Jesus “Chuy” Garcia built a progressive reputation as a Chicago community organizer and has continued in the House as an advocate for immigrants, government social programs and financially stressed people those programs serve. Garcia wants more forceful environmental rules to address climate change and to expand the safety net for the poor, giving them a right to housing and vouchers to pay rent. After graduation Garcia worked as assistant director of the Little Village Neighborhood Housing Service until 1984. He earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois in 2002.