Marc Chavez was born and raised in Los Angeles County, California and is of Mexican-American Indian, (Nahua, Michoacán and New Mexican-Spanish descent). Chavez graduated from the University of California, San Diego with degrees in Communication, “Third World” Studies and post-graduate research in Community Educational Linkages. Chavez has over 25 years of experience in higher education, and community linkages.

Upon completing university studies in 1995, a spiritual calling and journey first carried him through Mexico and Central America. Chavez led overland cultural tours from Mexico to Costa Rica before choosing to locate in Panama to begin volunteer work. He assisted with adult education, youth cultural and surf programs.

In 2000, out of San Diego California, Chavez Founded Young Native Scholars and InterTribal Youth, both based on developing a working model for community and institutional education. The program’s aim to “indigenize education” and has been nationally and internationally recognized as an “holistic approach to education”. Youth and mentors from across North America, Hawaii, Panama, Jamaica attend various national and international summer, spring programs. In its 22nd year, Chavez creates mentorship, vision, and healthy learning environments. The goal is to enhance knowledge of technology, culture, health, environmental science and self-sustainability. Programs also link young people to top universities and career paths.

In the past, Chavez also served years on the Board of Directors at the WorldBeat Cultural Center in world-famous Balboa Park, San Diego, working Media and International Relations in Afro-Indigenous cultural productions in Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. Early on, Chavez also worked for Centro Cultural de La Raza also located in Balboa Park with major art exhibits, murals, U.S.-Mexico relations, music, dance and theater productions.

Chavez and InterTribal Youth/ One World BRIDGE 501c3 have also worked with UNICEF-Panama and CONAMUIP (Coordinadora Nacional Mujeres Indigenas Panama) to see that urban indigenous youth were trained to be peer advocates and conduct health prevention presentations in reservations (Comarcas). His organization continues to participate in cultural festivals and conferences concerning culture, food sovereignty and tourism in Panama and Mexico.

In 2014, Chavez initiated “Native Like Water” to focus on both youth and adult cultural exchange between ocean and fresh water land environments. Chavez continues to seek close attention and mentorship in Hawaii’s leadership. Curriculum development, standards, and maritime education are his top interests.

In 2019, Chavez was chosen in the inaugural group of Forward Promise National Fellowship, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with the responsibility of building a culture of health model for boys and young men of color, (BYMOC) as an independent initiative, in collaboration with many other national leaders in the field.

Chavez’ journey is eternally grateful to his daughter, Amaya Xochi’s memory (2001-11). Born with Cerebral Palsy- Quadriplegia, and blindness, her spirit and lessons continue to guide him in life and motivate youth and adults alike. Chavez continues to study traditional medicine, indigenous coastal culture, and ancestral native foods. Chavez enjoys surfing and sharing the stoke of the ocean and jungles.