Forbes Magazine Features LULAC Executive
Washington, D.C. - Sindy Benavides, LULAC COO and Acting CEO has been named by the global business media company as one of a select group of women in America igniting Latinos into action for a decisive vote this Fall.
In the May 22, 2018 Forbes article entitled, “5 Women Who Are Mobilizing The Latino Community For The Midterm Elections, Sindy’s story begins with her early days on the streets as an organizer building advocacy skills within communities at the grassroots level. She explains learning valuable lessons while working with other Latino community leaders to help stop an anti-immigrant push in Virginia even before SB1070 in Arizona.
“We were able to prevent it taking root by coming together and fighting back in different ways from behind closed door conversations to marching. Alliances matter.”
Those collaborative skills and her Latina tenacity helped her prevail in the many advocacy battles that would follow until she was asked to join the Democratic National Committee where she became the only Latina on the DNC Senior Staff. Sindy credits those closest to her for lighting an enduring flame of activism and encourages others to do the same.
“Start with your immediate network of friends and family first. When I started my political career, the first person I talked to was my mother. “She took out her black address book (yes they still existed) where none of the names were in the right alphabet page and started calling her own network. I give credit to my Mom for single-handedly mobilizing the Honduran community in Northern Virginia.”
Today, Sindy says she’s come full circle and has returned to what she loves best. “I have the pleasure of working with amazing grassroots leaders who on a daily basis work to improve the condition of our community. We have members who have been volunteers for over five decades. The beauty of it all is that we work with all age segments of our community from our youth, to young adults, to our general members.”
Her priority at the helm of LULAC is to help prepare 100,000 members for one of the most critical votes in modern U.S. history for Latinos. She is confident that LULAC will lead the way for the nation’s 55-million Latinos --- by setting an example. “You never know who is listening and what your words will ignite.” Her life has proven that.
Visit www.Forbes.com for the full story.
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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with over 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org