IRMA R. MUÑOZ

Biography

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Irma is one of Josemaria and Josefina Munoz’s seven daughters.  She was brought up in a home with strong family values, an unwavering commitment to education and a deep respect for their Mexican heritage and cultural traditions.

As a young girl, her father once told her that she should use her smarts and energy to help the community so that he could read about her in the newspaper.  He said, “Don’t just focus on reading history but also on making history."  Irma listened to his advice and has since worked on accomplishing it. 

As a result, she creates opportunities for community participation and action in her professional and volunteer work.  She figures out a way to engage community so that they become involved stakeholders and advocates.

Her work history is multi-dimensional that includes positions with San Diego State University’s Housing Office, Chief of Staff to a senior ranking state legislator, Public Relations and Community Affairs Executive with Centre City Development Corporation, a Presidential Appointee with the Clinton Administration and  Senior Manager with the Los Angeles-based environmental organization-TreePeople.

Some of her accomplishments during her tenure in these positions include the creation of the first small business incubator in Southern California, the naming of a highway in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, the first ever AIDS organization focused on families and children of color, the development of a national small business partnership program between a federal agency and over 500 state and national Hispanic organizations and the development of a corporate branding campaign designed to launch at the grassroots community level.

Her proudest achievement is the founding of the environmental non profit-Mujeres de la Tierra-a social action community organization in Los Angeles that works with families to better their lives by enhancing their neighborhoods and strengthening community life.

Mujeres de la Tierra has worked on a variety of community projects including:  the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, the development of Mariposa Gibson Park in El Monte, CA, and the degradation of community health due to oil wells in Baldwin Hills.

Irma Muñoz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

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