Patrick Realiza

Mr. Patrick Realiza is a seasoned strategic communications and public relations professional based in Washington, DC. He is a passionate community-driven leader dedicated to serving various audiences. His recent portfolio of accomplishments includes work in the local government, the arts and humanities, and the international diplomatic community.

He currently serves as the Head of Digital Communications for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), an independent agency under the Government of the District of Columbia that evaluates and initiates action on matters relating to the arts and humanities. In this key role, Mr. Realiza actively manages and monitors the agency’s official digital presence and builds and executes multiple digital strategies and campaigns.

Mr. Realiza is also extensively involved in the Catholic community, most notably at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, where he routinely serves as a lector at select masses. Furthermore, in February 2023 he was appointed to serve on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Young Adult Advisory Team under the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs, where he advises the USCCB on pastoral efforts that support the API community’s integration and leadership capacity within the Catholic Church.

Mr. Realiza recently concluded his role as the Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Mid Atlantic Foundation for Asian Artists, Inc. (MAFFAA) in July 2022, a regional-based arts foundation aimed at the presentation and preservation of Asian and Asian-American arts and culture in the United States. During his tenure, he actively led the planning, production, and presentation of the first Filipino opera, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), across several U.S. cities.

In addition, Mr. Realiza successfully co-launched the first annual Asian Heritage Day in Oxon Hill, MD, with the Doer and Naturally Caring Foundation (DNCF), elevating the profile of local Filipino-American artists and fostered key new working relationships with local entities, including the Maryland Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs and the American Diversity Group (ADG).

Mr. Realiza also formerly served as the Program Director of the Peace and Security Committee of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) from January 2020 to June 2022, a program of the United Nations Foundation, where he actively led the development of programs that were dedicated to promoting the core principles of the United Nations (conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding efforts).

Significant UNA-NCA programs organized by Mr. Realiza have included a joint program with the All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC, on the topic of nuclear disarmament, discussing the critical role of civil society activism and social justice; an interactive panel discussion on UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts by exploring the salient role of women peacekeepers; and a virtual roundtable series addressing the need for greater international data sharing in public health emergencies featuring key representatives from the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Government of New Zealand and the Council of Europe. 

Mr. Realiza holds a degree in political science from The George Washington University, where he also currently serves as the Chair of the Asian and Pacific Islander Alumni Network, continually engaging alumni through a series of year-round programming, events, and initiatives to further strengthen their post-graduate connection with the university.

Mr. Realiza has also held posts at various federal government agencies, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the areas of program coordination and human resources management. He is a former White House press intern who served within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and worked closely with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to further promote and communicate policy initiatives on behalf of then-Ambassador Ron Kirk, a Cabinet-ranking member who served as President Obama’s principal trade advisor, negotiator and spokesperson from 2009 to 2013.

Mr. Realiza’s foreign language skills include Filipino, Spanish, Italian, French, Arabic, and Chinese. He hopes to pursue graduate school in the future with a concentration in international relations.