FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Guillermo Meneses December 09, 2020 202-445-1570
Leading Expert on Climate Change Laws Will Fight to Adopt and Defend Environmental Policies that Protect Latinx Community and Other Underserved Communities
December 09, 2020 - Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy (ALLP), a new organization of experienced and accredited professionals dedicated to the development of a comprehensive Latinx leadership pipeline, today announced its strong endorsement of Richard Revesz as the next United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA). ALLP joins the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and other leading organizations in calling on President-elect Biden to select Revesz, which would be historic as the first Latino to lead this important agency. “Richard Revesz has dedicated his life to advocating for more inclusion and Latinx-representation in the environmental sector and he understands why it’s so important to have more Latinos and other marginalized communities at the table when important environmental policies are developed and implemented,” said Dolores Atencio, CEO of ALLP. “He is a an accomplished, well-respected, and transformative leader who deserves the attention of the Biden-Harris administration for this major role.”
Revesz’s unparalleled commitment to environment law and justice includes having served as Dean of New York University Law School, where he spearheaded the creation of the Institute for Policy Integrity at NYU Law School, a think tank and advocacy organization focusing on environmental, climate change, and clean energy matters. Over his stellar career, he has had leadership roles defending the environmentally protective policies of the Obama Administration through congressional testimony; advocacy before the Environmental Protection Agency; influential amicus briefs in the federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Recently, he supervised the preparation of six extensive transition documents setting forth an agenda for the Biden Administration on environmental, climate change, and clean energy issues.
“The Biden-Harris administration has a unique opportunity to prioritize the environmental concerns of Latinx and other communities of color, which have been underserved and underrepresented for decades, by nominating Revesz,” said Bill Valdez, ALLP Board Co-Chair. “His entire career has been devoted to advancing the values of inclusion, equity, and addressing the lack of diversity in the environmental sector.” Revesz is the embodiment of the American Dream, having come from his native Argentina as a teenager and embarking on a transformative journey that took him, over a period of only nine years, from Argentine immigrant speaking Spanish as a native language, to U.S. citizenship to a judicial clerkship for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
ALLP is comprised of Latinx professionals representing diverse professions from across the US. More information on Alliance of Latinx Leadership and Policy can be foundat: www.latinxpolicy.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Guillermo Meneses
202-445-1570
ALLP Joins Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Other National Organizations in Calling the Biden-Harris Administration to Nominate First Latina to Education Post
ALLP Also Recommends California Community College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and University of Kentucky Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig for executive sub-Cabinet roles
December 08, 2020 – The Alliance of Latinx Leadership and Policy (ALLP), a new organization of experienced and accredited professionals dedicated to the development of a comprehensive Latinx leadership pipeline, today announced its strong endorsement of Lily Eskelsen Garcia to be nominated as the next U.S. Secretary of Education. ALLP joins the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other national organizations in its endorsement of Eskelsen Garcia.
“It is long past time for the U.S. Department of Education to be led by someone who understands the needs of school children from our most underserved communities,” said Dolores Atencio, CEO of the Alliance of Latinx Policy and Leadership (ALLP). “We stand firmly in alignment with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which has recommended to President-elect Joseph Biden that Lily Eskelsen Garcia be nominated for this critical position.”
President-Elect Biden would both make history and fulfill a promise he made on the campaign trail by nominating a public educator to serve for such an important post and the first Latina to lead the agency.
The nomination would also be a recognition that Latinx K-12 students and other students from communities of color are the fastest growing population in our public school system. Now, more than ever, a Latinx U.S. Secretary of Education is needed. During the past two decades, the enrollment of Latinx K-12 students has grown from 6.0 million to 13.6 million— now more than a quarter of all public school enrollment and the largest group of students of color in U.S. schools.
“As President of the three-million-member National Education Association, Lily Eskelsen Garcia fought for equity and against disastrous decisions by the current Education Secretary to reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Atencio said. “A former lunch lady, classroom assistant, teacher and union leader, Lily Eskelsen Garcia is supremely qualified to lead the Education Department and will serve as an inspiration to students, teachers and parents everywhere that achieving the American Dream is possible no matter your race or background.”
ALLP is also recommending California Community College Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and University of Kentucky Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig for executive sub-Cabinet roles at the U.S. Department of Education.
Chancellor Oakley is an American educator and a leading voice on improving equity in higher education. He is the first person in his family to attend and complete college. Oakley was appointed Chancellor of the California Community Colleges in December 2016. Before becoming chancellor, Oakley served as the Superintendent and President of the Long Beach Community College District. For his leadership, Oakley has been recognized with the 2014 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, as a 2016 President Barack Obama White House Champion of Change, and with the 2018 Roybal Foundation Medal of Courage in Education Award.
Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig leads nearly 3,000 students, staff and faculty, as the Dean of the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Education. While at UK, the College of Education implemented successful enrollment and diversity initiatives and co-created strategic planning and action for COVID-19. He has held six academic leadership roles and a variety of positions in organizations from Boston to Beijing.
ALLP is comprised of Latinx professionals representing diverse professions from across the US. More information on Alliance of Latinx Leadership and Policy can be found at: www.latinxpolicy.org
Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy Congratulates Biden-Harris Administration for Nominating California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be the Next Health and Human Services Secretary, First Latino To Hold Major Cabinet Post
For Immediate Release: Contact: Guillermo Meneses/202-445-1570
Becerra Will Play a Key Role in the Administration’s Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic That Has Killed more than 282,000 Americans, Disproportionately Impacting Latinos and Other Communities of Color
We Call on the Senate for his Speedy and Immediate Confirmation
December 07, 2020 - Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy (ALLP), a new organization of experienced and accredited professionals dedicated to the development of a comprehensive Latinx leadership pipeline, has issued the following statement following the nomination of former Latino Congressman and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, the first Latino to be nominated to lead such a major agency.
“We want to congratulate Attorney General Becerra, an accomplished lawyer and former Congressman, for being nominated by President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to lead such an important government agency and serve at such a critical time for our country as Covid-19 has taken more than 282,000 American lives.
As a skillful and highly respected member of Congress who served his California constituents proudly for twelve terms and held several leadership posts during his tenure, including chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, General Becerra will bring experience, leadership and a diverse and evidence-based approach to tackling some of our most pressing health priorities, chiefly bringing the Covid-19 pandemic crisis under control.
Additionally and having worked on major government programs such as Medicare and Social Security during his tenure in Congress and being one of the strongest defenders of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during his tenure as California Attorney General, he will bring honor, professionalism and respect to a top-tier agency with a $1-trillion-plus annual budget, more than 80,000 employees and a collection of competing priorities which include vaccine development and approval, state-of-the-art medical research and a complex health insurance program which covers more than 130 million Americans.
We wish General Becerra every success in tackling this massive pandemic that continues to disproportionally ravage the Latino and Black communities and urge members of the Senate to confirm General Becerra in a respectful, efficient and speedy manner.”
The mission of ALLP is to build a strong pipeline of established, experienced Latinx professionals from all backgrounds and industries who will contribute their expertise on issues, beyond those typically associated with Latinos. These individuals are well-prepared to confront an array of diverse national and global challenges and to help shape policy for the 21st century.
ALLP’s priorities include the appointment and hiring of Latinx experts in equitable and growing numbers across government and identifying the equity gaps in key governmental and policy positions where greater Latino/Latinx representation is needed.
More information on Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy can be found at: www.latinxpolicy.org
For Immediate Release: Contact: Guillermo Meneses/202-445-1570
November 24, 2020 Gil.meneses@latinxpolicy.org
Alliance of Latinx Leadership & Policy Commends Biden-Harris Administration for Nominating Alejandro Mayorkas To Serve as Next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Historic Latino Appointment to Head Major Government Agency is the First by the Biden-Harris Administration expected in the Coming Weeks.
Washington, D.C. – The man who orchestrated the rescue of Haitian orphans from an earthquake is now poised to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Alliance of Latinx Leadership & Policy (ALLP) is proud to see former DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas nominated by President-Elect Biden to lead this important agency.
“We commend the Biden-Harris administration for this historic nomination and congratulate Alejandro, Mayorkas, the first Latino, first Cuban-Jewish American and son of a Holocaust survivor, first immigrant and former Deputy Secretary, for his remarkable professional accomplishments and life experience, which make him uniquely qualified for this major post,” stated ALLP Co-Chair Bill Valdez.
As an immigrant himself, Mr. Mayorkas has a practical understanding of America’s immigration system. While at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Mr. Mayorkas was responsible for implementing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, commonly referred to as DACA.
“His vision and noteworthy accomplishments at USCIS, coupled with his tenure as DHS Deputy Secretary and U.S. Attorney, will be essential to bringing this important agency into a new era of respect, sensitivity and inclusivity,” said Dolores Atencio, ALLP Co-Chair.
We wish Mr. Mayorkas every success in tackling America’s on-going challenges, particularly as it pertains to developing a more common-sense, efficient and humane approach to immigration reform, making naturalization more accessible, and confronting the national security impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on the Latinx community and our nation. We call on the U.S. Senate to unanimously approve his nomination as it did in 2009.
The Alliance of Latinx Leadership & Policy is a national organization of experienced and accredited professionals dedicated to the development of a comprehensive Latinx leadership pipeline that will produce policy experts who wish to pursue a career in public service.
More information on this selection or the Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy can be found at: www.latinxpolicy.org.
ALLP Looks Forward to Working with the Biden-Harris Administration to Build a Pipeline of Experienced Latinx Professionals Who Can Proudly Serve in Government and the Nation
November 16, 2020 - Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy (ALLP) is a new organization of experienced and accredited professionals dedicated to the development of a comprehensive Latinx leadership pipeline. ALLP will actively promote policies and programs to help inspire and train the next generation of Latinx leaders in government.
“We want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their decisive and well-earned victory on November 3, and look forward to being their partners in helping to identify and place high quality individuals from our community to proudly serve in the incoming administration,” said Dolores Atencio, CEO of ALLP.
The mission of ALLP is to build a strong pipeline of established, experienced Latinx professionals from all backgrounds and industries who will contribute their expertise on issues, beyond those typically associated with Latinos. These individuals are well-prepared to confront an array of diverse national and global challenges and to help shape policy for the 21st century.
“We wish Chief-of-Staff Ron Klain every success in tackling this massive pandemic that continues to disproportionally ravage the Latino and Black communities and bring relief to the millions of unemployed Americans who want to get back to work,” said Bill Valdez, ALLP Board Co-Chair. “We intend to work with the Chief-of-Staff to identify Latinos ready to serve the country and the Biden-Harris administration on Day One.”
ALLP’s priorities include the appointment and hiring of Latinx experts in equitable and growing numbers across government and identifying the equity gaps in key governmental and policy positions where greater Latino/Latinx representation is needed.
There is renewed vigor in the Latinx community following the Biden-Harris victory and there is no doubt that Latinos played a major role in the impressive turn-out on November 3. ALLP will work with its tri-caucus partners, which include the Leaders Forum, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Latino Victory Fund, the National Association of Latino Elected Officials to ensure that the Biden-Harris administration is the most diverse in American history.
More information on Alliance for Latinx Leadership and Policy can be found at: www.latinxpolicy.org
A new study by the American Association of University Women examines how Latinas in the U.S. suffered disproportionate economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for targeted policy solutions to address their needs.