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Fernando Betancourt

Fernando Betancourt has been the Executive Director of the State of Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission since September 1995. He was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Mr. Betancourt studied at the University of Puerto Rico School of Social Sciences and School of Law. While at the University he was President of the University Chapter of the Puerto Rican Independence Party as well as being the National Vice President of Youth for the Puerto Rican Independence Party. He was a representative to the Academic Senate and President of the Student Council at the School of Law. Mr. Betancourt also holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Hartford Graduate Center. He has done legal and legislative research in the Connecticut and Puerto Rican Legislatures as well as in the United States Congress.

He moved from Puerto Rico to the United States in 1987 settling in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1987 to 1990 he worked as the Executive Director of LULAC National Educational Service Center in New Haven where he was responsible for increasing their budget by $1.2 million for LULAC National during 1987.  This organization worked locally to develop educational programs that serve the Latino community.  After a brief period of reviewing and redesigning drug rehabilitation programs under contract to the Department of Corrections, Mr. Betancourt was appointed Deputy Human Resources Administrator for the City of New Haven in 1991, a policy level position in which he served as a member of the Mayor's Cabinet.  From 1994 to 1995 he was the Project Director for the City of New Haven Health Department — Ryan White Title I initiative that served people affected by HIV and living with AIDS in the New Haven and Fairfield Counties in Connecticut.

As the Executive Director of the State of Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission he develops and recommends public policy as it affects the Latino and Puerto Rican communities throughout Connecticut to the Executive and Legislative branches of State government. He testifies at legislative committees on various issues regarding the status of disenfranchised minorities.  He is outspoken and well versed on the rights of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in the State.  Some issues on which his expertise is particularly valued include: welfare and welfare reform, racism, housing rights, Puerto Rico's political history and status, the AIDS epidemic and services, civil rights, language rights, voting rights, discrimination by gender, sexual orientation and national origin, bilingual education, and campaign finance reform.

Fernando has worked as a consultant in the fields of health, culture, politics and diversity.  He has been trained as trainer by the PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE to deliver the segment on public policy and empowerment.  He has also contributed as a regular Columnist and Political Analyst for the newspaper La Voz Hispana and other radio and TV stations covering the Latino community.

Fernando graduated from the Colorado Outward Bound School (July 31 through August 6, 1999) and graduated from Class XVI of the American Leadership Forum on May 18, 2000.

Fernando has also been a guest lecturer at Yale University, Trinity College, University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University, Housatonic, Manchester and Capitol Community Colleges.

In the past Fernando has served on the Boards of the following organizations:

• DemocracyWorks - Founding member

• Casa Cultural Julia de Burgos at Yale University 

• Cooperative Education Council Board-University of New Haven

• African Caribbean Festival Commission Executive Board

• Connecticut Association of Residential Facilities

• CAUSA-Executive Board

• Infoline-Advisory Board

• New Haven Family Alliance Executive Board

• Parliamentarian for CALAHE Board of Directors

• Chairperson of the Hispanic Employment Committee

• New Audiences Committee of the Long Wharf Theater

• President of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center

• Advocacy Institute - Washington, D.C.

• The Connecticut Drug Policy Leadership Council

• Connecticut Public Affairs Network, Inc

• Connecticut Planned Parenthood

• Mr. Betancourt was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, to the Commission on Public Trust and Confidence.

• Connecticut Council on Philanthropy

  He is also currently a Board member of:  

• Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition

• Chairperson, Community Renewal Team (CRT)  

• Secretary of State – Connecticut Citizenship Fund

• The Hartford Consortium for Higher Education

• Reaching Home Leadership Council

• Discovery Center Board of Directors

• Connecticut Health Foundation Advisory Council

• Connecticut Aids Resource Coalition Development Advisory Council

• HealthFirst Connecticut Authority

• Fernando is currently serving on the Primary Care  Access Authority at the request of legislative leaders Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. and House Speaker James A. Amann.

Special awards and recognitions have been conferred upon him by:

• INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIANS FOR UNITY AND SOCIAL ACTION – Connecticut Humanitarian and Social Action Award. – 1988

• CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION FOR UNITED SPANISH ACTION – Award for Voluntary Service. – 1988

• UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT - PUERTO RICAN/LATIN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER – Leadership Award – 1997 

• CONNECTICUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN – Community Advocacy Award – 2000

• GUMERCINDO DEL RIO AWARD – This prestigious award is given to people who embody qualities of commitment and integrity services to the Hispanic Community. – 2001  

• ANNUAL DUAL LANGUAGE INSTITUTE AWARD - 2003

• Mr. Betancourt was the commencement speaker at the 37th graduation ceremony for Housatonic Community College in May 2004

• Mr. Betancourt was appointed to the State Advisory Council to the Office of Victims Services by Senior Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, Judge David M. Borden in 2006

• 2006 Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition Uberman Award Recipient

• National Society of Hispanic MBAs - 2007 Destino Award of Distinction

State of Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission
18-20 Trinity Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Phone: (860) 240-8330
Fax: (860) 240-0315

03/27/2008