Lydia Guzman

LULAC Women’s Commission, Far West Region Representative

Lydia currently Chairs the LULAC National Immigration Committee where she serves as an advisor to President Garcia and the national LULAC office on Immigration matters. Serving as well as a Commissioner on the National Women’s Commission representing the far westerner states. She’s held numerous leadership positions in LULAC from District Director to Arizona Deputy Director for Women.Receiving several awards like the LULAC President’s Medal of Honor, Aztec Award for Civil Rights, Dr. Del Rio Award for Latina Leadership and Women Advocacy, and the Women’s Hall of Fame inductee.

Lydia currently works for Chicanos Por La Causa as Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement. Where she’s helping community coalitions participate in political empowerment efforts like voter registration and get out the vote, census, and redistricting participation. Started her advocacy in the communities of Southern California, registering people to vote and in the early 90’s she led a program that helped over 8,000 apply for citizenship in a 3 year span post proposition 187. She led the efforts and built coalitions to take down Sheriff Joe by collecting most of the evidence and plaintiffs in the racial profiling lawsuit that ultimately stopped the civil rights violations. A book documenting these chronicles was written called “Driving While Brown” featuring her efforts.

Lydia has held positions on advisory boards with the sheriff’s department, Phoenix police (she chaired for 4 years) and the state’s DPS’s advisory board working to find resolutions and create dialogue between the community and the agencies. She sits on the Phoenix Police Disciplinary Review Board and the Use of Force Board, and she’s participated in national studies on 21 Century Policing Projects as well investigations with the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure accountability.

She’s a grandmother with a great sense of humor and loves to cook to relax.

Panel Information

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023

10:00 AM

Business | El Poder de Latinas: Business 101

Latino small businesses are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States. Join us in exploring loan programs, hearing from bank experts, and tips from Latina business owners, to begin your own path! This panel will focus on how to address the lack of financing and loans available, limited knowledge on managing business finances, and how having a business bank account can benefit small businesses.