WELL In The Media

WELL sponsored UC Davis study reveals diversity gaps in California water management

Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) was featured by KRCA during its Legislative Briefing on August 20 in Sacramento, where a UC Davis study sponsored by WELL was unveiled. The study highlights inequities in California’s water management, revealing that women hold only 27% of water board positions, Latinos 15%, and other people of color just 5%. WELL emphasized that this lack of representation means water agencies do not adequately reflect the diversity of Californians, underscoring the need for more inclusive leadership in water governance.

WELL UnTapped Water Workshop in Baldwin Park

Graduates of WELL’s UnTapped Fellowship Program Ralph Galvan, Director, Valley County Water District; Cesar Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Duarte; Sergio Jimenez, Councilmember, City of Monrovia, hosted a successful water workshop at the Valley County Water District in Baldwin Park. About 50 local leaders were in attendance.

WELL UnTapped Fellowship 2024 Session 1 in the News

WELL Boardmember Cástulo Estrada, and Vice President, Coachella Valley Water District, and Mayor Celeste Rodriguez, City of San Fernando, were interviewed by KESQ about the importance of the Salton Sea.

WELL UnTapped Water Workshop in Inland Empire

Rafael Trujillo, Councilmember, City of Rialto, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2023, hosted a successful water workshop at the San Bernardino Valley Water District in the Inland Empire. Over 40 local leaders were in attendance.

WELL UnTapped Fellowship 2023 Session 1 in the News

WELL Boardmember Cástulo Estrada, and Vice President, Coachella Valley Water District, interviewed by NBC Palm Springs about the Fellows visit to the Salton Sea. Mayor Anna Velazquez, City of Soledad, was also interviewed by KESQ about the importance of the Salton Sea. Councilmember Manny Acosta is spotlighted for visiting the Salton Sea with his cohort in The Mid Valley News.

Waterloop #154: Latino Leaders Learn

WELL President & Founder Victor Griego joined the podcast Waterloop to explain why WELL focuses on inspiring Latino leaders to care about water issues and how the organization provides the leadership and storytelling skills necessary to create real change. Victor described the disproportionate number of water challenges faced by Latinos in California, the gap in water knowledge among elected officials, and why engaging local leaders can solve California’s water challenge.

Water Talk Podcast

Episode 43 of the Water Talk Podcast: Educating & Empowering Elected Officials, features a conversation with Leticia Gonzalez, Supervisor – District 4, County of Madera and UnTapped Graduate Class of 2022; and Victor Griego, President, and Founder, Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL). In the episode, Supervisor Gonzalez and President Griego discuss the importance of representation in water governance, service through leadership, and the importance of water education for local Latino elected officials

WELL President & Founder, Victor Griego write a guest commentary for Cal Matters

In “Education is vital for California Latinos affected most by the water crisis,” President Griego stresses the importance of educating local leaders, especially those in Latino communities, on water solutions to protect vulnerable residents. “It is a fateful paradox that while keeping our food system functioning falls heaviest on the backs of Latino workers, they are most frequently plagued by water contamination and scarcity. Local Latino elected leaders need to be their voice by being properly informed since they are on the frontlines of passing and administering bond funding, infrastructure contracts, and raising public awareness.”

WELL’s Central Valley Conference, April 2, 2022

Latino leaders address ongoing drought in the Central Valley in Selma, CA (KSEE). On Saturday, April 2, 2022 Latino leaders gathered for a conference about water policies, sustainability plans, and the drought

WELL at Governor Brown’s Global Climate Action Summit September 2018

WELL is proud to have been involved in the design and planning of September 2018’s Water Pavilion, an affiliated event of Governor Brown’s Global Climate Action Summit. The Water Pavilion gathered tribal, government, business, civil society, scientific and community leaders working toward a resilient water future in the face of a changing climate.

WELL at United Nations COP23

WELL at United Nations COP23, November 2017, Attendee Victor Griego said, “I attended the United Nations COP23 in Bonn, Germany, last week and learned a great deal about the challenges facing our planet. I’ve had a chance to reflect on what I learned, and have come away feeling positive and hopeful about our earth’s future, despite ongoing climate change. That hope was sparked by the people I interacted with at the conference, who were there from all corners of the globe as well as from California.”

White House Water Summit, March 22, 2016

The White House hosted a Water Summit to help raise awareness of water issues and potential solutions across the United States in an effort to accelerate ideas and actions that will build a sustainable and secure future for water through innovative science and technology. WELL Board Member Victor Griego was one of the featured speakers, discussing WELL’s efforts to educate Latino local elected officials about water policy. To watch Mr. Griego’s speech, click here. To read the press release on this event,

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