Basic Info
| First Name | Lalo |
| Last Name | Velasco |
| Username | lalovelasco |
Additional Contact Information
| Pronouns | he/him |
Progressive Profile
| Current Employer | Self Employed |
| Current Occupation | Gig Worker |
| Tagline | Bridging policy, data, and community leadership to drive impact. |
| Bio | I have been active in progressive politics since 2015, I began by volunteering on the Bernie Sanders campaign and have since taken on leadership roles in student government, advocacy organizations, and statewide caucuses. While in community college, I was elected to two student governments and successfully passed Safe Parking resolutions to support housing-insecure students. Today, I serve as Chair of the California Young Democrats Environmental Caucus and Chief of Staff for the United Nations Association at UCLA, bringing nearly a decade of experience in grassroots organizing, policy research, and coalition-building to advance progressive causes. |
| Impact | Since first volunteering on the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2015, I have worked to expand the reach of progressive politics through both policy wins and grassroots leadership. As a student, I was elected to two different community college governments and authored and passed Safe Parking resolutions on both campuses to create support systems for housing-insecure students. At UCLA, I served as President of the United Nations Association, where I helped coordinate International Youth Conferences and advanced global policy discussions while mentoring new student leaders. Beyond campus, I have driven impact through professional and organizing roles. As a Team Lead with Greenpeace, I was consistently ranked among the top in the nation for signing up new donors, building grassroots support for environmental action. With Blue Water Government Affairs in San Diego, I helped pass progressive ballot measures focused on rent control and lessening restrictions on cannabis use, while also supporting campaigns for Biden-Harris and other Democratic candidates across the region. My approach has always been to bridge people, policy, and organizing power to achieve tangible results for progressive causes. |
| Mission | For this cycle, I hope to see more progressives elected into office and to play a role in supporting candidates who champion bold, people-centered policies. Beyond this, I aspire to work with organizations that advance progressive solutions to some of our most pressing challenges—climate change, prison reform, and access to higher education. My long-term vision is to help create the conditions for a progressive president in the White House, while continuing to strengthen grassroots power at the local and national level. One day, I hope to run for local office myself to directly serve my community and put these values into action. |