Water Education for Latino Leaders

10/07/2026

Research by Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) and the UC Davis Water Management Lab found that, at the current pace of change, it could take 75–100 years for Latinos and other people of color to reach equitable representation across California’s $37–50 billion water industry.

These aren’t just numbers. They are access disparities that affect the communities California’s water agencies serve. This Hispanic Heritage Month, help WELL change that. Your donation helps WELL create leadership opportunities and prepare the next generation of leaders to have a voice in the decisions that shape California’s water future.

Click the link in our bio to invest in Latino leadership today. WELL defines a Latino leader as an elected official who represents a Latino constituency. As such, WELL welcomes all Latino leaders, regardless of ethnicity.


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10/06/2026

On September 23–24, 2026, WELL attended the League of California Cities (LOCC) Annual Conference in Anaheim, California!

This year’s conference recognized several WELLos—graduates of WELL’s UnTapped Fellowship Program—who are serving in new and renewed leadership roles with the LOCC including: Teresa Acosta (City of Carlsbad, and Graduate of Class of 2025), President of League of California Cities, Cassandra Chase (City of Lakewood, and Graduate of Class of 2024) President, League of California Cities Women Caucus, Rachel Hernandez (City of Riverbank, and Graduate of Class of 2023) 1st Vice President, League of California Cities Women Caucus; and Jorgel Chavez (City of Bell Gardens, and Graduate of Class of 2022) North Regional Board Member, League of California Cities Latino Caucus.

In addition, we also had the chance to connect with a few other graduates from WELL’s UnTapped Fellowship program: Sergio Jimenez (City of Monrovia and Graduate of Class of 2023); Alma Hernandez (City of Suisun, and Graduate of Class of 2024); Doriss Panduro (City of Fairfield, and Graudate of Class of 2024); Eduardo Martinez (City of Richmond, and Graduate of Class of 2018; Irais Lopez-Ortega (City of Calistoga, and Graduate of Class of 2019); Clint Weirick (City of Grover Beach, and Graduate of Class of 2025); Larry Spicer (City of Monrovia, and Graduate of Class of 2026); Frank Figueroa (City of Coachella, and Graduate of Class of 2024), Carmen Montano (City of Milpitas, and Graduate of Class of 2019), Jaime Patino (City of Union City, and Graduate of Clsss of 2025), and Sally Flowers (City of Artesia, and Graduate of Class of 2018).

WELL hosted a booth where attendees tested their California water knowledge through Water Jeopardy and learned more about the UnTapped Fellowship Program, with the next fellowship beginning in January 2027.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and joined us for some water trivia! If you’re an elected official interested in learning more about UnTapped, click the link in our bio.

09/29/2026

On September 17–19, WELL, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), hosted a Colorado River Aqueduct inspection trip, bringing graduates of WELL’s UnTapped Fellowship and Educate 2 Lead Programs to learn more about one of Southern California’s most critical water supply systems.

The future of the Colorado River is one of the most pressing water challenges facing the American West. As prolonged drought, climate change, and growing demand continue to place pressure on this critical resource, understanding how the river is managed—and how its water reaches Southern California—is more important than ever.

Over the course of three days, participants explored the infrastructure and operations that connect the Colorado River to Southern California, including a visit to Hoover Dam, the Whitsett Intake Pumping Plant on Lake Havasu, and the Copper Basin Reservoir Dam. Participants also had the opportunity to see the system from the water during a pontoon boat tour.

The Colorado River Aqueduct is a 242-mile system of canals, tunnels, and siphons that carries Colorado River water across the desert to Southern California. The system includes five major pumping plants that lift water to higher elevations before it continues through the aqueduct by gravity.

Throughout the trip, participants gained a deeper understanding of the infrastructure, operations, and management behind Southern California’s Colorado River water supply, while connecting with local elected officials and water leaders from across California.

We’re grateful to Metropolitan for welcoming our participants and sharing their expertise throughout this educational experience.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible three days exploring the Colorado River Aqueduct!

09/28/2026

On September 17–18, the E2L Fall Class of 2026 gathered for its second in-person session at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Following a land and watershed acknowledgment from participant Jaquelyn Mercado, the cohort was welcomed by Assistant General Manager Lisa Dye.

The cohort also welcomed three new faculty members to E2L, who led sessions throughout the two-day program. Thursday’s programming began with Leading for Innovation, led by Dr. Adrian Hightower, Sustainability and Resilience Manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and co-led by Susana Arredondo, Executive Officer at the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The workshop prepared utility-industry professionals to foster a culture of innovation and lead responsible, innovative initiatives within complex, risk-sensitive organizations.

Participants then continued with Emotional Awareness in Leadership, led by Susana Arredondo and co-led by Anselmo Collins, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The session explored the role of emotional awareness in effective leadership and provided participants with tools to strengthen their leadership practices and relationships.

On Friday, the cohort was welcomed by Miya Cain, Associate Director at FSG, who led a full-day session on Public Narrative, co-led by Christina Sanchez, Facilitator and Consultant at Christina Sanchez Consulting. Developed by Marshall Ganz, Public Narrative is a leadership-development framework that uses storytelling to motivate people to act on shared values and goals. Participants explored the Story of Self, Story of Us, and Story of Now as tools for connecting personal experiences to collective action.

The two-day session provided participants with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, explore new approaches to innovation and emotional awareness, and practice communicating their values and experiences through storytelling.

Interested in joining the next Educate 2 Lead cohort? Visit our bio to learn more about the program and stay tuned for information about upcoming cohorts.

09/23/2026

Water doesn’t just come from the tap.

It travels hundreds of miles, crosses jurisdictions, and relies on an incredible network of infrastructure and people. How much do you know about the journey that brings water to your community? Who’s in charge of you water rates?

Will you be at the League of California Cities’ Annual Conference this week? Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) will be hosting a booth from September 23–25, 2026!

Stop by our booth to: test your water knowledge with Water Jeopardy; meet WELLos, graduates of WELL’s UnTapped Fellowship Program; and learn more about water and WELL’s work across California!

Whether you’re a longtime WELL partner or meeting us for the first time, we’d love to see you! Come say hello and learn something new along the way.

09/22/2026

WELL will be hosting a booth at the League of California Cities’ Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, September 23–25, 2026!

Water policy is one of CA’s most important public policy issues. Are you involved in the discussion? Do you know where water comes from? Who manages your water?

Stop by our booth to:
💧 Test your water knowledge - Water Jeopardy
📸 Meet WELLos, graduates of WELL’s Fellowship Program, UnTapped
💦 Learn more about water and the work WELL is doing across California

Whether you’re a longtime WELL partner or meeting us for the first time, we’d love to see you! Come say hello, test your water knowledge, and learn something new along the way.

09/15/2026

Latinos are nearly 42% of California’s population, yet our voices remain dramatically underrepresented in many of the places where decisions about water are made.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) is celebrating the leaders who are changing that—and investing in the next generation who will follow them.

WELL defines a Latino leader as an elected official who represents Latino constituencies. As such, WELL welcomes all Latino leaders, regardless of ethnicity.

Your gift helps put more Latino leaders at the water policy table. Donate today - your contributions help build a more representative and resilient water future for California. Click the link below to give to WELL today. Grow Latino leadership and shape California’s water future.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=4BUMGZUXPBR38


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08/31/2026

On Thursday, August 27, and Friday, August 28, the Educate 2 Lead (E2L) program officially kicked off the third cohort at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.

Nancy Huynh (LADWP), an E2L participant, welcomed her 16 colleagues with a land acknowledgment. The session began with Self-Awareness, led by Dr. Jeremy Hunter, Founding Director of the Executive Mind Leadership Institute, and co-led by Heather Dyer, General Manager of the SBVMWD. The session explored how personal well-being can influence leadership, relationships, and the ability to effectively support a team.

The first day concluded with a cohort dinner, providing participants with an opportunity to connect with their colleagues and faculty, including Heather Dyer; Dr. Adrian Hightower, Sustainability and Resilience Manager at MWD; and Dr. Jeremy Hunter.

On the second day, we introduced Transcendental Meditation, guided by Laura Juarez, Workforce Development Engagement Manager at WELL. The practice provided participants with an opportunity to pause, reset, and cultivate greater mental clarity and self-awareness.

Participants then transitioned into the day's next leadership topic, Leading with a DEI Lens: Unconscious Bias, led by Liji Thomas and co-led by Martha Tremblay and Stephan Tucker, General Manager of the WRD. Throughout the session, participants explored the value of leading with inclusion and identified the key traits of inclusive leadership.

Prior to the session, participants completed the LeADself Assessment and on Friday were guided through interpreting their results and began the coaching process of developing goals to strengthen areas for growth with Dr. Ashley Watterson, Leadership Development Consultant at Claremont Graduate University, and Stacie Takeguchi, Assistant General Manager at PWP.

The day concluded with a journaling session, allowing participants to reflect on the lessons and experiences from the previous two days. In keeping with WELL's culture, we concluded the two-day session in unity by singing “De Colores,” a traditional movement song that celebrates community, connection, and coming together in solidarity.

Visit our website to learn more about E2L.

08/25/2026

Last Thursday, August 20, 2026, we hosted a live webinar, “Water at the Crossroads: Policy Shifts, Local Impacts, and Community Resilience.

The webinar brought together water leaders from across California to explore recent policy shifts, how they are being felt at the local level, and what they mean for communities and California’s water future.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our webinar sponsors for their generous support of this webinar and for helping WELL continue to provide educational opportunities that connect leaders and communities across California’s water sector.

We also thank our panelists, Tina Shields, Harvey De La Torre, Dr. Bhabesh Chakrabarti, P.E., and our moderator, Malika Jones, for sharing their expertise and perspectives.

For those who would like to revisit the discussion or missed the conversation, visit our website to view the webinar recording.

08/22/2026