Cecilia Munoz

Cecilia Muñoz (Born 1962)

"Whether fighting immigration legislation or testifying before Congress, Cecilia Muñoz has been an intense, prominent voice on behalf of Hispanic American rights. As vice president for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), a nonprofit organization established to improve opportunities for Hispanics, she oversees all legislative activities that cover issues of great importance to Hispanic Americans. Colleagues call her "a ferocious advocate."

"Muñoz attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and completed her undergraduate degrees in English and Latin studies in 1984... Following graduation, Muñoz continued her education at the University of California at Berkeley, where she obtained her master's degree.

"Muñoz moved from California to Chicago to work for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago as head of the Legalization Outreach Program for Catholic Charities. Following the 1986 enactment by President Ronald Reagan of the Immigration Reform and Control Act—an amnesty program that allowed undocumented immigrants who met certain criteria (such as having lived continuously in the United States) to become legal U.S. residents—Muñoz helped more than five thousand immigrants obtain legal citizenship in the United States. Working double-digit hours, she operated 12 field offices throughout metropolitan Chicago, an intense experience. The racism and sexism she confronted in her job gave her greater empathy in working with immigrants.“


 * Director, Center for Community Change
 * Director, Washington Office on Latin America
 * Member, Human Rights Watch U.S. Advisory Committee