Consejo Nacional
Dra. Vanessa Bustamante
Chair
Dear Comrades,
My name is Vanessa Bustamante, and I am the Chair of the Partido Nacional de la Raza Unida. For the past two years, I have had the privilege of serving as the Vice Chair for the Consejo Nacional. During my time, I have witnessed the dedication and passion of activists in our shared mission to promote political self-determination in our community. It has been an honor to work alongside you all in reinvigorating PNLRU and driving the causa forward.
In my capacity as Vice Chair, I took the initiative to re-ignite the Xicana/x Caucus, recognizing the importance of empowering and amplifying the voices of Xicana/e’s within our party to serve as mentors and leaders to the community by offering open workshops. Through this effort, we have fostered a space for shared experiences and solidarity, working collaboratively to address the unique challenges faced by Xicana/e’s in our community. Furthermore, I have been leading efforts to encourage more women and Queer folks in our community to take on leadership positions and get actively involved in PNLRU. Inclusive representation is vital to our success, and I am committed to creating an inclusive and empowering environment for the Xicane nation. Additionally, I believe I encompass traits of being bold, outspoken, and organized, which were exemplified at this year’s NACCS conference, where I was able to lead and organize Partido and Brown Beret members to take a stand against elitist systems that further marginalize our raza; traits I feel are important to encompass as Chair. Building on the foundations of the rich history of PNLRU is of importance and standing behind what we preach is imperative and feel that it is time the Partido votes in their first Queer Xicana Chair.
As an enthusiastic member in good standing, I hereby declare my intention to run for the Chair position. This year’s election marks a significant moment in the Partido’s journey and I am committed to contributing my expertise, experience, and continued dedication to serving in a new capacity.
In addition to my involvement with PNLRU, I am also deeply engaged in community work through my public presence as Homegirl Doctora, a platform where I contribute my skills and knowledge to uplift and empower the Xicana/o/e community and promote involvement in PNLRU. My experiences in this capacity have further solidified my commitment to political empowerment and the tireless pursuit of justice for our community.
I am enthusiastic about the prospect of collaborating with all of you for another 2 years to advance our shared vision of strengthening political power within our community. Together, we can continue making a meaningful impact and paving the way for a more equitable and just future for our barrios. In unity and solidarity, Vanessa Marie Bustamante, Ed.D.
Ernesto Ayala
Vice Chair
Dear Companeras y Companeros,
My name is Ernesto Ayala. I am currently the Vice Chair for the Partido Nacional. I recently served as your Chair for the Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida, the political organization of our people. When I was elected as Chair of the Partido in 2020 my purpose was not personal “power”, I was honored and I believe my lifelong trajectory spoke for itself. Again I am humbly honored to have my sisters and brothers from the Partido have the confidence in me to lead (in reality be the face) of the Partido for the past three years. There are sisters and brothers that I believe have shown they are committed to the Partido, its cause and principles and all the history it encompasses. It is for this reason that I want to open up the seat of Chair.
The Partido has guided me throughout my life and it is what I am dedicated to seeing through for the entirety of it. I have seen the Partido through several of its phases from the 1980’s on up. My own father served as chair for a great portion of my life as well. I have seen several organizations come and go and the Partido and its core leadership and membership remain committed to our people achieving Liberation and Self Determination no matter how long it takes even if they themselves do not see it through physically. I am dedicated to this project and want to see other compas be able to exercise their own leadership and organizational qualities and grow with the Partido. Where they and you and all of us belong.
Que Viva El Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida! Que Viva Aztlan Libre y Socialista! C/S
Ernesto Ayala PNLRU Chair
Ernesto Mireles MSW, Ph.d.
Secretary
Greetings Comrades:
My name is Ernesto Todd Mireles, and I am the National Secretary of the Partido Nacional de la Raza Unida, a position I have held since 2020. I am an educator, organizer, filmmaker, and award-winning author with a passion for Xicano community engagement and social justice. I am also very proud of my educational achievements. I have a Bachelors of Journalism, Masters of Social Work, and Ph.D. in American Studies, all from Michigan State University.
Throughout my three-decade-long career in the Xicano movement, I have been deeply involved as a student organizer with Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan, various community organizations like the Xicano Development Center in Detroit, and the Brown Berets. I have also worked with several different unions and served as an electoral organizer for various candidates. Currently, I am a faculty member in Northern Arizona University’s Ethnic Studies department.
My dedication to social causes is evident through my past roles as the coordinator of the Frantz Fanon Community Strategy Center and co-creator of the Masters Social Justice Community Organizing program at Prescott College. Moreover, I am honored to chair MeXicanos 2070, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Xicano culture. In September 2020, I launched the Colegio Chicano del Pueblo, a free online Xicano Studies program.
As an author, my book “Insurgent Aztlan: the Liberating Power of Cultural Resistance” received the 2020 International Latino Book Award in the Best Political/Current Affairs category. Additionally, I engage in important discussions as the host of “The Reality Dysfunction” podcast. In the field of filmmaking, I have completed two documentaries focused on Xicana/o/x student organizing titled “War of the Flea: Fight for Xicano Studies” and “An Evening with Grito Serpentino.”
Currently, I am working on my second book, “Yaoxochitl (flower battle): a Xicano theory of war,” which aims to contribute significantly to our understanding of Xicano politics and its unique challenges.
As a consultant on political campaigns, I have been involved in helping candidates understand the issues particular to the Xicano/Latino community in the Midwest and developing educational materials needed to increase voter turnout and participation in key elections.
As the first executive director of the Xicano Development Center (1997), which was a political education and organizing center in the barrio of southwest Detroit, I have also worked as a public action manager for the United Farm Workers, an organizer for the United Steelworkers, and the American Federation of Teachers. I have presented across the country on community organizing and how to build successful community campaigns. I have tried to remain within a disciplined approach of working with Xicano communities to achieve their desired goals, beginning my organizing work around issues of education, gentrification, and police brutality
Over the past few years working as the National Secretary I have accomplished a number of organizational milestones: established a bank account for the Partido, enacted a dues paying system, acquired both a zoom account and canva account dedicated to party business. I have participated in and helped lead the MST study group and have help on the central committee level in planning the educational curriculum for the study groups. I have helped lead the planning for the Denver and Albuquerque Congreso working with party members to rewrite the constitution, parts of the bylaws and platform positions. Along with Dr. Teofilo Reyes I initiated a four year research project on behalf of the Partido that held national focus groups in 2021, a national survey on Xicana/o/x political mobilization in 2022, that is the foundation for launching a national plebiscite at the 2023 Albuquerque Congeso that will culminate in 2024 during a month of online voting.
Aside from my professional and movement pursuits, I cherish my role as son, sibling, husband and father. I am the oldest of five children and have four children of my own, two boys (Ernesto and Clinton) and two girls (Olivia and Leona). I have spent most of my life in Lansing, MI., and lived in Detroit for about five years before moving to Arizona 10 years ago. My wife, Jessica, is Anishinabe (Three Fires Ojibwe), with her family originally from the Aajimong Reserve near Sarnia, Canada, across the St. Clair River from Port Huron, where she grew up. We are committed to our Xicano/Indigenous community and share a passion for making positive contributions to society. In our local community we have served for many years on our school district’s Native American Parents Council helping to direct federal monies designated for Native American student education.
With a proven track record of dedication, experience, and achievement going back over 30 years, I am eager to continue my role as National Secretary and work toward advancing the goals and values of the Partido Nacional de la Raza Unida. Together, we can create a better future for our community and make a lasting impact on the world.