A child of Puerto Rican parents and raised in the U.S., Juan is the Programs Director at Houston in Action, where he coordinates grassroots organisations to promote civic engagement within low-income neighbourhoods; Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities; and among young people, LGBTQIA+ people, and women, uplifting the intersections among these groups. At Houston in Action, Juan facilitates the organisation’s Voter Engagement Tables. He also coaches and trains organisations on community organising and advocacy.
Previously, Juan worked as policy and community affairs staff for local and state elected officials, most recently for Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, where he worked with residents to stop the construction of an industrial facility and created the framework for $2 million in investments in healthy food retail and services. Juan also helped found the Dallas, Texas office of Workers Defense Project, an organisation of low-wage immigrant workers fighting for better working conditions. At Workers Defense, he led a successful campaign for rest breaks for construction workers to protect themselves from dangerous heat. Juan also grew the Workers Defense’s membership base and supported the leadership of key members.
Juan earned his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Human Geography from the University of Georgia and his Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He also holds a postgraduate certificate in Social and Economic Equity from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
I am inspired by ordinary people who take extraordinary actions to challenge oppression and exclusion, often with joy! When people tell their stories, they break through shame and isolation and start turning pain into collective action. I am also inspired by leaders committed to amplifying the voices of their communities and advancing agendas for justice, equity, and love.Juan Cardoza-Oquendo