Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva is serving his 5th term in Congress, and is our 2011 Community Change Champion honoree in public service.

A native of Tucson, Arizona and son of a bracero, Raúl has been advocating for his community’s needs for more than 30 years. Before entering Congress, Raúl served as Pima County Supervisor and Tucson Unified School District Board member, where he rose to chairman of both bodies. His political career stemmed from his advocacy during the Chicano Movement, striving to ensure that parks, health centers, and schools were accessible and in locations to serve all members of the community.

Raúl serves on the Education and Labor Committee and Committee on Natural Resources. He was recently elected as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where his work prioritizes reinvesting in community infrastructure in the United States, our public education system, an alternative energy green jobs creation initiative, equity in education, and pursuing comprehensive, humane immigration reform.

Raúl, his wife Ramona and three daughters Adelita, Raquel and Marisa, have a family dedication and lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life in the community.

To learn more about Raúl and the other recipients of the 2011 Community Change Champion Awards, visit ChangeAwards.org.