Diana Chávez is a digital strategist dedicated to driving meaningful change in the advocacy and nonprofit landscape. With eight years of experience, she specializes in collaborative leadership, digital strategy, and fundraising, enabling her to tackle challenges head-on and innovate for better results. With a personal connection to immigration issues and a steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion, Diana is committed to shaping narratives that inspire and empower our communities for a better tomorrow.
Let’s dive into her story:
- Tell us about the work you do and why it matters.
As a digital strategist at an immigrant rights org, my main focus is on removing barriers to taking action, from signing a petition to calling a congressperson to making a donation. That’s where I see the most tension in my role: people think their impact is insignificant. But true power lies in numbers, and united we stand a fighting chance. Fact is, if this work didn’t matter, elites wouldn’t pour billions of dollars into opposing our efforts. Our collective unity is a threat to their control, and it’s how we’ll make a difference and win.
- What’s a win you’ll never forget?
In 2021, I was consulting in a rural town in Georgia, supporting migrant workers at a factory where a nitrogen leak occurred. The leak killed migrant workers, leaving their families to reel with the loss of their loved ones and a lack of accountability from their employer. With the support of the local community, I helped to organize and raise over $70,000 in mutual aid for the families of those directly impacted. I take this win personally because this reminds me why community matters. When those in power neglect us, it’s the community that comes to the rescue.
- How does your re:power training reshape your leadership?
My work blends lessons from the digital organizing school and storytelling academy. The digital organizing course taught me practical skills that shaped how I lead and train my organizing staff. In fact, I used my notes to revamp our internal digital organizing plan. Storytelling academy taught me the power of people-centered narratives, especially in immigrant rights work. When I fundraise, I aim to move people to feel the depth of my stories, not to have them pity or play savior, but to bring them in to take action and see themselves as part of the solution.
- This line of work requires a lot of heart and hustle. How do you find joy and recharge?
Four years ago, I’d lose track of time and forget to eat lunch. Sometimes I would stay up till 3 am to close out a project. Now that I’m older and wiser, I’m very boundary-conscious about my lifestyle – creating time blocks in my calendar for lunch, exercise, and mental breaks away from the screen. These time blocks remind me that my rest isn’t a reward, but a way for me to recharge and have a healthier work-life balance. Also, this year I started pottery classes to invite play back into my life, and as a reformed Type A person, it’s healing me to love my imperfections. I’m not the best at it, but I’m learning to be bad at something and love it anyway. I’ve also started planting, following in my mother’s footsteps, who is an avid plant enthusiast.
