Border Angels Visit
to Latino Youth HS

On February 18, 2010, Mr. Enrique Morones, founder of “Border Angels,” gave a presentation to Latino Youth High School students, faculty, and staff on the pain and anguish of individuals, children, and families crossing the border into the United States.  Border Angels is a non-profit organization that supports the humane treatment of Mexican and Central American immigrants crossing the U.S./Mexico border.

With the help of many dedicated volunteers, “Border Angels” supply life-saving, rescue stations with food, water, and winter clothing.  Their efforts attempt to reduce the tragic number of immigrant deaths resulting from travel through the Imperial Valley Desert and San Diego County’s surrounding mountainous areas.  Many deaths are attributable to the zones’ inhospitably temperatures which vary between 127 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer to bone-chilling cold during the late fall and winter months.  Mr. Morones also shared that regrettably, some deaths are the result of local apathy to migrants’ distress and racially-motivated crimes.

Participants were invited to view the on-going immigration issue from the perspective of those who witness first-hand the human suffering of desperate women, children, and families seeking to feed loved ones back home or mourning the loss of those lost on the journey north.  Many LYHS students resolved to work collaboratively with the organization and explore starting a Border Angels chapter in Chicago.  To learn more about the extraordinary work of this well-respected human rights activist, please visit www.borderangels.org.

Collaborations with NEC

On February 22, 2010, Mr. Gilberto Perez, Jr. of the Northeastern Center in Indian gave an enriching presentation on the work of NEC in rural counties with growing Latino populations.  Having developed, refined and evaluated the “Bienvenido” Program, NEC seeks to expand this Community Defined Evidenced-based Program to organizations serving Latino-origin adults and teenagers.

 The nine-session curriculum ultimately seeks to increase access to community-based human services through a cultivation of relationships with participants using community integration and engagement and the development of a peer-to-peer support network.

Serving as the initial convener in Illinois, Pilsen Wellness Center hopes to collaborate with NEC to advance the dissemination of this well-researched Empowerment Model which seeks to address through community the movement of individuals and families from isolation to integration and Wellness.

If you would like additional information regarding upcoming “Bienvenido” collaborations in Illinois, please contact Ramiro Mosso, PWC’s Community Liaison (rmosso@pilsenmh.org) or Gilberto Perez (gperez@nec.org) with Northeastern Center, Inc.

Midwest Generation Donation

Employees of Midwest Generation’s Health and Safety Committee made a generous donation of $1800 to support the work of Pilsen Wellness Center’s Teen Moms Program.  The “Unidos Formando Un Futuro” program targets 13 to 19 year old adolescents struggling in their new roles as mothers and includes strategies that facilitate the development of positive parent/child relationships.  The goals also promote economic self-sufficiency, self-esteem enhancement, and the delay of subsequent pregnancy.

Midwest Generation, LLC, an Edison International Company, operates its Crawford Generating Station in one of Pilsen Wellness Center’s service areas.  This generous support will help continue the work of this program recognized by the Ounce of Prevention Fund as one of the highest quality programs in the State of Illinois.  Under the supervision of Maria Espejel, the Division Director for Youth Services, the program has assisted countless teens to develop nurturing relationships with their children while supporting young mothers as they pursue secondary education and career goals. 

If you would like additional information regarding this fine program, please contact Ms. Espejel at mespejel@pilsenmh.org for details.

PWC donates to Haiti Relief

The staggering death toll of the recent Haiti earthquake summons everyone to support recovery efforts.  The Pilsen Wellness Center has collected private donations from employees and will forward $2,000 to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to bring aid to hundreds of thousands left orphaned, destitute, and without the most essential provisions to survive. 

PWC’s President and CEO, Dr. Francisco Cisneros, wishes to extend a sincere thanks to those employees who despite the current economic recession, donated to bring relief to those in greater need.