Brenda Benitez
Senior Implementation Manager
Expertise
Brenda is a Senior Implementation Manager for the Education Lab and Crime Lab. She serves as a bridge for learning and collaboration between research teams, non-profits, city agencies, and individuals who participate in our research. Brenda also conducts qualitative research to ensure that our findings are informed by the perspective of communities most impacted by the programs and policies we study.
Prior to coming to the Labs, she was a paralegal at the National Immigrant Justice Center. Brenda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Analysis with a concentration in Psychology from Pomona College and an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Outside of work, Brenda enjoys spending time outdoors, practicing guitar, and volunteering for the Posse Foundation.
Every Choice Has Opportunity (ECHO)
ECHO is a free, open-source curriculum that helps service providers guide young people to make better decisions using tools informed by research and practice.
Post-Secondary Pathways
The Education Lab partnered with Chicago Public Schools to help implement and pilot interventions aiming to support the post-secondary career and education outcomes in Chicago schools where students face significant challenges.
Latest Updates
Every Choice Has Opportunity: Inside the ECHO Curriculum
The Crime Lab and Education Lab hosted a webinar to provide an in-depth look at the research behind ECHO, our approach to creating it, and an overview of resources and tips to get started with using the curriculum.
