Marc Chavez
InterTribal Youth,
Director and Founder

Marc Chavez, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California of Mexican-American Indian (Purapecha/Tarasco) descent. Chavez graduated from the University of California, San Diego with degrees in Communication, “Third World” Studies and Research in Community Educational Linkages. Chavez has 15 years experience in higher education, community linkages, and tourism. A spiritual calling and personal journey first carried him through Mexico and Central America.

Chavez led overland cultural eco-tours from Mexico to Costa Rica before choosing to locate in Panama to begin volunteer work in 1998. He began assisting a small community with adult education and youth cultural education programs. Before the big push of tourism, Chavez consulted with families and potential small business owners on the advance of tourism, land acquisition and the importance of holding ground in the new global community, economy.

In 2000, Chavez Founded Young Native Scholars and www.InterTribalYouth.org in California, developing a working model for community and institutional education. The successful program has aimed to “indigenize education” and has been nationally recognized as “the holistic approach to education”. Youth and mentors from across North America attend various national and international summer, spring programs. In its 10th year, Chavez links young people to top universities and professionals, creating mentorship, vision, and healthy learning environments. The goal is to enhance knowledge of technology, culture, health, environmental science and self-sustainability.

Chavez served 4 years on the Board of Directors at the WorldBeat Cultural Center (WorldBeatCenter.org) in world-famous Balboa Park, San Diego. Working as Assistant Director of Media and International Relations. Chavez assisted with infrastructure, proposals and Indigenous cultural productions in Mexico, Peru and the Caribbean. Chavez also worked two years as curator for the San Diego cultural organization “Centro Cultural de La Raza”, assisting in major art exhibits, U.S.-Mexico relations, music, dance and theater productions.

Chavez’ labor of love is the design of an exemplary model for travel education, healing projects, enterprise and sustainability for indigenous communities of the Americas. He works with various tribes and communities of Panama in realizing an upfull, brighter future. Chavez initiated an annual Tribal Youth cultural exchange between youth in the U.S. and Panama in 2004. In November 2008, Chavez and InterTribal Youth/ The BRIDGE began working with UNICEF-Panama and CONAMUIP (Coordinadora Nacional Mujeres Indigenas Panama) to implement “Embajadores de Salud, Jovenes InterTribal Panana (ES JIP). Urban indigenous youth are trained to be peer advocates in health prevention and the group tours various Reservation Comarcas with presentations and a positive message. Chavez believes Panama is a cradle of life that bears the seedlings and vital groundation for our future. Natural pristine locations and the livity of Panama embrace the spirit, mind, body and soul.

Chavez remains inspired by his 7 year-old daughter, Amaya Xochi, who has Cerebral Palsy- Quadriplegia, Blindness. She is a guide in life and a motivator to youth and adults alike. Chavez is currently an elementary student of Embera (native tribe of Darien, Panama) traditional medicine and has learned that cures exist for the ills that are destroying families and generations. Chavez believes people need to keep hope and faith pure, fresh.

mchavez@intertribalyouth.org
011-507-6520-5737