Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC), one of the nation’s largest Latino nonprofits, marked nearly six decades of advocacy with its 56th Anniversary Celebration on October 3 in Phoenix. The event honored two trailblazing community leaders—Mary Rose Wilcox and Jim Shee—whose work has left a lasting mark on Arizona’s cultural and civic landscape.
Mary Rose Wilcox received the Legacy for Change Award, which recognizes leaders whose lifetime of service has created enduring, generational impact. From her early activism to breaking barriers as the first Latina to serve on both the Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Wilcox has been a steadfast advocate for civil rights and public service.
Jim Shee was honored with the Cause for Change Award, which celebrates individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the Latino community. As founder of the Phoenix Asian-Hispanic Alliance and co-founder of the Asian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, Shee’s career has been defined by building bridges across cultures and advancing civic leadership.
“Advocacy and community building have always been at the heart of our work at Chicanos Por La Causa,” said Alicia Nuñez, President & CEO of CPLC. “Mary Rose Wilcox and Jim Shee’s efforts unified Arizona’s community collaboration.”
Founded in 1969 to fight discrimination against Mexican Americans, CPLC has grown into a powerful force for change, offering more than 30 programs across health, housing, education, economic development, and advocacy. Today, CPLC operates in six states and impacts nearly one million lives annually.
With nearly 60 years of service behind them, CPLC’s anniversary event was not only a celebration of the past, but also a reminder of the organization’s ongoing commitment to building a more equitable future.
