Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) celebrated its 56th Anniversary Celebration on October 3, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, honoring two extraordinary community leaders whose lifelong dedication to civil rights and advocacy has strengthened Arizona’s diverse communities. This year, CPLC will honor Mary Rose Wilcox with the Legacy for Change Award and Jim Shee with the Cause for Change Award for their decades of service working towards a better tomorrow.
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“Advocacy and community building have always been at the heart of our work at Chicanos Por La Causa. We are stronger when we work together. Mary Rose Wilcox and Jim Shee’s efforts unified Arizona’s community collaboration,” said Alicia Nuñez, President and CEO of CPLC.
The Legacy for Change Award recognizes leaders whose lifelong commitment and body of work have created enduring, generational change. From her early activism to becoming the first Latina to serve on both the Phoenix City Council and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Mary Rose Wilcox will be honored for her impact on civil rights and public service.
The Cause for Change Award honors distinguished individuals who have made lasting contributions to the Latino community. As founder of the Phoenix Asian-Hispanic Alliance and co-founder of the Asian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, Jim Shee’s civic leadership and advocacy have built bridges across cultures.
The special celebration is presented by APS and through collaboration with HUB International, Earnhardt Ford, Rodeo Ford, Southwest Airlines, SRP, United Healthcare, and Wells Fargo.
Chicanos Por La Causa was formed in 1969 to fight discrimination against the Mexican American community and has now evolved to become one of the largest Latino nonprofits providing services to people of all backgrounds in six states. In the last year, CPLC impacted nearly 1,000,000 lives through over 30 programs in health and human services, housing, education, economic development, and advocacy.
