PUEBLO LEADERSHIP
Stipend: The stipend is dispensed in two installments and is meant to support Pueblo Leaders in their commitment to the program's in-person requirements.
What is pueblo leadership?
The Pueblo Leadership program is designed to foster new leaders in the Rio Grande Valley who will advocate and fight for their communities. This program, facilitated by leaders in the social justice space, brings together renowned organizers in Texas and a cohort of emerging leaders in the Rio Grande Valley. Pueblo Leadership's goal is to invest in the political leadership skills of the Valley, training the next generation's organizers, campaign managers, and public officials.
Course Curriculum
The Pueblo Leadership program curriculum is grounded in a core lecture series that will be instructed by Leticia Zavala, a part-time lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and South Texas Community College. This series will familiarize participants with key concepts related to organizing, including identity in social change, asset-mapping, and leadership coaching. Additionally, each program session will include a guest presenter that is creating measurable impact in Texas’ social justice landscape. A sample program is attached here.
Capstone
Unlike a traditional capstone project, Pueblo Leaders will use their learnings and experience from the program curriculum to play a key role in advancing LUPE Votes policy work during the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. This will occur throughout the program and will include bill research, legislative visits, and asset-mapping for community support. At the end of the program, Pueblo Leaders will present on their policy work.
throughout the program, pueblo leaders will be tasked with monitoring legislation related to policy areas lupe votes will be prioritizing in Texas' 89th Legislative Session.
"Pueblo leadership puts you on the forefront of the political issues facing the borderlands, while simultaneously arming you with the tools to face the challenges ahead."
Rogelio Gonzalez, Alumni
Leticia Nevárez Zavala
Program Lecturer
Leticia Nevárez Zavala is a Lecturer II in the Department of Sociology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she teaches in the Sociology program. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Sociology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She earned her PhD in Psychology focusing on Gender Diversity from Northcentral University. She is also credentialed and trained as a community health worker through the Texas Department of State Health Services. Her areas of research expertise are in gender, forced sterilization, eugenics, and race/ethnicity. As an applied sociologist, Dr. Nevárez Zavala aims to bridge the role of real-world issues and problems with practical sociological solutions such as community development and leadership/organization applications to empower under-served and under-represented communities.
Application Information