Leaders of Impact: A talk with Affiliate Leader Alicia Nuñez, president & CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC)

We continue our Leaders of Impact series with another feature highlighting one of the exceptional leaders nationwide in the UnidosUS Affiliate Network. Through this series, we hope to showcase groundbreakers from across the Network, shining a light on what brought them to this work and their leadership philosophy.

This feature is particularly special because Chicanos Po La Causa is one of the original seven UnidosUS Affiliates and Alicia Nuñez is the first woman to lead Chicanos Por La Causa.

1. Can you talk about your background: Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school? How, if at all, did your early life experiences affect your professional path/trajectory?

My parents immigrated from Sinaloa, Mexico to the Los Angeles area in the late 1960s and early 70s in search of a better future for their family. I grew up in Lincoln Heights, a barrio in Los Angeles. Despite the environment that surrounded my neighborhood, I grew up around a strong, supportive family and community.

My parents only had a third-grade education, yet they emphasized the importance of education to me. They taught themselves how to read and write. My dad eventually taught himself to speak English and started his own plumbing business. I earned my bachelor’s degree in the English Credential Program at California State University Northridge and received my MBA from the University of Arizona.

My parents taught me important life lessons early in my life. The first one was to always have ganas (desire/enthusiasm) and ambition. The second one from my mom was to be selfless. This rooted my belief in trusting myself throughout my career. The ganas and selflessness are why I pursued momentous opportunities in my career and nurtured new leaders among the colleagues I’ve mentored. It’s important to know you are capable of great things and to uplift others.

2. How did you come to join CPLC and how long have you been a part of it? Can you share a little bit about the organization’s work/mission and why it’s important to you?

While going to school, I started working at the Ritz-Carlton as a cashier and room service attendant. After graduating from CSU Northridge, I remained in the hospitality industry, working my way through accounting and finance departments until I became the assistant director of finance for the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena, California.

In 2006, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and came across Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC). I have served in multiple leadership roles over my 18 years here including vice president of accounting and CFO. I am currently the first Latina to serve as CPLC’s President and CEO. The more I volunteered and worked here, the more I learned about its mission and fell in love with it.

CPLC’s mission is to drive economic and political empowerment. We currently reach over a million people in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. I’ve seen the direct positive impact that our over 30 programs in health and human services, housing, education, economic development and advocacy have made in the community. I am inspired by how we empower individuals and families to become their own advocates and live a dignified life. To name a few examples, our Angeles del Barrio holiday events help families experience the joy of the holidays, our De Colores shelter helps families break the cycle of domestic violence and our home lending program helps families attain homeownership.

3. In your leadership role, what do you feel are 2 to 3 of the most important priorities to focus on that help ensure the success of the organization and its impact on the community?

As president and CEO, I am committed to two main priorities: return to our organization’s mission and bring work-life balance back to our hardworking, committed staff.

In order to continue serving our community in the best way possible, we have to take care of ourselves. Our organization has 2,000 employees strong, supporting each other and our community. We must also support our needs to be the best version of our organization. This continues our legacy of accountability, reliability and transparency as we meet the needs of our community.

After such rapid growth and expansion, it was important to take a moment to recognize the core of our mission and where we came from. We cannot lose sight of why we are here. We are here to serve our community. The values we identify behind every action we make include community, ownership, respect, empowerment, integrity and quality.

4. What insight/advice would you offer to your younger self, if you could?

It is important to find mentors and be a mentor. Sometimes we cannot see our own strengths, but others can, making mentorship a powerful tool in anyone’s early career. There were moments in my career where I was scared or worried about what others would think, but my mentors helped me navigate complex problems and challenge myself to become a better leader.