Welcoming Alma Marquez, WELL’s New Executive Director!
Dear friend,
I am writing to announce exciting news for the WELL community. During the last few months, we have been working earnestly to expand our water education and leadership development programs, as well as transition into a 501(c)(3) organization. To more effectively manage this rapid growth, we are happy to share that we are bringing a new Executive Director, Alma Marquez, on board to help lead the WELL team.
While I will continue in my role as President of the Board of Directors, Alma will spearhead our fundraising, finance, administration, communications, and programs, while developing strategic partnerships that help advance WELL’s mission. Alma brings tremendous energy to her new role as Executive Director, along with a wealth of experience in education and training, coalition building, advocacy, and organizational leadership. She began her professional career as a Community Organizer at the Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), an affiliate of PICO Faith In Action International, where she learned grassroots community organizing while working on local and statewide campaigns. Her policy and advocacy work at OCCCO prepared her for an eleven-year public service career working as a District Representative and District Director for the California State Legislature in both the State Senate and Assembly. After leaving the State Legislature, she worked as the Director of Programs for the Orange County based Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA). This nonprofit experience at MECCA will prove valuable to WELL as we gear up for our imminent transition into a 501(c)(3) entity.
I will continue to lead WELL and reinforce our water education and training programs for Latino leaders, and I look forward to working with Alma as we expand our fundraising initiatives, develop new partnerships, and ensure ongoing programmatic excellence. Together, the growing WELL community will carry on our vital work towards a resilient and equitable water future for all Californians. Welcome, Alma!
Sincerely,
Victor Griego
Founder and President, WELL
California Water Plan Update
The Department of Water Resources releases a California Water Plan every five years. The last update was released on Tuesday, July 16th. Each report is updated with the latest science and information to create a comprehensive plan for California’s water. Unlike past plans, this year’s incorporates other climate change issues as the state continues to experience drought, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfires.
As key takeaways, the 2018 plan recommends 19 priority actions to improve integrated water management, raise infrastructure resiliency, restore ecosystems, empower underrepresented communities, improve inter-agency alignment, support long-term planning, and more.
Read about the latest California Water plan here.
An Interview with MWD Chair Gloria Gray
Gloria D. Gray took office as chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MDW) Board of Directors on January 1, 2019. The MWD is the largest water supplier in the country, and Chairwoman Gray is the first African-American and second woman to preside over the board in its 90-year history.
In this interview, Chairwoman Gray speaks about her plans to protect the future of California’s water during a changing climate and political environment. Ms. Gray shared that “[it is] very important to continue our efforts to raise awareness about water issues throughout Southern California, especially in communities that have historically been left out of the conversation.”
WELL was honored to welcome Gloria Gray as the keynote speaker at our 7th annual conference “Water Resiliency in a Changing Climate – Leaving No One Behind”, which took place on March 28-29, 2019 in Long Beach, California.
To read the full interview, click here.
Careers: We are hiring!
WELL is looking for an energetic Program Manager to head the planning, development, and expansion of our UnTapped Fellowship Program, our Annual Conference, and an upcoming series of Legislative Water Workshops.
If you are a disciplined, organized professional who is passionate about empowering Latino leaders and contributing to the development of a sustainable water future for California, this is the job for you. As Program Manager, you will:
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Lead, manage, and evaluate WELL’s educational programs
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Engage with and recruit elected officials to WELL events
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Direct research on water policy and relevant issues
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Hire, train, and manage program staff
For more information about this opportunity, please visit this page.
To apply, send your Resume and Cover Letter electronically to careers@latinosforwater.org.
Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) educates local Latino elected officials on California water policies to promote timely and equitable actions that strive to develop a robust economy, healthy communities, and a resilient environment for all Californians. Visit our website: www.latinosforwater.org.