield's health equity program in Minnesota, and fighting apartment purchases that displaced low-income families, it is perhaps no surprise that Richfield Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez received the 2021 Woman of Power Award from the Minnesota YWCA. Gonzalez, a former City Council member, has been Richfield's mayor since 2019 and the first woman of color to serve in that position. She reflects on her childhood, racial disparities and her work helping Minnesota families, people of color, and immigrants find decent housing, education, healthy foods and jobs.