Idida Rodriguez

Managing Partner

Idida@1868PublicAffairs.com

Idida Rodriguez is a distinguished and accomplished public affairs strategist with expertise in the fields of politics, business development, public policy, legislative affairs, and government relations. She is also the Managing Partner at 1868 Public Affairs, one of New Jersey's leading nonpartisan firms specializing in government and public affairs, legislative and regulatory affairs/monitoring, stakeholders' mobilization planning, strategic planning and communications.

In the course of her thirty-year career, Idida has played a significant role in high-profile campaigns at all levels of government, as well as serving on numerous New Jersey boards, providing consulting services, and holding various senior leadership positions. She has held a number of notable positions, including Chief of Staff to Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, Director of School-Based Youth Programs, and Instructor for the Consortium for Pre-College Education of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Additionally, she served on the Paterson Parking Authority's Board, the Passaic Valley Water Commission's Board, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Real Estate Commission and the Paterson Urban Enterprise Zone. Currently, Idida is a member of the New Jersey Local Finance Board and the Board of Trustees of William Paterson University.

In addition to her numerous accolades, Idida has been named to the Insider NJ and NJ Globe Top 100 Power Lists, State Senator Loretta Weinberg's Women's Power List for six consecutive years, as well as a number of government officials, leading civic and social service organizations.

Idida attended Douglass College in New Brunswick and graduated from William Paterson University in Wayne with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Business Administration. Motivated to deepen her own spiritual development, service to others and expand her understanding of diverse faiths, Idida attended One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. In 2012, she was ordained as an Interfaith Minister.

Idida’s strong commitment to community development and the advancement of higher education led her to establish IGNITE! “Catch The Fire'', a non-profit organization that provides spiritual counseling, life-enhancing practices, temporary hardship assistance, and supports Latinas pursuing higher education through the “Ese Papelito'' Scholarship Program. Idida maintains her spiritual integrity through her faith, which enables her to live a life of love, kindness, and compassion.