The Aspen Institute

Sindy Marisol Benavides (Washington, DC) currently serves as the National Director for Civic Engagement and Mobilization for the League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest civil rights Hispanic organization in the country.  She previously served as the Vice President of Field & Political Operations for Voto Latino and as Northern Virginia Political Director for the 2012 Kaine for Virginia Senatorial campaign.  She has also served as the National Director of Community Outreach for the Democratic National Committee and Latino Liaison and Director of Board Appointments for Governor Timothy M. Kaine.  She received her Bachelor of Arts from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, where she graduated Valedictorian of her class and studied Political Science with a minor in Spanish. She also attended American University for her Master’s degree in International Affairs. Ms. Benavides is an alumna of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program through the University of Virginia and the Virginia Executive Institute and Minority Political Leadership Institute through Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an alumna of the 2009 class of the National Hispana Leadership Institute.  Sindy obtained her Certificate on Executive Management and Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School in April 2009 and attended the Center for Creative Leadership in July 2009.  She was also named top 20 People to Watch in 2009 (Richmond magazine) and named top 20 Latina Women of Excellence in 2010 (Hispanic Business magazine).   In 2013, Sindy was selected as a 2013-2014 New York University’s IGNITE Fellow for Women of Color in the Social Sector.  Lastly, in 2014, Ms. Benavides was selected for Emerge Virginia, the premier training program for Democratic women to run for public office. (Attended Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Latino Civic Participation Deep Dive)