Javier Trujillo was born the youngest of four children to Rosalva and Mario Trujillo in Tucson, Arizona. As a young first generation Latino growing up in Tucson, Arizona, Javier fostered a passion for the two great loves of his life – education and mariachi music. He has since devoted half of his life to teaching, performing, and sharing the beauty and majesty of the music of Mexico with students from across the United States. His leadership in this regard has been fundamental to the development of the premiere school-based mariachi program in the nation – the Clark County School District mariachi program.

Mr. Trujillo has worked with literally thousands of youngsters as a clinician and instructor at mariachi conference workshops and festivals in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and Nevada. He has served as an adjunct faculty member teaching mariachi music at the University of Arizona, and as a mariachi music teacher at several schools in Tucson, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2002, Javier was recruited by the Clark County School District to develop and implement a district-wide mariachi program via a standards-based curriculum that he helped to write, and proudly served as the Mariachi Program Project Facilitator through January 2007. During this time, the Clark County School District mariachi program grew to span 15 middle and high schools with over 2,200 students enrolled.

His extensive teaching and touring schedule notwithstanding, Mr. Trujillo distinguished himself not only in the classroom, but in the community as well. In his quest to serve as a role model for the children of our community and in his effort to give back to his community, Trujillo served as the founding Vice-President of CONECTA, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering Latino communities in Nevada by connecting the Latino community to educational, financial, economic, and business opportunities through partnerships. Trujillo is also the founder of FAMME: The Foundation for the Advancement of Mariachi Music Education, a non-profit organization with the primary purpose to support and assist with the development and promulgation of mariachi music curricula within public school systems across the nation. Trujillo currently serves as the Treasurer for the Reynaldo L. Martinez Institute for Leadership and Research, a non-profit organization aimed at increasing educational opportunities for Latinos and other underrepresented populations in Nevada, creating an academic scholarship program to support non-traditional, economically challenged students seeking a college or university education, and establishing a service-based youth leadership program focused on civic engagement, community development and community service in Nevada. Other notable community service activities include: former Board Member for the Nevada Arts Advocates, a non-profit organization aimed at advancing arts and culture in Nevada; Founding Board Member of the National Mariachi Advisory Council under the auspices of MENC, The National Association for Music Education; and Board Member for the Si Se Puede! Foundation, a non-profit organization with the aim of providing ELL and Hispanic students with the financial, material and mentorship opportunities needed to pursue higher education. Trujillo served on the City of Henderson Latino Advisory Board and assisted the City Clerk’s Office with the development of a bilingual voter elections guide during the 2004 and 2006 municipal elections.

In October 2004, the City of Las Vegas recognized Trujillo as the Outstanding Hispanic Educator. During the same year, Trujillo was one of three individuals selected to represent the state of Nevada at the U.S. Senate’s Democratic Steering Committee Latino Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. In October 2005, Trujillo was bestowed the Educator of the Year Award by the Latin Chamber of Commerce, where he also serves on the Government Affairs Committee and the Education Committee.

In January 2007, Trujillo was recruited to serve as the Nevada Political Director for Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico where he proudly represented Governor Richardson during his bid for President of the United States. Following the presidential campaign, Trujillo joined the Intergovernmental Relations Division at the City of Henderson and serves as an advocate for the City in all local and state legislative affairs.

Trujillo also volunteers at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) in several capacities: as a member of the CSN Strategic Planning Committee, the President’s Hispanic Advisory Board, and most recently as the President-appointee to the CSN Council of Professional Police Standards/Police Review Board. In November 2008, Trujillo graduated from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Citizen’s Academy.

Javier Trujillo’s hard work, passion, and service to his community is proof of a manifest pride and respect of his humble but proud roots, and he is an excellent example and role model for the youth of our community. Javier Trujillo represents the best of our new generation of young and talented Latino leaders, and looks forward to continue serving the Nevada community.

Trujillo holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration (BS/BA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.