Yzaguirre’s advocacy on economic and social legislation has been enhanced by direct-service programs that NCLR has developed which have made a real difference in the lives of millions of Latinos. Today, NCLR is an industry leader in homeownership counseling, operating programs in 40 sites throughout the country. Its Charter School Development Initiative has helped create more than 40 new schools and strengthen more than 45 others, and its Institute for Hispanic Health develops and implements health education and prevention programs and conducts health advocacy activities in partnership with its network of affiliates. In 1998 Yzaguirre led the creation of the Raza Development Fund, NCLR’s community development lending arm headquartered in Phoenix, now one of the nation’s largest and most successful community development banks. It has approved more than 117 loans totaling $54.6 million, leveraging more than $267 million in financing to community-based housing projects, schools, health clinics, day care centers, and other investments.

The following links provide a summarized chronology of NCLR at crucial stages: