by Julio Guerrero
Published: March 5, 2012
Chicago, Illinois—March 5, 2012— Today, The Resurrection Project—joined by students, State Representative Edward Acevedo, State Senator Tony Muñoz, Alderman Danny Solis, Billy Ocasio, university administrators, and community leaders—held a press conference launching La Casa. The Resurrection Project announced that it is now accepting inquiries and applications for La Casa Student Housing. In addition, The Resurrection Project announced a social media competition whereby students can win a scholarship with one free year of housing at La Casa. For additional information about applying to La Casa or submitting an entry to the social media campaign, please visit: www.lacasastudenthousing.org. The event was covered by ABC7, Univision, WBEZ, and several other media outlets.
“Only 13% of the individuals in The Resurrection Project’s target communities, have completed a bachelor’s degree,” said Raul Raymundo, Chief Executive Officer at The Resurrection Project. “Statistics like these are unacceptable to us and we as a community have to support our youth with strategies like La Casa that help them become the leaders and professionals of tomorrow.”
La Casa will incrementally increase the likelihood of college success for students by providing them with a safe and affordable place to live with their own place to study and the added advantage of an on-site Resource Center. The Resource Center will provide specialized programs that include internship placement, mentorship opportunities, leadership development, and a multitude of student support services. While students living at La Casa will come from various colleges and universities, they will all share one common goal—to graduate from college.
La Casa is a six-story building located in Chicago’s vibrant Pilsen neighborhood at the intersection of 18th Street and Paulina. With easy access to all major highways, CTA Pink Line, and several CTA bus routes, La Casa is located in an ideal location that is minutes from all major universities and colleges in the Chicagoland area. The first floor of the building will house space for recreation, reception, laundry and fitness facilities,  and a business such as a café. The top five floors of this environmentally friendly building will house student suites and meeting space. Suites are fully-furnished in a modern style and have large, fully-equipped kitchens. All major utilities (gas, water, electric) and Wi-Fi are included in the living rate.
Adjacent to the dormitory is the La Casa Student Resource Center which will provide students with access to caring and resourceful professionals that are committed to helping La Casa residents complete their unique college journey. The Resource Center will provide programs that include an internship and mentorship program, access to computers and multi-purpose meeting space, leadership development opportunities, and a variety of student support services and workshops designed to empower success. While the dorm is equipped to serve 100 students, the vision for the Resource Center itself is to partner with Instituto Del Progresso Latino—a leader in education—to deliver out-of-school time academic support and enrichment programs to inspire and prepare hundreds of area high school students to pursue a college degree.
“Many of the college students surrounding La Casa commute to area schools and do not have the same benefits—quiet spaces to study, internet access, support services, etc.—as their peers living on-campus,” said Tanya Cabrera, Associate Director of Minority Outreach for the Illinois Institute of Technology and a leader championing La Casa. “The fact that this project gives students the ability to live and learn with peers dedicated to completing a bachelor’s degree in an environment with a multitude of supportive services will help La Casa students thrive in ways that allow them to succeed in a global economy.”
For more information on La Casa, how to apply to live at La Casa, or the social media competition, please visit www.lacasastudenthousing.org, call 312-666-1323 ext. 2400, or email [email protected].