Our Mission
The mission of the Chicano Federation is to create and promote empowering opportunities
for our community.
Our Vision
Our Communities will be engaged and lead self-sufficient and fulfilling lives.
Who We Are
At The Chicano Federation of San Diego County, we are volunteers, employees, partners,
donors and friends who believe in one thing...opportunity.
This is the heart of The Chicano Federation - people helping people.
We approach our commitment to this goal with the highest level of responsibility,
professionalism and integrity, and focus on what matters most - the thousands of
individuals and families who turn to us for assistance every day.
The Chicano Federation is one of San Diego's leading social services agencies providing
child education, economic development, foster care, health and nutrition, and housing
programs to more than 10,000 San Diegans a year.
Through our work, we strive to improve the quality of life for men, women and children
of all walks of life, no matter their ethnicity or age.
Chicano Federation Leadership
Vic Salazar/ Interim Executive
Vic Salazar was named Interim Executive by the Board of Directors of Chicano Federation
in January, 2012. He served as Board Chairman in 2011 and joined the Board in 2009.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies from the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA). He founded Vic Salazar Communications, a Public Relations firm,
in 2008.
Vic's experience also includes nearly three decades as a journalist, including 20
years as a multiple Emmy award-winning television news anchor at NBC 7 and KGTV10.
Recognizing the positive influence volunteers make in a community, Vic serves on
the Board of Directors of the U.S.S. Midway Museum and Bruins at C-Level. In addition,
he volunteers for Valhalla High School's Women's Water Polo and Swim and Dive programs
along with Heartland Swim Association.
If there is any spare time in his life, he can be found at Cottonwood Golf Club.
Pam Portillo/ VP of Housing and Community Development
Pam Portillo
Pamela Portillo has been the Vice-President of Housing and Community Development
at Chicano Federation for 20 years. Her past experience in the public sector includes
working with the City of Chula Vista as a housing element consultant and with the
Housing Authority in Northern California.
Pamela holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Planning from University of California,
Santa Cruz (UCSC) and Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA). She belongs to the San Diego Association of Realtors and the
San Diego Housing Federation.
On her time away from work, Pamela enjoys travelling abroad and practicing yoga
daily. She loves to read books from authors who write about their personal adventures
with food and culture.
Our History
The Chicano Federation of San Diego County was established in 1969 by a group of
civil rights advocates. For the first 20 years the organization worked as an advocate
for Latino recognition, challenging Latino stereotyping, defending neighborhoods
and culture, and promoting voter registration and civic participation. The Federation
was successful in many important policy decisions, resulting in changes in local
attitudes and policies.
By the 1990's, The Chicano Federation expanded its mission to create empowering
opportunities for people in San Diego County. During this time, housing, childcare
and senior services initiatives came to fruition.
Today, the Chicano Federation has a budget of over $16 million, and serves more
than 10,000 people a year, 7,000 of them children enrolled in child education and
nutrition programs. More recently, the Federation added a Health component to its
programs when it was awarded a federal grant for HIV/ AIDS research and outreach.
In 2010, the organization "adopted" La Cuna, a foster care program that serves infants
and toddlers who need safe and loving homes.