David Chincanchan

David Chincanchan serves as the Policy Director for Workers Defense Project where he collaborates with worker-leaders to develop and execute strategic local, state, and federal policy campaigns focused on improving construction industry standards and advancing immigration and criminal legal system reforms.

Prior to joining Workers Defense Project, Chincanchan served on the Executive Committee of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local #1624 representing public workers in Austin and Travis County, Texas. He previously served as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor for a member of the Austin City Council, where he focused on improving access to affordable housing, reliable transit services, and economic opportunity in underserved communities. He has played a key role in moving forward successful policy initiatives related to environmental justice, tenant protections, and workers’ rights. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as a Community Liaison and Census Outreach Coordinator with Travis County, helping to distribute essential resources to impacted residents and supporting Census outreach efforts in “hard-to-count” communities.

Chincanchan currently serves on the Board of the Transit Empowerment Fund, a non-profit organization which works to increase public transportation options in support of access to education, employment, healthcare, and social services. As a first-generation college graduate, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.