Alicia Quebrado and her five sisters grew up in Guerrero, Mexico. They lived with their grandmother in a neighborhood filled with friends and family. Alicia really enjoyed her life there. However, when she was 12 years old the unthinkable happened; her mother wanted her to move to the United States. “I was devastated because life in Mexico was beautiful,” recalls Alicia. “My mother was already living in the United States and had been working hard to save money to bring us here.”

In the beginning, Alicia and her sisters found it difficult to adapt to the American way of life. The dresses they wore year-round in Mexico were forgotten and lost in Chicago’s harsh winters. Alicia, who was a shy child, felt out of place and wanted to go back to her country. “In the beginning, I missed Mexico so much,” she remembers. “It was difficult for all of us, but we had to adapt even though it was a very hard process that took years.”

In the winter of 1990, the Quebrado family was struck by tragedy; their home caught on fire. Their mother had worked so hard to maintain it and now everything was lost in the fire. “There were so many of us that it was hard to find a place where all of us could stay,” noted Alicia. The fire forced the Quebrado family to split up and live in spare rooms offered by helpful neighbors. To Alicia it seemed they had not only lost their belongings, but each other.

It was during this hardship, and through The Resurrection Project (TRP), that Alicia witnessed the power of a community coming together. Neighbors, parishes, community members, and TRP staff worked together to help the Quebrado family get back on their feet. “I am very grateful to The Resurrection Project because they opened the doors that had closed on us,” said Alicia.

TRP and the community provided support and helped raise money. One year later, the Quebrado family had reunited in a new home. “TRP helped us every step of the way with the process of buying our new home,” said Alicia. “I promised myself that I would return the help one day.”

Since her first introduction to the organization, Alicia has actively participated in TRP’s Liderazgo program where she’s been able to strengthen her self-esteem and communication skills, while learning more about her community and the power of collective change.

She has also become a volunteer member of ELLAS, where she supports, empowers, and advances the mission and goals of breast cancer patients and survivors. “In the past, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” said Alicia. “However, working with the ELLAS group made me realize that I want to work with people.”

Alicia’s commitment to her community has everything to do with the change she would like to see, not just in her neighborhood, but also across the city.