Researcher Profile

Max Benavidez

Public Communications Strategies

Max Benavidez has more than 20 years experience in strategic communications, public policy development, new media and social marketing and media relations.

Benavidez led the development of L.A. Public Media, a new public media service directed toward a young and diverse audience, which was created in 2010 under a $2.4 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He serves as an advisor for the Converge Project at Harvard Medical School. He worked on strategic planning and crisis communications with the Annie E. Casey Foundation (located in Baltimore, Maryland) and its “Making Connections” Program based in 10 cities throughout the United States. He oversaw the board reorganization and restructuring of Self-Help Graphics in Los Angeles under a grant from the California Community Foundation; headed the strategic planning process for the Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) under a grant from the Resources Legacy Fund; and was the strategic planner for the creation and launch of the California Latino Caucus Institute for Public Policy; and directed the planning of a new facility for Plaza de La Raza under a grant from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment.

He also served as the Asst. Vice Chancellor for Communications at UCLA (1999-2002) and as the Director of Media Relations at Caltech (1992-1999).  He is a frequent speaker on public policy issues, leadership development and diversity issues and serves as a communications advisor for executives in the non-profit and for-profit sectors.

Benavidez is a former essayist for the Los Angeles Times, a former TV/radio producer (KNBC-TV and KPCC-NPR) and served as adjunct faculty at the UCLA Chavez Center from 1994-2002.  He is the author of several books, including Gronk (2007, CSRC and University of Minnesota Press) and Graciela’s Dream: One Family’s Journey to College (2005, Lectura Books).

He is currently the managing director of Public Communications Strategies. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from UCLA and his Ph.D. in Communications and Higher Education Claremont Graduate University.

Max Benavidez

"The U.S. is at a crossroads. A young, diverse population is rapidly assuming its place in society while at the same time we are witnessing a deep restructuring of the economy. Understanding the points where they intersect is essential. The Latinos & Economic Security project provides the research and analysis to help ensure informed policy decisions in these areas."

The team