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Werner Oyanadel

 
Mr. Oyanadel was born and raised in Santiago, Chile.  He is currently working as an Associate Legislative Analyst for the Connecticut General Assembly’s (CGA) Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission (LPRAC) – a Commission that serves as an independent public policy agency to the CGA.  In this position, he is in charge of preparing analytical reports on public policy issues affecting the Latino community in Connecticut.  He tracks pertinent legislation and presents testimony before several legislative committees of the CGA.  Mr. Oyanadel collaborates with other state agencies and community organizations in both English and Spanish.  Before he started working for LPRAC, he served as a Legislative Assistant to several members of the House of Representatives and subsequently switched to the State Senate where he became the Legislative Assistant to State Senator Donald E. Williams – who is currently the President Pro-Tempore of the State of Connecticut.  Mr. Oyanadel also worked as a political advisor and campaign manager for a political campaign in Manchester, Connecticut and worked as a database specialist on a congressional campaign for the first congressional district.  Mr. Oyanadel is a holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree with a specialization in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy.

Mr. Oyanadel was a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard as an Automated Logistics Specialist and it is remarkable the fact that after receiving an Honorable Discharge for his service, he re-enlisted a second time as a Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager.

Mr. Oyanadel is very proud of his civic engagements on several boards and committees around the state.  For instance, he is currently a Connecticut advisory member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights; he is a liaison for LPRAC to the Hate Crimes Advisory Committee for the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office; and a board member of the Latino Advisory Board for the State of Connecticut Department of Children & Families.  He is an ex-board member of the MATCH coalition – a nonprofit organization fighting the big tobacco companies from targeting children.  It is important to note that Mr. Oyanadel was instrumental in directing the first ever-national grant for a tobacco secession program designed to protect Connecticut Latinos from the dangers of tobacco use -- this program was entitled `Latino no fumes Protége tu Salud ~ Latino Don’t Smoke Protect Your Health’ -- presented in partnership with Hartford Hospital through a grant totaling $497,055 given by the American Legacy Foundation.

 Special awards and recognitions have been conferred upon him by:

Demos & DemocracyWorks – Champion of Democracy Award in recognition of his advocacy efforts on behalf of Immigrants in Connecticut.  June 15^th, 2005

Governor M. Jodi Rell – Official statement in recognition of having received the Immigrant of the Year Award by the Connecticut Immigrant & Refugee Coalition.   April 14^th, 2005

National Image, Inc. – Meritorious Service Award awarded to outstanding military service members for the advancement of civil rights & equal opportunities of Hispanics in the military and in their workplace.  June 9^th, 2004

Mr. Oyanadel and his wife – Luz Marina Oyanadel – live in West Hartford with his two stepsons Luis and Miguel.

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