November 13, 2024

On November 1, 2024, Eréndira “Ere” Rendon, vice president of Immigrant Justice at The Resurrection Project (TRP), was honored with the prestigious National Ohtli Award at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala. The award was presented by Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, the Consul General of the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, recognizing Ere’s unwavering advocacy to Chicago’s immigrant community.

The name Ohtli comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “road” or “path,” and is one of the highest honors for Mexicans who empower Mexican citizens abroad. Its name symbolizes the noble act of opening a path for others. Ere’s dedication to uplifting immigrant communities resonates deeply, inspiring families across the nation and embodying this spirit of service.

A quote from Ere’s Acceptance Speech:

“Every day I make the choice to envision a world and work towards it – a world where our people are liberated- where we can work with dignity and where we can finally visit the mother land. I invite you to envision this world and work alongside us to make it happen.”

More about Ere.

Eréndira (Ere) Rendón, a DACAmented immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, has dedicated her entire career to advancing justice for immigrants. Ere created TRP’s Immigrant Justice Department and serves as the Vice-President and the organization’s lead strategist on campaigns impacting the lives of immigrants. Ere has played a leading role in the creation and successful passage of pro-immigrant legislation and programs in Illinois, including driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, healthcare for undocumented seniors and adults, the Chicago Legal Protection Fund, the Immigration Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and Illinois Access to Justice (IA2J), a $25 million line item for legal services. Ere’s work and story have been featured in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Crain’s Chicago Business, among many other publications. Ere is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an alumna of the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago, an Edgar Fellow and Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.

Media Highlight

Block Club Chicago – Pilsen Immigrant Rights Advocate Honored With Ohtli Award From Mexican Government.

The New York Times – New Migrants Get Work Permits. Other Undocumented Immigrants Want Them, Too.

A note from Ere:

The results of the presidential election are devasting. President-Elect Donald Trump, who will become the 47th president of the United States, ran a campaign built on anti-immigrant rhetoric and is poised to enforce policies that threaten immigrant communities nationwide. It’s crucial that we stand united with our communities during this challenging time. We urgently need your support to continue our fight for justice and dignity for all immigrants.

Your contribution today will enable us to expand our team of defenders dedicated to stopping deportations and protecting vulnerable families.

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The Resurrection Project (TRP) builds trusting relationships to educate and propel individuals, immigrants, and families to achieve their social and economic aspirations, stable homes, and equitable participation in their community. TRP is a leading provider of immigration services, affordable housing, and financial education on Chicago’s Southwest side.  

For more than three decades TRP has worked to improve lives by creating wealth, building assets, and engaging residents to be catalysts for change. Rooted in the Pilsen community, TRP’s impact now extends across the City of Chicago and through the State of Illinois; we are making steady progress towards leveraging and preserving more than $1 billion in community wealth by 2025.