Latina ‘Leonas’ celebrate Chávez Rodriguez’s new post in the West Wing

On the morning of one of the most consequential decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court, overturning Roe vs. Wade, Elaine Coronado touched down in San Antonio from Washington, D.C. San Antonio is her second home and where her parents were waiting with tacos. The long-time, top-notch event planner is also co-founder of a network of Latinas called Leonas. Spanish for lionesses, the group’s 800 members nationwide advocate for equity and inclusion, especially in Washington, especially in the White House, especially in the West Wing. In spite of everything going on — including damning revelations about the insurrection coming out of the Jan. 6 select committee hearings — Leonas have remained steadfast. Its members, who raised money for Biden’s presidential campaign, are still unsatisfied with the number of his Latina appointments.

A year ago, when I first talked to Coronado and Leonas’ other co-founder, María Rita Jaramillo, they felt “ghosted” by the Biden White House and described his Latina appointments as “Spanx slim.” Today, they’re celebrating the elevation of Julie Chávez Rodriguez, 44, to senior adviser and assistant to the president. Her promotion was announced last week. She’ll hold on to her current post as director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. She comes from a family with a civil rights legacy. Her grandfather was labor leader César Chávez, who founded the union that became the United Farm Workers. As with so many national events, there’s often a local connection. Chávez Rodriguez is the daughter of native San Antonian Arturo Rodriguez, former UFW president, and the late Linda Chávez, another powerful figure in her life.