Manny is an advocacy leader and community organizer who is driven by his desire for equity for all people, and his empathic knowledge of the lifestyle of those living in rural poverty in the Midwest to those living in the inner city districts of Columbus. Manny is a progressive champion who is working to enact positive change in his communities, from joining his first community board before he was old enough to drive a car to most recently leading one of the largest regional volunteer efforts in Ohio’s referendum history. Manny may have started at a young age, but he understands that power is built from the ground up, and he has spent his life furthering collaboration and the coalescing of his communities.
Manny currently works as a Local Lobbyist and Community Advocate at The Ohio State University’s Office of Government Affairs, where he supports civic partnerships, coordinates community events, and connects local leaders with university decision-makers. His work is laser-focused on building pathways to higher education for all communities in Ohio. In this role, he also supports executive policy research and strategy for the AVP of Local Government and Community Relations.
Educationally, Manny is finalizing his thesis for his MS in Agricultural Leadership. He is focused on agricultural collaboration and its effects on advocacy. He obtained two BAs (Cum Laude), one in Political Science and one in English, from The Ohio State University. All of his educational choices have focused on how he can assist organizations to more clearly communicate their goals and visions in order to serve their communities.
In the past, Manny has supported students as a House Director for various student organizations at OSU, advised the Morrow Co. Extension Levy Committee, served as trustee and VP of the Morrow Co. Farm Bureau Board, and as president of the ACEL Graduate Student Association. In many of these roles, Manny hosted events and programs that created safe environments where all members felt heard, valued, and had a place in securing the future of the organization.
Currently, Manny is serving as leadership for membership for the Ohio and Franklin County Young Democrats, and is a member of the Clintonville Area Progressives. He is a recent LeadOhio and OSU Young Alumni Academy graduate. His long-term goal is to increase his involvement across Franklin County. Whether organizing, strategizing, or building relationships, Manny stays committed to public trust and smart policy that will build a better Ohio for all.
