Episode 43: Educating & Empowering Elected Officials
“I always say, I’m trying to plant a seed to grow a tree, to someone else can enjoy the shade later”
“We believe that all of us who chose to be involved in public life, particularly the elected officials, that their actions is really their leadership, and their inability to act is also a sign of lack leadership, so we encourage people to act”
A conversation with Leticia Gonzales (District 4 Supervisor, Madera County) and Victor Griego (Water Education for Latino Leaders) about representation in water governance, service through leadership, and action-oriented education for elected officials. Released March 3, 2023.
guests on the show
Leticia Gonzalez
Leticia Gonzales serves as District 4 Supervisor in Madera County. She is the third Latino supervisor and the first Latina to serve in Madera County Board of Supervisors history. Geographically, District 4 is the smallest district which encompasses from Cleveland Ave to Parksdale to Downtown Madera. Its unique geographic boundaries makes District 4 the heart of Madera County. Supervisor Gonzalez is an alumni of the WELL Untapped program, class 2022. The UnTapped Fellowship program has prepared her to address the challenges and seek out opportunities on this essential statewide public policy issue. She is an advocate for public health, gender equity, veterans, a sustainable environment, and social justice as well as a dedicated elected official to help her constituents and people of California at large. Prior to her time as a Supervisor, Leticia Gonzalez worked at Madera County Department of Social Services where she assisted the public with appropriate referrals to health, social and employment services. Additionally, she served as a Victims Advocate at Victim Services Center where she gained knowledge of the resource needs for mental health, trauma, homelessness, domestic violence, and more. Supervisor Gonzalez is a life-long Madera County resident and a proud daughter of farm workers. She graduated with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology from California State University Stanislaus in 2003. Follow Supervisor Gonzalez @supergonzalez4.
Victor Griego
Victor Griego is the founder and board president of Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL), which started in 2012. He realized the gap in water education of leaders that serve Latino communities in California to address the ongoing water crisis. To prepare the next generation of California’s water policy leaders, WELL involves the people who represent >40 percent of California’s population but less than 2 percent of elected water officials—the Latino community. WELL’s goal is to be inclusive and create a benchmark for Latino elected officials who are ready to take the helm and lead California toward sustainable water policies, leading toward a brighter, more equitable future for all Californians. As such, WELL’s programs do not require that participants be Latino, if an elected official represents a Latino community, they can be a Latino leader. WELL is committed to developing local elected leaders who are or will be stewards of the state’s water policies. Follow Victor @DSOGriego