Staff at LUPE

LUPE staff

We are currently making updates to this page. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please use the chat and we will get back to you during regular business hours.

alton Office

Marco Lopez, Community Organizer

Born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Marco migrated to the US at a young age. He graduated with a BS in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M. In college, he organized protests against the Iraq War and for in-state tuition for Undocumented Aggies. Post college, he assisted with several labor campaigns that included harassment, wage theft, and pickets as a delegate for the IWW. At LUPE, he uses his talents to better our local communities.

Elizabeth Rodriguez Marquez, Community Organizer

Elizabeth Rodriguez Marquez is an RGV native, born in the rural neighborhoods outside the city limits. Raised by a family of dedicated farmworkers. Influenced by her own experience, Elizabeth now dedicates her time to improve the lives of the families living in her community, and to give access to resources the rural families need the most. Elizabeth graduated from UTRGV with a Bachelors in Social Work and she invites you to come and learn more about LUPE and how we can help you.

Kayla Montaño, community organizer

Kayla Montaño was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Graduated from UT Pan American with a bachelor’s degree. Kayla has been part of the team at La Union del Pueblo Entero. She started as a teacher helping the community learn English and prepare to become U.S. citizens and now works as a Community Outreach Specialist. Kayla enjoys what she is currently doing because she is able to help families obtain access to health services.

Lupita Negrete, Receptionist

Hilda Patiño, Office Manager & Social Services Provider

Francisca Quintanilla, Community Organizer

Natali Rocha, Data Entry Clerk

Mercedes Office

Yadira Gonzalez, Community Organizer

Sergio treviño, digital organizer

Pharr Office

Virginia Lopez, Custodian

Humberto Padilla, Videographer

Humberto was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas and grew up in Brownsville, Texas. Humberto attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in Radio-Television-Film & minored in Spanish Language and Culture. During college, Humberto was part of different non-profits and organizations focused on providing education to minorities in Austin. After graduation, he returned to the Rio Grande Valley to enter the workforce and continue helping those in need. He now works at LUPE as a Videographer & Video Producer and is happy to capture LUPE's efforts and victories on video.

Dani Marrero Hi, Director of Advocacy and Communications

John-Michael Torres, Communications Coordinator

From Mission, Texas, John-Michael attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he got involved with the Student/Farmworker Alliance. After graduating, he returned home and joined local organizing efforts for farmworker rights and against corporate-led globalization. He now works as LUPE’s Communications Coordinator and is happy to add his granito de arena to the struggle for justice in RGV colonias.

Rio Grande City Office

Edgar Navejar, M.A., Office Manager & Social Services Provider

Edgar Navejar was born in Mission, Texas and a proud Valley born and bred. He graduated from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley with a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology in 2017 and earned an M.A. in Political Science in 2020. Edgar currently works as a Social Services Provider in Rio Grande City and always strives to assist underserved communities in his capacity and is ecstatic to achieve this goal by working at LUPE.

san benito Office

Katia Garza Quijano, Community Organizer

Juana Medina, Custodian

Esperanza Vidal, Social Services Provider

San Juan Office

Blanca Alcaraz, Community Organizer

Marcela Alejandre, Community Organizer

David Ayala, Attorney

Maria Campos Sanchez, Maintenance

Luis Castillo, Education Program Coordinator

San Juanita Castillo, Membership Clerk

Tania Chavez, m.B.A, M.A., Executive Director & president

Tania Chavez is an Immigration and Civil Rights advocate in the Rio Grande Valley.
Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Tania Chavez at the age of eight moved to Reynosa, Tamaulipas where her parents started a business that has been the source of income for her family. Tania arrived at McAllen, Texas at age 14 as an undocumented immigrant. Chavez graduated as a member of the National Honor Society from McAllen High School. As an undocumented student and beneficiary of the Texas DREAM Act, Tania obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance, a master’s in business administration and a master’s in communication studies from the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA).

Tania’s story was first published in 2010 when she lived in the shadows as Camila in the scholarly article Understanding and Supporting Undocumented Students. Since committing to storytelling as a way of changing the hearts of the public about immigration policy, Chavez’s story has been published in the book Dreamers: An Immigrant Generation's Fight for Their American Dream, the documentary America Divided: Out of Reach, and other news articles including Trapped in Texas: Tens of thousands of immigrants are stuck in the borderlands. As the first DREMer in the RGV to share her story on national outlets like CNN, MSNBC, Politico and others, Chavez’s story and work have helped paved the way for undocumented DREAMers to become advocates of the immigrant movement in their community.

Tania arrived at La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) in 2012 as a Youth Organizer & Service Provider, with the hope of harnessing the talents, abilities, and determination of RGV youth. She continues to consult for LUPE as a strategist by finding funding sources and implementing plans of action for the long-term sustainability of the organization. Tania is determined to continue the fight for immigration relief of 11 million undocumented immigrants. Tania has served in multiple roles at LUPE, Youth Organizer, Special Project Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator, Strategist, and most recently Director of Management Analysis where she works on finding funding sources and supports long-term sustainability strategy efforts for LUPE and all affiliate organizations.

Melissa Compean, Social Services Provider

Jorge Garza, Director of Finance

Joaquin Garcia, Director of Organizing

Joaquin was born in Rio Grande City, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M International University in 2013 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. During college, Joaquin was part of CAMP, a program that helped migrant college students with their first year of college. Also, he participated in a study abroad program that took him to several Latin American countries where he observed the needs their communities had. Joaquin joined the Peace Corps after college and lived in the Dominican Republic for 2 years where he served as a health promoter in a rural community. He is excited to work for LUPE and looks forward to making the Rio Grande Valley a better place for its residents.

Sareth Garcia, Community Organizer

Cristela Rocha, Community organizer

Karina Hernandez, Receptionist

Maricela Martinez, Social Services Coordinator

Linda Y. mercado, administrative assistant - Accounting

Linda joined LUPE in September 2018. She is from Edinburg but lived outside of the Rio Grande Valley for many years while gaining her multi-faceted work experience. Linda provides administrative support to the entire team at LUPE where she is able to utilize her extensive skillset in the world of non-profit. Outside of the office, Linda is unapologetic about her love of books, singing, CrossFit, cats, and most of all, her family.

Jesus Montalvo, Data Management

Jesus Montalvo was born in San Benito, TX. Graduated with an Associates Degree in Business Administration Management. He is a proud father or 5 children. Jesus joined the LUPE team in March of 2018 and he has been taking mobile clinics and healthcare outreach to low-income families. Besides fishing spending time with family. Jesus loves working at LUPE and making an impact in the community serving Latinos.

Rafaela Quirino, Social services provider

Felix Rivera, Paralegal

nancy rodriguez, social services provider

Letty Sanchez, Facilities/Grounds Maintenance

Luisa Silguero, Custodian

maria trujillo, social services provider

Michelle Virgen, Legal Assistant