Leticia de la Vara
HOW I GOT HERE
I’ve always been drawn to the question of how systems shape people’s lives—and who has the power to shape those systems in return.
I grew up watching people navigate institutions that weren’t built with them in mind. But I also saw something else: leadership already exists in every community. It just isn’t always recognized, supported, or given the chance to influence the decisions that matter most.
That belief guided my career across housing, civic engagement, and education—working alongside communities and leaders committed to expanding opportunity and strengthening the systems people rely on every day.
Over time, I came to understand something more clearly: systems don’t change on their own. They reflect the people inside them—their values, their experiences, and what they’re willing to fight for.
That’s what brought me to New Politics.
If we want a democracy that works better for people, we need more leaders in government who are grounded in service, who lead with integrity, and who see public office not as power—but as responsibility.
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A country where our systems reflect our values—and the people closest to the challenges are leading the solutions.
WHAT I BELIEVE
I believe the leaders we need are already among us—but our political system wasn’t built to find or support them.
I believe service should be a pathway into leadership, not a separate track from it.
And I believe the health of our democracy depends on who is making decisions—not just what decisions are made.
When leaders are grounded in service, they lead differently. They listen differently. They understand that policy isn’t abstract—it shapes people’s daily lives.
For me, this work is about helping close the gap between leadership and lived experience—so that the people shaping our systems actually reflect the communities those systems are meant to serve.
