Sara Valenzuela

 

Sara Valenzuela is the Director of External and Government Affairs for Public Advocate Letitia James working to develop and maintain relationships with elected members, advocates and community leaders to effect change in public policies that advance the City of New York. Prior to joining the Public Advocate’s team, Sara spent three and a half years serving in a variety of  government outreach roles as New York City Regional Director for State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Community Liaison of Immigrant Affairs, Latino Outreach, and Education for New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison and Latino Affairs Liaison for Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. In these roles, she encouraged progressive legislation and initiatives in partnership with fellow government agencies, elected officials, and advocates in New York.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University and Teach For America alumna, Sara has dedicated her career to political and minority advocacy. Following her TFA commitment, Sara moved to Washington, D.C. in 2007 to serve as Legislative Correspondent to then Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joe Baca. She 

was later recruited to serve U.S. Senator Robert Menendez as Legislative Aide/Latino Issues Liaison. In addition, she served as Congressional Hispanic Caucus Liaison and advisor on Latino issues for members 

of the Senate Hispanic Task Force.

 

During the last months of the 2008 Presidential election, Sara was recruited by Obama for America to serve as Deputy Field Organizer for Hispanic Outreach in Pueblo, Colorado. Following the election she helped found the New Latino Movement, a civic engagement group focused on developing young leaders 

to promote equal opportunity and justice for Latinos.

Before her move to New York City, Sara spent the last year and a half of her time in Washington, DC as the Associate Director of Government Affairs at Earth Day Network, directing federal policy and national environmental initiatives.