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Delia Ramirez

I am twenty three years old, born and raised in Chicago of Guatemalan parents. I am the oldest of three. I was raised and still live in Humboldt Park. I graduated in 2001 from St Gregory High school and awaiting college graduation December of this year with a Major in Justice Studies. I have always known that my calling in life was to be a voice and hands for the oppressed. Since a child I have been involved in community outreach, and at 15 and again 16 traveled to Honduras to do volunteer work with a Medical Team after Hurricane Mitch with a group of 22 volunteers from various parts of the country.

At 18 I visited Russia and volunteered for two weeks at an orphanage for disabled children in St Petersburg. Russia. I began working for Humboldt Park Social Services at the age of seventeen and at the age of 21 became the youngest Executive Director of Humboldt Park Social Services, a 17 year old social service organization committed to service, empowerment and advocacy to the homeless and disadvantaged in our community by providing housing and supportive services.

I think back when I was eight and would volunteer with my mother at their soup kitchen and never thought that 13 years later I would be its director. I have the executive director for almost three years. In 2006 I founded the Center for Changing Lives which is a community supportive center focused on housing, employment and case management services for the homeless and families at risk of becoming homeless in the Logan Square and Humboldt Park area. I am the Board President for Logan Square Neighborhood Association, a forty five year old organization committed to social justice. I am also the 14 Districts Community Policing Advisory Chair. I am very active in my local church and my inspiration is God, my mother and father. I truly believe that our youth are not the future of our country, we are its present.