Ylenia Aguilar, a water advocate, is running to serve on the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD). Since gaining citizenship in 2014, she has volunteered her time to serving her community. She voted for the first time and for herself in 2016, winning her School Board election. She currently serves as Governing Board Member in Osborn School District No. 8. Ylenia was highly active at both of her son’s schools, and was asked to participate in committees at a district level. The more she learned about school governance, the more she was able to see that her influence would have widespread support of the community. Her School Board in 2016 had zero representation of current parents and Ylenia knew that her obligation to support her children’s education had to take a greater role. Ylenia served the first year as a Member, and since has been elected to leadership on the Board, first as Clerk in 2018, and three consecutive terms as Board President in 2019, 2020, & 2021. As President, she was responsible for opening and closing schools during the pandemic. She understands how to lead under pressure and will bring this level-headed thinking to the CAWCD. In her time on the School Board, Ylenia has had tremendous impact on partnerships and opportunities through her vast contacts. Ylenia was a member of Valley Leadership Class 39, and alone through relationships forged with classmates and contacts brought programs through Cox Communications, Be A Leader Foundation, and Tetra String Quartet. Additionally her relationships with the Consulado General de México, CHISPA, A for Arizona and SOURCE Global have brought over 2 million dollars for electric buses, learning opportunities and materials as well as a free, sustainable hydropanel system to Osborn Middle School. She wishes to bring new partnerships to the CAWCD and understands that the future relies on innovative technologies that will help with conservation efforts. As the SOURCE Global, Business Development Manager for Arizona —she ensures that the clients and communities she serves catalyze lasting, positive change. Her work with Rural, Tribal and School communities focuses on providing the most vulnerable populations with access to clean drinking water through a renewable water technology that creates water from sunlight and air. The Colorado River, the most important river in the Southwest is drying up. The river irrigates farms, powers electric grids and provides drinking water to over 40 million people in seven western states and Mexico. CAWCD is in charge of managing the 336 miles long Central Arizona Project (CAP). Ylenia is running because she wants to continue to ensure water security for Arizonans, while also protecting the Colorado River.
