Hendel Leiva was Long Island Wins’ community organizer, heading the Welcoming Long Island initiative, which was part of the national Welcoming America movement, since 2012. Hendel’s early work began when he became involved with several local community initiatives in his hometown of Brentwood, which included working with the neighborhood collaborative Brentwood Gardens, and serving as the assistant campaign manager for the Brentwood Campaign For Quality Education.

In 2010, he graduated from the SUNY University of Albany with a bachelor’s degree in English, and in 2012, he received his master’s degree in public administration from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Working to create more inclusive communities on Long Island for both immigrants and U.S.-born Americans, Hendel has represented Welcoming Long Island at the White House’s Convening on Immigrant Integration, has been a featured speaker at Welcoming America’s 2014 Leaders Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been profiled by MTV’s Look Different campaign during Welcoming America’s 2014 National Welcoming Week celebration.