Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

"Founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy and educational outreach institution in the United States." "The man who brought it together was Pete Tijerina." In 1968 "The Ford Foundation had decided to grant to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund a sum of $2.2 million to be spent over five years on civil rights legal work for Mexican Americans; $250,000 of the grant was to go for scholarships to Chicano law students. The board was dumbfounded. Ford had given them over twice what they had asked for. Greenberg pledged support from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and both Pincus and Greenberg were given standing ovation."

Leadership
Source
 * John Trasvina, President and General Counsel
 * Gina Montoya, Chief Administrative Officer
 * Araceli Simeon-Luna, National Parent School Partnership Director
 * Ricardo Meza, Midwest Regional Counsel
 * Nina Perales, Regional Counsel - San Antonio Office
 * Cynthia A. Valenzuela, Director of Litigation - Los Angeles
 * Etelvina De La Torre, National Director of Development
 * Peter A. Zamora, Washington, D.C. Regional Counsel

Contact

 * Web: http://www.maldef.org

Related SourceWatch

 * Antonia Hernandez - former president and general counsel
 * Luis G. Nogales - former chair
 * Frank Quevedo - Chair
 * Southwest Council of La Raza
 * Diana Campoamor - former board member