NCLR Applauds Appointment of Raul Yzaguirre as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic

NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, today strongly applauded the appointment of Raul Yzaguirre, President Emeritus of NCLR, as the next United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

“Raul Yzaguirre has dedicated his life to public service and the quest for equality. His legacy has inspired generations of Hispanics to use our collective voice to advocate for positive change,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “While primarily known for his work on domestic policy, Raul has always recognized the interdependence among nations and peoples across the globe. I am confident that, given his deep love for this country and record of service, he will be a strong and effective representative of this great nation.”

Throughout his illustrious career, Yzaguirre has worked to promote the advancement of the Latino community. After becoming head of NCLR in 1974, Yzaguirre transformed a fledging grassroots organization into the nation’s most influential Hispanic institution, earning countless awards along the way. Prior to joining NCLR, Yzaguirre was a civil rights leader, served in the United States Air Force, was a program officer in the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity under Sargent Shriver, founded one of the most successful Latino-owned consulting firms in the nation’s capital, and was a vice president at the Center for Community Change. After three decades at the helm of NCLR, Yzaguirre currently serves as Presidential Professor of Practice at the Center on Community Development and Civil Rights at Arizona State University.

Noting that Yzaguirre is the first Hispanic American in U.S. history to serve in this post, Murguia concluded, “We commend the Obama administration on this historic appointment.””

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