About CPLC Action Fund Executive Director Joseph Garcia
13th Aug 2020
Joseph Garcia is Executive Director of the CPLC Action Fund, a 501(c)4 nonprofit advocacy organization, and Director of Public Policy at Chicanos Por La Causa, a 501(c)3 nonprofit social services organization.
Prior to joining CPLC in November 2019, Garcia was Director of Communication and Community Impact at ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy. During his 10 years at Arizona State University, he was founding director of the Morrison Institute Latino Public Policy Center.
Garcia has an extensive career in journalism as an award-winning editor, reporter and columnist at The Arizona Republic, The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.), Tucson Citizen and The Associated Press. He teaches at ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Garcia often is quoted in news stories by local, regional and national media as a trusted source regarding Arizona issues related to politics and changing demographics, including recently on PBS NewsHour and The Washington Post.
Garcia is a frequent presenter of data, policy research and trends, including last August at UCLA at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Education Leadership Academy. In 2018, he testified before the Arizona Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights concerning Arizona's emerging Latino voters.
At ASU Morrison Institute, Garcia was a co-researcher, co-author, contributor or editor of its nonpartisan and data-based publications, including those related to independent voters; social and traditional media impact on elections; Arizona's emerging Latino electorate; and open primaries. In 2018 he was co-researcher and co-author of the “Arizona's Voter Crisis” report, which was part of an innovative project with Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission concerning voter education and engagement.
For his policy work on independent voters, Garcia was honored nationally by the New York City Independence Clubs in 2016. For his longstanding community impact, he was honored by Valle del Sol with the Daniel R. Ortega Jr. Public Service Award in 2018.
Garcia is a member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce DATOS Research Committee. He has served on numerous community boards, including presently as an executive board member of Arizona Children's Action Alliance and a board member on the Arizona Educational Foundation.
He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Arizona and his master's degree at ASU. Garcia is familiar with the state’s unique regional challenges and opportunities, having lived many years in Flagstaff, Tucson and Phoenix area.