NALEO Educational Fund Taps New Deputy Executive Director in Advance of Important Milestones

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund is pleased to announce Erica Bernal-Martinez as the organization's new Deputy Executive Director.  Bernal-Martinez, a 16-year veteran of the organization, will carry out this new role from the NALEO Educational Fund national office in Los Angeles, California.

"For more than 16 years, Erica has been an integral part of our organization's efforts to work towards the full political participation of Latinos in the United States," stated Arturo Vargas, NALEO Educational Fund Executive Director.  "She has played a critical role in moving the goals of each and every department forward throughout her time at NALEO Educational Fund.  As we prepare to celebrate our organization's 35^th anniversary by continuing to increase the number of eligible legal permanent residents who become citizens and prepare the nation's Latino electorate for the race for the White House in 2016, Erica's expertise and wealth of knowledge will prove invaluable for our organization and the Latino community as a whole."

Bernal-Martinez assumes this role after previously serving as Senior Director of Constituency Services, a position where she grew the organization's membership and program services.  In her new capacity, Bernal-Martinez will work directly with Executive Director Arturo Vargas to develop the strategy, vision, processes and structures to move the organization's mission and work forward.  She will serve as the internal leader of the organization, where she will be responsible for setting priorities, coordinating the annual operations plan and budget, and overseeing the constituency services, civic engagement and communications departments.

Since joining NALEO Educational Fund in 1999, Bernal-Martinez has over the course of her career also led the organization's civic engagement, development and communications departments.  She is an alumna of California State University at Long Beach.

"NALEO Educational Fund and the Latino community have made tremendous strides since we were established in 1981.  In the coming years, our organization will continue to promote the full civic engagement of the nation's second largest population group, and ensure Latino elected and appointed officials have the information and skills needed to be effective advocates for their constituents and America's best public servants," stated Erica Bernal-Martinez, NALEO Educational Fund Deputy Executive Director.  "I am honored to have been selected to help lead these important efforts as the NALEO Educational Fund's new Deputy Executive Director, and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to help strengthen the fabric of our nation's democracy as we near our organization's 35^th anniversary."

About NALEO Educational Fund
NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Contact:

Amanda Bosquez, [email protected]
(202) 546-2536, (361) 548-6989 (cell)

Paula Valle Castanon, [email protected]
(213) 747-7606 ext. 4414, (323) 253-6431 (cell)

SOURCE NALEO Educational Fund

Related Links

http://www.naleo.org