Maria Silva

Category 3: Civic Engagement & Citizenship

Maria M. Silva is a reporter for the Times Union's Hudson Valley team, where she has covered news, immigration and New Americans, labor, food and hospitality, and the way these issues intersect since 2023. Maria's work spans accountability reporting, from investigations into how federal policies affect New Yorkers to profiles of immigrant entrepreneurs, housing and labor issues, and the region's vibrant culinary scene.

Before joining the Times Union, Maria covered food and culture for the Observer-Dispatch in the culturally diverse city of Utica, New York. Born and raised in Spain, she moved to the United States in 2017 to complete her undergraduate degree at Utica University, where she developed her passion for journalism as a student reporter and editor-in-chief of the college's newspaper.

Maria's work has earned recognition from the Syracuse Press Club and the New York Press Association for feature writing and public-service journalism, including a feature about a summer camp for migrant children, suicide-prevention efforts on Hudson Valley bridges and a profile of a beloved Catskills food vendor. Maria's work is guided by empathy, narrative depth and commitment to elevating underrepresented voices.

In January 2026, Maria became a United States citizen. Her own immigration journey informs her work and allows her to connect deeply with the communities she covers and is a part of. As both an immigrant and a journalist, Maria has a deep appreciation for and a commitment to upholding the constitutional freedoms that underpin American democracy. Through her work, she is committed to telling nuanced, people-centered stories about belonging, opportunity and community.