Vida Benavides
Independent Strategist
About
Vida Benavides, is a Filipino American, born in the Philippines, raised in San Francisco East Bay Area, CA. Benavides is a proven leader who has harnessed the intersection of policy advocacy, civic & electoral engagement, social & racial justice, equity, and multicultural activism. Benavides is the first Filipino American to serve as a Public Affairs, Political and Multicultural Affairs facilitator and strategist. Benavides serves as a strategic counsel to national, state, and local leaders from the private and public sectors. She has advised and consulted Forbes 50 Company C-Suite Executives, Global Foundations, Federal Agencies such as CDC and OMH, and National Advocacy Organizations. Her specialty and experience are an understanding of the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience and demographics having to run AAPI organizations and movements, driving and developing growth, capacity, and infrastructure amongst AAPI entities (CBO’s, NGOs, and Private Sector). Vida co-founded APIAVote-national nonpartisan electoral/civic engagement for AAPI's. She founded several C'3s, C'4's and 527 that support multi-cultural engagement in CA and nationlally. She also served as lead strategist, Campaign Manager that help passed the Filipino WWII Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act that President Obama signed. (Filipino WWII Veteranas who servced under the American Flag --their veterans benefits was rescinded by the US Government after WWI. (my grandmother received only $50.00 from US government to help bury my late grandfather) Vida has advised, consulted, and worked on Presidential Campaigns since Clinton-Gore Campaign. And served as a Deputy Political Director for the Clinton-Gore Transition. She was the first Asian American to consult the DNC and Democratic Presidential Campaigns for General Election. Just recently, Vida served as Senior Adviser to Filipino Americans for (Biden-Harris//Harris Walz) guiding infrastructure, data driven and GOTV strategies.
Accomplishments
I believe my perspective and experience can help to benefit the assembled group. And that I will continue to learn and give -- I am a student and practitioner of Democracy.