When I took over the NCLR (the National Council of La
Raza is a Hispanic Civil Rights and advocacy organization) in 1974, it did not have a vision or much momentum. The organization had been ‘ground zero’ for a lot of bickering and fighting that was ideological, philosophical and
geographical. However, it had the right framework and it was definitely worth saving. Initially, we had to do a ‘cleanup’ operation and restructuring––which was very necessary at the time.
I got the board of directors to think in terms of a larger operation with a goal, a vision of where we wanted to grow and develop, and to begin the practice of bringing additional talented people on board. The organization grew from that point on.
Editors Note:
Raul Yzaguirre is a Civil Rights leader and was the
President of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR),
from 1974––2004. The NCLR is the largest national Hispanic Civil Rights and advocacy organization in the
United States, helping more than 40 million Hispanics.
