Orange and green legacy

“¡Sí, se puede, sí, se puede!” shouted members and staff of La Unión del Pueblo Entero outside LUPE headquarters in San Juan on Feb. 1 as they welcomed Tania A. Chavez Camacho, the new executive director and president of LUPE and LUPE Votes.

After more than 45 years of serving LUPE, Juanita Valdez-Cox, officially retired on Dec. 30. Chavez Camacho was named the new executive director on Feb. 1.

LUPE was founded by the late American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar E. Chavez in 1989 and established in the Rio Grande Valley in 2003 by Valdez-Cox with the belief that when people work together, they can effect change.

Chavez Camacho joined LUPE in 2012. Throughout her tenure, she has held different positions in the organization, such as community conscious coordinator, director of management analysis, fund development and systems strategist, among others.

“I am an immigrant from Veracruz, Mexico,” Chavez Camacho said during her welcoming event. “I am very proud to be the daughter of business parents. … My education and upbringing [was] … possible thanks to the thousands of taquitos that my mom and dad sold on the street and also to [the] many, many fritas de chicharrones. It was something they gave me so that I could get an education because they didn’t have that privilege.”

During an interview with The Rider, Chavez Camacho said UTRGV legacy institution, the University of Texas–Pan American, was “the major platform” where she learned her skill set.

“LUPE has really given me the opportunity to put into practice a lot of what I learned at the university,” she said. “When I came into LUPE … I was able to hone in on those skills. I think [that] is what allowed me to be successful here. Because I was bringing something to the table that added capacity to the work of LUPE.”

Chavez Camacho graduated from UTPA in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. She then earned a master of business administration in 2012 and a second master’s in communication.

During the welcome, Daniel Diaz, political director of LUPE and LUPE Votes, shared his experience, having known Chavez Camacho since she was hired by the organization.

“We met her as a student leader [at the Minority Affairs Council],” Diaz said. “We had the pleasure of having Tania and other young leaders on the team to … help thousands of young people apply for DACA.  … I remember at that time, DACA was announced. … [Chavez Camacho] helped thousands of youth apply for DACA. She also led outreach efforts for LUPE throughout the Valley, schools [and] communities for years.”

Chavez Camacho said her plan is to grow the organization.

“So, I think, definitely, we are looking into how we grow our political reach,” she said. “We know that the Rio Grande Valley is a community that has been underserved … in many aspects. So, I think, that’s where we want to put in work over the next few months. Just trying to take some time to briefly evaluate where we are at. Then figure out what are the … services that we will implement in order to continue to grow.”

During her time working with Valdez-Cox, Chavez Camacho felt that she was following her legacy.

“I feel that I had been mentored [by] Juanita for so many years,” she said. “It was exciting to learn that I was gonna follow those footsteps of a legacy, right? But at the same time, I was excited. Excited for what the future holds for LUPE. Excited to become the next political powerhouse in the community, not just for LUPE members, but for the entire Rio Grande Valley.”

Chavez Camacho ended her speech with a quote from civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.

 “We have won, but we are going for much more,” she said. “Our co-founder Cesar Chavez once said, ‘We have seen the future and the future is ours. Now let’s do it together. ¡Sí, se puede!’”