I was born in San Diego . As a young boy at the time of the civil rights movement, I grew up amongst the rallies of the United Farm Workers(UFW)  listening to Cesar Chavez while I was playing marbles.

At the age of twelve I drove my bike 17 miles from my barrio in San Ysidro to San Diego’s Logan Height to witness the take over by the community of a little piece of land that today is known as Chicano Park, it was from this experience that my love for activism and social justice causes was born.

I have lived and work as a community organizer at the US-Mexico border practically all my life, I work for Via International a non-profit community based grass-roots organization working at the US-Mexico border since 1974, I have been involved with Via International for over thirty five years.

I coordinate and implement community development projects and am responsible for developing and training leadership skills to person in marginal areas of the cities of Tijuana and San Diego. I oversee and assist in developing human potential with Promotoras or outreach workers who volunteer their time for service, they are eager to learn how to better serve their communities. I also coordinate the Global Education Program for Via International which brings attention to the reality of the U.S-Mexico border to students from all over the U.S.