Rafael Benavides
National Director of Communications @Mi Familia Vota
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WORK HISTORY
National Director of Communications @Mi Familia Vota
Washington, DC, US
El Director Nacional de Comunicaciones supervisa todas las comunicaciones de la organización y diseña estrategias que alinean los mensajes con los objetivos en torno a cuestiones políticas clave. Asimismo, coordina con organizadores, personal de políticas públicas y oficinas estatales para garantizar mensajes coherentes y culturalmente relevantes que fortalezcan la democracia y promuevan el poder político de la comunidad latina en Estados Unidos.
EDUCATION
National Association of Indigenous Salvadorans (ANIS) - International Branch
Nawat
Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas
Graduate Research, Nahuatl Language, Ethnology and Anthropology
Kaltlamachtiyolaj tlen Nauatlachmanaltianij (KANA)
Eastern Huastecan Nahuatl
Baylor University
BA, Journalism, Anthropology
Yale University
Yale Summer Session, Classical and Modern Huastecan Nahuatl
SKILLS
ABOUT RAFAEL BENAVIDES
Rafael Benavides has served in the Biden-Harris administration since 2021. He served as Press Secretary for the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce from October 2021 to May 2024 and was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for Human Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in June 2024. In this role, Rafael manages the human services portfolio for the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, helping Americans of all ages and backgrounds live full, productive lives. The portfolio includes the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, the Indian Health Service, the Office for Civil Rights and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In addition, Rafael also provides direction and oversight to HHS’ Broadcast Communications Division and the Digital Communications Division. Rafael studied journalism and anthropology at Baylor University and went on to study indigenous languages of North America and ethnography with several institutions in the United States and Mexico, including el Instituto de Docencia e Investigación Etnológica de Zacatecas, la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Yale University, Kaltlamachtiyolaj tlen Nauatlachmanaltianij and the National Association of Indigenous Salvadorans (ANIS). He also received his certificate of small business management through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center at Texas A&M International University. He has worked as a journalist in both the United States and Mexico, covering a variety of news beats including community development, presidential visits, profile pieces and the drug war. He also worked as a marketing manager for entertainment venues and worked directly with celebrities and their teams to promote shows and world tours. Rafael brings a wealth of experience in public affairs, having worked for various local, state, federal and international organizations such as the City of Laredo, the Texas Democratic Party, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). He’s also done court interpretation as a contractor for the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and has worked for the Texas Democratic Party where he was in charge of Latino engagement and media relations and led on issues of immigration, international trade, economics, the Build Back Better Agenda, racial justice and fair representation for the rising Texas electorate.
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