Roberto Valdez Jr.

Roberto Valdez Jr. is the Midwest Policy Director for the Hispanic Federation (HF), a national Latino nonprofit organization which seeks to empower Latino communities, support Latino families, and strengthen Latino institutions. In this role, Roberto oversees policy and legislative efforts for the HF Midwest office, manages relationships with key stakeholders in Chicago and throughout the Midwest region, supports HF programmatic efforts including implementation and outreach, and helped open and launch the HF Chicago office in October of 2022.

Roberto’s experience encompasses work with non-profit organizations, in the private sector, on political campaigns, and on Capitol Hill. His political work includes time as a Digital Campaign Manager for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) during the 2015-2016 campaign cycle. At the DCCC, Roberto oversaw the digital programs for twelve congressional campaigns that covered districts in California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, and Florida. In this role, Roberto focused on fundraising efforts, social media audience targeting, and digital media outreach.

In 2017, Roberto worked as communications director for Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy in the U.S. House of Representatives. As Rep. Murphy’s communications director, Roberto managed the press office, social media messaging, and overall communications strategy for the congresswoman. Roberto transitioned into the private sector soon after as a communications and digital consultant for NOW Strategies, a public affairs firm specializing in communications, political consulting, and multicultural outreach.

In the fall of 2017, Roberto moved from Washington D.C. to Chicago and began his tenure with the Latino Policy Forum, working for the communications team, then accepting a development role within the organization, overseeing the Forum’s work around the public charge, and finally transitioning to community and government affairs work as Associate Director of External Affairs. In that role, Roberto managed the legislative portfolio for federal, state, and city initiatives. Roberto also helped manage collaborative efforts among Latino organizations that seek to promote accountability in business, government, the private sector, and within the Latino community by leveraging their collective voice and influence.

Roberto is on the iHeartMedia Chicago Local Advisory Board, on the CHANGE Illinois Board, on the National Latino Education Institute Emerging Leaders Board, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalist Chicago Chapter, member of the National Hispanic Lobbyist Association, was on the Steering Committee of the Chicago Housing Justice League from 2020-2022, was awarded the 2021 Leadership Award by the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees, was named HACE’s National Latinos 40 Under 40 in 2022 and was a 2022 Edgar Fellow.

Roberto received his B.A. in Communications from Arizona State University in 2012 and is originally from Nogales, AZ.