Lily Benavides’s journey started in the lively town of Cartago, Valle Del Cauca, Colombia, where she completed her studies at Colegio Nuestra Señora Del Rosario. Her enthusiasm for community service flourished while she was in New Hampshire, where she was elected as a State Representative (Assembly). During her two-year tenure, Lily was an active member of the Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee. She also played a significant role in the NH Immigrant Rights Task Force, advocating for the rights of immigrants. As a volunteer with NH AFSC, she helped establish a New Hampshire youth group, Young Community Organizers (YOU), which focused on combatting discrimination and harassment against students of color in schools. Additionally, she was part of the AFSC Northeast Regional Executive Committee, where she evaluated programs and budgets, offering vital recommendations. Lily also volunteered with NJ AFSC to advocate for and support Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and translated a book from English to Spanish for women in prison as part of the Prison Watch Program. She has also volunteered with other local immigrant rights groups and a mutual aid group in Morris County during the pandemic. She has been a member of the Green Party of NJ for 9 years and has served as a co-chair twice (currently serving). She is currently one of the co-chairs of the Latinx Caucus National Green Party.

Lily is a devoted family person, deeply entrenched in her relationships with her husband, four children, eight grandchildren and their pets, three cats, one dog and a gecko. Her commitment to community service and advocacy stems from her desire to create a brighter, more equitable future for them and for all children in her community.