By Ulises Silva
On Thursday, January 30, The Resurrection Project (TRP) and Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) held a ceremony to mark the beginning of a new partnership in support of La Casa Student Housing and Resource Center.
NEIU President Sharon Hahs and TRP CEO Raul Raymundo signed a partnership agreement that will bring new academic resources and connections to La Casa students and area families while expanding NEIU’s resources, programs, and services to Pilsen.
Raymundo welcomed attendees with a brief history of La Casa Student Housing, a project 10 years in the making.
“We wanted to provide opportunities for young people to be able to have a conducive place where they could focus on their education and succeed,” he said. “Our economy demands individuals who have a solid education; our society needs leaders with a strong foundation. Through our Live, Learn, and Thrive principles, La Casa offers our students an opportunity to not only graduate from college but be successful in life to build a better community.”
He then introduced Karina, a La Casa student attending NEIU.
“Living at La Casa makes me feel that I’m family,” she said. “More importantly, I feel supported. The staff at La Casa cares about my success and want to see me graduate. NEIU is the right college for me. I am part of a community of learners. The faculty is approachable and knowledgeable.”
Karina feels that the new partnership will allow area students to experience what NEIU can offer them. “NEIU and La Casa working together is one of the best things to happen this year,” she said. “I want to see more NEIU students experiencing La Casa, and more Pilsen students experiencing NEIU.”
Hahs, speaking to attendees, reaffirmed the importance of the two institutions working together.
“We do believe it’s important to be a community partner,” she said, “and we want the community to feel welcomed at NEIU. We recognize that this is an important opportunity to work with a pillar of the Pilsen neighborhood. We want to support TRP’s efforts to create healthy communities through education, organizing, and community development.”
Under the new partnership, TRP and NEIU will:
• Deliver college readiness and success workshops that build college knowledge and provide easy access to university staff for community students and families
• Assist undergraduate students and high school seniors identify scholarship opportunities
• Make available undergraduate unpaid internships and graduate practicum opportunities for students
• Share space to facilitate student recruitment, promote parental engagement, and provide campus support services
“Partnerships with universities such as Northeastern Illinois University,” says Maria Bucio, Director of La Casa Student Housing, “enable us to connect students and families in our community with resources and services that will build their college knowledge and provide them with opportunities that can change their lives forever.”

To learn more about La Casa, please visit www.lacasastudenthousing.org.

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