Cecilia Muñoz
Encyclopedia
Cecilia Muñoz has served as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House since January 21, 2009. A longtime civil rights
advocate
, she worked as Senior 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 Hispanic Americans
, overseeing advocacy activities that cover issues of importance to illegal immigrants and minorities. In 2000, she was named a MacArthur Fellow for her work on civil rights and immigration. Muñoz was featured in several films in the documentary series How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories.
the youngest of four children. Her parents had moved to the United States
from La Paz, Bolivia, so that her father, an automotive engineer, could go to the University of Michigan
. When she was three, the family moved to Livonia
, a middle-class, predominantly white
Detroit suburb. Muñoz attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As a volunteer, she worked as a tutor to Hispanic American inmates at the state prison in nearby Jackson
. She earned undergraduate degrees in English and Latin American studies in 1984. Following graduation, Muñoz continued her education at the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a master's degree.
and Michael Camerini
. A cut of the film premiered on HBO in March 2010, under the title The Senator's Bargain.
Muñoz appeared in Mountains and Clouds, story 2 in the series How Democracy Works Now
, where she and Frank Sharry
discuss being at a potential "watershed moment" for comprehensive immigration reform, in 2001. Additionally, she was featured in Ain't the AFL for Nothin', story seven in the series where she is shown working on a proposal for immigration, in 2003.
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
, she worked as Senior Vice President for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza
National Council of La Raza
The National Council of La Raza is a non-profit and non-partisan advocacy group in the United States, focused on improving opportunities for Hispanics. It is sometimes confused with La Raza Unida...
(NCLR), a nonprofit organization established to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
, overseeing advocacy activities that cover issues of importance to illegal immigrants and minorities. In 2000, she was named a MacArthur Fellow for her work on civil rights and immigration. Muñoz was featured in several films in the documentary series How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories.
Early life and education
Muñoz was born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
the youngest of four children. Her parents had moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from La Paz, Bolivia, so that her father, an automotive engineer, could go to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. When she was three, the family moved to Livonia
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
, a middle-class, predominantly white
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
Detroit suburb. Muñoz attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. As a volunteer, she worked as a tutor to Hispanic American inmates at the state prison in nearby Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
. She earned undergraduate degrees in English and Latin American studies in 1984. Following graduation, Muñoz continued her education at the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a master's degree.
Personal
Muñoz is married to Amit Pandya, a human rights lawyer; they have two daughters.Film
She was featured in the documentary film Last Best Chance, story twelve of the series How Democracy Work Now, from filmmakers Shari RobertsonShari Robertson
Shari Robertson is an American Film Director and producer. Her filmmaking credits include Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now, Well-Founded Fear, These Girls Are Missing, Inside the Khmer Rouge, Return to Year Zero and Washington/Peru: We Ain't Winnin'. Her films have been featured on HBO, CNN,...
and Michael Camerini
Michael Camerini
Michael Camerini is a film director, producer and cinematographer. His filmmaking credits include Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now, Well-Founded Fear, These Girls Are Missing, Becoming the Buddha in L.A., Dadi's Family and Born Again: Life in a Fundamentalist Baptist Church...
. A cut of the film premiered on HBO in March 2010, under the title The Senator's Bargain.
Muñoz appeared in Mountains and Clouds, story 2 in the series How Democracy Works Now
How Democracy Works Now
How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories is a 12-part documentary film series that examines the American political system through the lens of immigration reform from 2001–2007...
, where she and Frank Sharry
Frank Sharry
Frank Sharrywas raised in West Hartford, Connecticut by anItalian-American mother and an Irish-American father. He graduated fromPrinceton University in 1978, majoring in History and American Studies....
discuss being at a potential "watershed moment" for comprehensive immigration reform, in 2001. Additionally, she was featured in Ain't the AFL for Nothin', story seven in the series where she is shown working on a proposal for immigration, in 2003.
Further reading
- "Congress Weakens Immigration Policies." Associated Press. December 1, 1997.
- Eversley, Melanie. "A Leading Authority: Detroit Native Speaks Out Proudly for Latino Issues." Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1997.
- Hayward, Brad. "Welfare Reform Has Legal Immigrants Wary." Sacramento Bee. September 4, 1996.
- "Immigrants Add $10 Billion to Economy Annually, Study Says." Washington Times. May 19, 1997.
- McDonnell, Patrick J. "Proposed Cutbacks in Aid Alarm Legal Immigrants." Los Angeles Times. July 30, 1996, p. A1.
- Navarrette, Ruben, Jr. "Groups Ask for Cuts in Immigrants." Arizona Republic. November 11, 1997.
- Sample, Herbert A. "Activists Want Food Stamps Restored to Immigrants." Orange County Register. August 22, 1997, p. A15.
- Sun, Lena H. "White House Queries Activist on Citizenship." Washington Post. March 21, 1997, p. A28.