Tag Archives: Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council

Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) to present inaugural Nuestra Comunidad Community Recognition Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 13. Reservations now open

FLAGSTAFF— The public is invited to attend the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council’s (CHAC) inaugural Nuestra Comunidad Community Recognition Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 at American Legion Post 3, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff. Doors open at 6:45 a.m.

The celebration includes guest speakers, community and veterans award presentations and entertainment.

Bring your handouts for our Community Information Table!

An optional breakfast is available for $15 per person with reservations by Monday, Nov. 2, $20 thereafter. Make reservations by going to https://square.link/u/N6fzznSc

Contact diversity.councils@coconino.az.gov or visit https://coconinochac.org for more information.

About CHAC: Established in 2001 by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC*) serves as an official liaison and communications link between the Hispanic/Latino community and Coconino County.

The council usually meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month. All meetings are open to the public.

*CHAC — The Mayan god of rain, fertility and all good things

Coconino County approves proclamation ‘Celebrating and Honoring the Life of Dr. Miguel Vasquez.’ Celebration of Life events to be held on Nov. 3

Celebration of Life for Professor Emeritus Miguel Vasquez to be held on Nov. 3 at NAU

By AmigosNAZ.com

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors officially approved a proclamation on Oct. 15, 2024 “Celebrating and Honoring the Life of Dr. Miguel Vasquez,” who passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Photo by Frank X. Moraga / www.AmigosNAZ.com
 Click above for larger image.

“WHEREAS, Coconino County and the communities within lost a cultural leader, mentor, and teacher on October 6, 2024 with the passing of Dr. Miguel Vasquez …” according to the opening of the proclamation read by the brother of Miguel Vasquez, David Vasquez.

According to a biography on the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) website…

Vasquez Ph.D, Professor of Anthropology (Emeritus) Northern Arizona, was a founding member of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC).

A native of San Francisco, he recently retired as an applied anthropologist who worked with Latino, Mayan, Native American, African American, and disabled adult communities for almost 50 years. He was recognized as an NAU President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow. In his 32 years at NAU, he taught nearly 12,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, according to his biography on the county’s CHAC website.

With extensive experience working with farmworkers in California, the Hopi Tribe here in Arizona, in Mayan communities in Guatemala and Mexico, and as consultant with the U.S. Department of Health &Human Services, he provided valuable cultural insights and technical assistance in community engagement, asset based community development, and program assessment.

He was a contributor to the World Health Organization Spanish-Language Manual on Disabilities, a past Board Member of the Society for Applied Anthropology, the Flagstaff Unified School District and the Museum of Northern Arizona.

He was married for more than 45 years to Marina Vasquez, a Mayan elder (now retired) with the NAU Native American Cultural Center. They have 2 sons, (District 2 Supervisor) Jeronimo and Francisco Vasquez, and 7 wonderful grandchildren.

SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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Celebration of Life for Professor Emeritus Miguel Vasquez to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 at the duBois Center, Aspen Rooms A-B-C, Northern Arizona University.

There will be music, food, and dancing to celebrate Dr. Vasquez’s legacy.

A GoFundMe account has been created to establish a memorial scholarship at NAU.

Please visit: https://gofund.me/0afc7f2f

David Vasquez, above and below, reads the proclamation. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / http://www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2024
 Current CHAC Chair Patty Garcia, left, looks on as former CHAC Chair Ruth Eaton talks about the contributions of Miguel Vasquez to the organization and the community. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / http://www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2024
 Killip Principal Joe Gutierrez wishes his condolences to the family of Miguel Vastest and talks about his educational contributions to the school and the local community. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / http://www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2024
District 2 Supervisor talks about his father Dr. Miguel Vasquez and thanks community members and the Board of Supervisors for their support. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / http://www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2024
 Family, friends and community leaders gather for a group photo following the approval of the proclamation. Photo courtesy Coconino County.
Photo courtesy Richard Eaton.

Coconino County Board of Supervisors to read proclamation at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 honoring life of CHAC founding member Miguel Vasquez

Courtesy photo.

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will read a proclamation at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 honoring life of Miguel Vasquez, who passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Vasquez Ph.D, Professor of Anthropology (Emeritus) Northern Arizona, was a founding member of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC).

A native of San Francisco, he recently retired as an applied anthropologist who worked with Latino, Mayan, Native American, African American, and disabled adult communities for almost 50 years. He was recognized as an NAU President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow. In his 32 years at NAU, he taught nearly 12,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, according to his biography on the county’s CHAC website.

With extensive experience working with farmworkers in California, the Hopi Tribe here in Arizona, in Mayan communities in Guatemala and Mexico, and as consultant with the U.S. Department of Health &Human Services, he provided valuable cultural insights and technical assistance in community engagement, asset based community development, and program assessment.

He was a contributor to the World Health Organization Spanish-Language Manual on Disabilities, a past Board Member of the Society for Applied Anthropology, the Flagstaff Unified School District and the Museum of Northern Arizona.

He was married for more than 45 years to Marina Vasquez, a Mayan elder (now retired) with the NAU Native American Cultural Center. They have 2 sons, (District 2 Supervisor) Jeronimo and Francisco Vasquez, and 7 wonderful grandchildren.

***

Also see community comments about Miguel Vasquez here at the Mayan Winds Flagstaff Coffee Shop Facebook page.

Photo courtesy Robert Neustadt, Professor of Spanish (On sabbatical, 2023-2024) Dept. of Global Languages and Cultures, Northern Arizona University.
Miguel Vasquez, center, celebrates the 2023 Flagstaff 4th of July Parade. Photo by http://www.AmigosNAZ.com
Miguel Vasquez, top left, at the January 2023 CHAC retreat. Photo by http://www.AmigosNAZ.com
Miguel Vasquez with Jeronimo Vasquez at the Grand Canyon in November 2022. Photo courtesy office of District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez.
Miguel Vasquez and family at the October 2022 Celebraciones de la Gente at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Photo courtesy office of District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez.
Miguel Vasquez, speaks about the steps in creating a healthier community during the Hermosa Vida program held May 12, 2010 in Flagstaff. Photo by http://www.AmigosNAZ.com

CHAC participates in Coconino County 2022 Cultural ‘Diversity Day’

The Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council took part in Coconino County’s Cultural “Diversity Day” held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at the Coconino County Superior Courthouse Lawn. CHAC members participating included Dani Donaldson of Northern Arizona University, Frank X. Moraga of www.AmigosNAZ.com and Esteban Villarreal of Coconino County.

A variety of other organizations and county departments participated in the annual event including the African Diaspora Advisory Council and the Indigenous Peoples Council.

The event was part of Coconino County Diversity Week: June 20 through June 24, 2022.

CHAC NOW ON INSTAGRAM

The Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) can now be found on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coconino_chac/

 

Initial postings include:

A Mi Gente Mondays profile on Delia Munoz, winner of the 2020 Al Merito Award, which was established in 1973 to to recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions and serve as role models for preserving Arizona’s rich history. Visit our Instagram site for more information.

A Mi Gente Mondays profile on J Michael Cruz, a member of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC). Michael is an applied sociologist who currently works as the Director of Operations for Native Americans for Community Action- a local nonprofit providing medical and behavioral health care and social support services for any member of the local community in need. He is a third-generation Mexican American from Texas, having moved to Flagstaff in late 2018. Visit our Instagram site for more information.

An update on the Sept. 30, 2020 deadline to complete the U.S. Completing the 2020 Census has an impact on our community. The U.S. Census Bureau is committed and legally responsible to keep the information provided by the public private and secure. You can complete the census online at https://2020census.gov/

More news and information to come so keep checking our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/coconino_chac/