About The LIBRE Institute - Mission, Values, & Community Impact

Where we started

Founded in 2011, the LIBRE Institute was built on a belief in the principles that make the American Dream possible: limited government, free markets, property rights, and the rule of law.

These ideas form the foundation that allows families to start businesses, own homes, build wealth, and create a better future for their children.

These values are deeply rooted in Latino communities across the country. From small business owners to parents working hard to provide stability, Latinos are living out the principles that have helped build America.

That’s why we equip Latino families with the tools they need to achieve prosperity, reduce dependence on government, and build a thriving future in the United States.

We are reaching hundreds of thousands of Latinos across the country and preparing them to defend American freedom for generations to come.

By empowering Latino families with the principles of freedom, the LIBRE Institute is strengthening the American Dream for generations to come.

Jeffrey Baldwin , Director, LIBRE Institute

Jeffrey Baldwin, Director, The LIBRE Institute

Daniel Garza

Founding President

Daniel Garza, Founding President of the LIBRE Institute and The LIBRE Initiative, our sister organization. Daniel is the son of Mexican immigrant farm workers and a longtime freedom advocate for the Latino community. In 2011, he founded The LIBRE Initiative, which has grown into the nation’s largest Latino organization advancing economic freedom and limited government, reaching millions of Hispanics nationwide. He lives in Mission, Texas, with his wife and three children.

Sandra Benitez

Executive Director

Sandra Benitez brings more than a decade of experience in public policy and Latino advocacy, including leadership roles with the U.S. Hispanic Vote, the Republican National Committee, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As the Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, our sister organization, and the LIBRE Institute, she leads national strategy and community engagement efforts to expand opportunity and empower Hispanic families across the country. She holds a degree in Political Science from Ramapo College of New Jersey and resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Jeffrey Baldwin

Director, LIBRE Institute

Jeffrey Baldwin is a policy and civic leader dedicated to advancing individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited government. As Director of The LIBRE Institute, he works to expand economic opportunity and strengthen entrepreneurship and civic engagement within the U.S. Hispanic community. His work is rooted in the classical liberal tradition and strongly influenced by the Austrian School of Economics, with academic training that includes studies at Universidad Francisco Marroquín. He holds graduate degrees in business, management, political economy, and economics.

Wadi Gaitan

Communications Director

Wadi Gaitan serves as Communications Director and National Spokesman for The LIBRE Initiative and the LIBRE Institute, leading national media strategy and serving as a primary voice for the organization. Prior to joining LIBRE, he directed communications for the Republican Party of Florida and served as Press Secretary for the U.S. House GOP Conference, with a focus on Hispanic media outreach. He has also held key communications roles on federal and presidential campaigns. A proud Honduran-American born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Wadi holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in journalism from the University of Maryland.

Juan Martinez

Director of Strategic Expansion

Juan Martinez serves as Director of Strategic Expansion for the LIBRE Institute and The LIBRE Initiative, leading efforts to grow the organization’s footprint and strengthen state operations nationwide. He became the first in his family to graduate from college and has dedicated his career to advancing limited government and economic opportunity. Since 2014, he has held leadership roles at Americans for Prosperity and LIBRE, driving strategic growth and community engagement across the country. He lives with his wife and daughter.

Judy Pino

Marketing Manager

Judy Pino runs the national grassroots marketing strategy at Stand Together for The LIBRE Initiative and its state chapters. She is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Judy first joined LIBRE from 2012-2017 as Communications and Marketing Director. Prior to rejoining LIBRE in 2023, Judy directed marketing and press operations for the public litigation firm, New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA).

Helder Toste

Government Affairs Liaison

Helder Toste serves as the Government Affairs Liaison for The LIBRE Initiative where he focuses on partnering with Members of Congress and their staff to solve some of our most pressing issues in economic, health care, and immigration policy.

Israel Ortega

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Israel Ortega is the deputy communications director and a national spokesperson for The LIBRE Initiative. Israel’s responsibilities include articulating the organization’s perspective to local and national media – as well as overseeing the communications and marketing strategy for several LIBRE states.