Mission Statement

Enlace Chicago is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of the residents of the Little Village Community by fostering a physically safe and healthy environment in which to live and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development.

Enlace Chicago is the lead agency in Little Village for the New Communities Program (NCP), a city wide initiative that seeks to improve the Quality of Life in 16 Chicago neighborhoods, in partnership with the Local Support Corporation (LISC) and with support from the McArthur Foundation. 

The video above was produced by Kartemquin Films, of Hoop Dream fame, and commissioned by the McArthur Foundation to highlight the accomplishments of the NCP. The Little Village community and Enlace Chicago were selected to be featured in the video, as an example of NCP success.
.....................................................................................................

Enlace Chicago
2756 South Harding Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60623

Phone: 773-542-9233
Fax: 773-542-9241
Email: Enlace@enlacechicago.org

Community Schools
4355 West 26th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60623

Phone: 773-522-2773
Fax: 773-522-2717
Email: czayas@enlacechicago.org

Violence Prevention
2300 South Millard Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60623

Phone/Fax: 773-475-7953
Email: mrodriguez@enlacechicago.org



The Challenge & The Solution

The working-class residents of the Little Village community quietly support the way-of-life of all Chicagoans.  Our residents staff restaurants throughout the city.  They provide daily assistance as laborers in industries such as childcare, janitorial, landscaping, and construction industries. 

Yet our residents – and their children – do not have access to the same opportunities available to those who employ them.  Neighborhood schools fall below state standards.  Children play on the streets because we don’t have enough parks or playgrounds.  Residents are afraid of walking through certain blocks after dark.

Enlace Chicago works to improve these conditions through a preventative and proactive approach that strengthens our families, our neighborhood, and thereby, our city. Through our four program areas, Education, Violence Prevention, Cultural Enrichment, and Economic Development, Enlace Chicago directly serves more than 5,000 youth and adults.  The organization’s impact reaches well beyond this number and benefits our entire community of nearly 100,000 residents by creating opportunities and resources throughout the neighborhood.

Face Painting




Enlace Chicago Board _________________________________

Elena Durán
Chair

William Velázquez
Vice Chair

Jesús M. Estrada
Treasurer

Mauricio Sone
Secretary

José Alvarez
Claudia Mosqueda
Jesus Nuñez
Marcela Sánchez
Linda Sarate
Leopoldo Saucedo
Olga Verduzco

Legacy Council/Concilio de Nuestro Legado

Jesus G. Garcia
Founding Executive Director

Enlace Chicago Lead Staff
_________________________________
 
Dia Cirillo
Acting Chief Executive Officer

Jaime de Leon
New Communities Program Director

Cesar Nunez
Economic Development Director

Michael Rodriguez
Violence Prevention Director

Cristina Zayas
Community Schools Director

Katya Nuques
Director of Education

"We've changed our name, but not our commitment to community.
LVCDC is now Enlace Chicago"


View our Organization's Calendar

Employment Opportunities