He retooled the Young Lords into a militant advocacy and service organization, modeled after the Black Panthers. Based in Chicago, it had chapters nationwide.

The Young Lords, as transformed by Jiménez into an activist organization, found a purpose in particular as the Puerto Rican community was being pushed out of Lincoln Park in the late 60s.

"Cha Cha" Jimenez was the founder of the Young Lords in Chicago and co-founder of the Rainbow Coalition. What started as a street gang in the 1960's, the Young Lords evolved into a human rights organization. Visitation begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday with a public funeral starting at 5 p.m.

In 1968, Jiménez founded the Young Lords Organization at Lincoln Park, one of Chicago's most impoverished neighborhoods. He transformed what was once a Puerto Rican street gang into a political group and community-based organization modeled on and ...

José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, a civil rights and liberation movement figure and founder of the Young Lords in Chicago and co-founder of the Rainbow Coalition, died Jan. 10 at 76. His sister, Daisy Rodríguez,

The Young Lords founder, who died Friday, inspired youth from different backgrounds to work together to fight for equality and social justice, family and friends said.

José 'Cha Cha' Jiménez, civil rights activist and founder of the Young Lords Organization, died Friday, Jan. 10. He was 76.

José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, a prominent civil rights and liberation movement figure and founder of the Young Lords in Chicago and co-founder of the Rainbow Coalition has died. He was 76.

José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, a prominent civil rights and liberation movement figure and founder of the Young Lords in Chicago and co-founder of the Rainbow Coalition has died. He was 76.

Puerto Rico native and social justice leader José “Cha Cha” Jiménez died at age 76. According to NBC News, his sister Daisy Rodríguez announced the sad news in a Facebook post on January 10. “IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART AND SUCH SADNESS THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY BROTHER JOSE CHA-CHA JIMENEZ PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING,