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, Chavez led overland cultural tours throughout the Southwest U.S. and Latin America before creating his own volunteer work project in Central America. He assisted creating adult education, youth cultural and surf programs.

In 2000, out of San Diego California, Chavez Founded Young Native Scholars and InterTribal Youth. Programs work with a 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, Mexico attend various national and international summer, spring programs. In its 25th 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 on the Board of Directors for the WorldBeat Cultural Center in world-famous Balboa Park, San Diego. Chavez co-created Media and International Relations in Afro-Indigenous cultural productions inside Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. Chavez also worked on major art exhibits, murals, overland journeys, music, dance and theater productions along the U.S.-Mexico border region and internationally. .

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 jungle.