Jesus "Chuy" Flores serves as the Inland Empire Labor and Community Center's Policy and Strategy Director. With over a decade of experience in the field, Chuy brings an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach in his work with organizations committed to improving the lives of working people, their communities, and the environment.
An award-winning policy scholar and urban planner, Chuy previously worked as a Senior Associate at Estolano Advisors where he advised public agencies, foundations, community-based organizations, and labor groups on equitable economic development and environmental justice initiatives. He also previously served as an Environmental Health and Justice Program Associate at the Liberty Hill Foundation and an Executive Fellow at the California Environmental Protection Agency and Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
Chuy draws from his lived experience and early-career internships with community-based organizations in everything he does. Proudly born and raised in San Bernardino, Chuy is uniquely cognizant of the environmental, economic, and social inequities that many California residents face. He firmly believes in centering frontline workers and communities to develop holistic and effective policy solutions that enhance their quality of life. In 2021, Chuy was appointed to his hometown’s Planning Commission, where he successfully advocated for more inclusive public notification procedures for residents and business owners. In 2022, the UCR Center for Social Innovation awarded Chuy with an Innovator of the Year award for his work facilitating cross-sectoral partnerships on environmental justice issues.
Chuy received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy from Occidental College, a graduate certificate in Applied Policy and Government from CSU-Sacramento, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. In his spare time, Chuy enjoys attempting to cook family recipes, visiting local panaderías, and supporting community arts.