Mayor Celina Benitez Joins Latino Policymakers for
NALEO Educational Fund’s Policy Institute on
Emergency Response and Management
The two-day convening provided Mayor Celina Benitez and other
Latino elected officials with workshops on best practices to
strengthen governance skills that support effective leadership in times of crisis.
Mount Rainier, MD – Mayor Celina Benitez joined the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund and a cohort of 50 Latino policymakers for an emergency response and management Institute focusing on how to best prepare and equip policymakers with emergency management fundamentals. The NALEO Policy Institute on Emergency Response and Management took place September 19–20, 2023, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.
The convening provided Mayor Benitez and other Latino policymakers with a comprehensive overview of the Incident Command System (ICS) — a standardized approach used by all public agencies in the United States for the command, control, and coordination of emergency response — which was established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the National Incident Management System. The experts also highlighted the roles policymakers play in emergency response efforts.
“In times of crisis and emergencies, it is essential for City leaders to be well-prepared to effectively lead our constituents, and ensure their safety and well-being,” stated Mayor Benitez.
During the Institute, Mayor Benitez also networked with other Latino leaders from across 13 states and heard from leading experts about best practices to strengthen governance skills that support effective leadership in times of crisis and help provide direction and guidance to their constituents.
Topics addressed during the convening included:
- Incident Command System (ICS 402)
- Emergency Preparedness for Elected Officials
- Strategies and Best Practices to Mitigate Extreme Heat
- Interactive Best Practices Scenario Exercises
Select speakers at this year’s Institute included NALEO Educational Fund’s Chair, the Honorable Alejandra Sotelo-Solis; the Honorable John Ortega, Principal Partner, Rockeye Consulting Services; Board Member, Orange Unified School District, California; Board Member, NALEO; Mr. Rich Rebenstorff, President and CEO, Rockeye Consulting Services; Mr. Derrek Hofrichter, Founder and Chief Instructor, EVKM Self Defense and Fitness; and Dr. Melissa Guardaro, Assistant Research Professor, Healthy Urban Environment, Arizona State University.