50th Anniversary

Victor Arriaga

Mr. Arriaga has been an outstanding teacher, volunteer and mentor at Funston Elementary.  He has been a teacher at Funston since 1985 and helped the children of the Logan Square community with their educational experiences.  Mr. Arriaga has also taught GED classes to help young adults and adults move forward with their education and their goals.   He has helped over 500 students graduate with their GEDs since 1995.  Mr. Arriaga is an amazing person who has also volunteered his time to help tutor students here at Funston.  Mr. Arriaga is a community hero.

Liala Beukema

As pastor of Church of the Good News for many years Liala helped to get her church involved in social justice issues.  She made social justice a part of services and the way the church conducted its mission.  Liala is a leader who trained people, brought new people into the organization, and held people accountable.  Now we have Costco in our community.  Many people have been able to get and keep living wage jobs at Costco.  We know people who raise their families on Costco salaries.  We know people who became homeowners while employed at Costco.  We know that the work Liala and others did help to give people hope.

Eva Calderon

Ms. Calderon is a wonderful and warm lady who embraces and welcomes everyone in our school (Mozart Elementary School).  Her courage and determination to work in our school is admirable.  All the parents in our school admire her and respect her very highly.

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Ha impusado a muchos padres a collavorar con la escuela y animado a los mismos para continuar con la educacion, a superarse, apoyando a sus hijos al mismo tiempo que ellos se preparan.  Un ejemplo de mujer lucha por conseguir sus metas, enfocandose en su trabajo y trabajando por la comunidad. 

Chris Vaselopolus

A founding member of LSNA and the former owner of the Logan Square Theater which was a part of his family from 1930-2010, Chris led the fight to secure the Logan Square "L" Station at its present location at Kedzie Boulevard.  Originally the CTA sought to locate the station at Logan Boulevard and Western Avenue (where the skate park is).  This would have economically destroyed the commercial district along Milwaukee Avenue. 

Lissette Castañeda

I am inspired by her work on affordable housing issues in Logan Square and Humboldt Park. I've been in meeting with her with our local elected officials and she is great at letting them know our priorities. When I saw her speak at the Zapata groundbreaking, I thought she nailed it. She's my hero!

Amanda Rivera

Amanda helped us create the first Parent Teacher Mentor program.  She led the program at Funston School, working closely with her principal Sally Acker to get the first teachers and parents involved.  Then she went on to become the first principal of Ames Middle schools.  She oversaw the opening of the school, the first LSNA election and the creation of the parent mentor program and the Community Learning Center at Ames. 

Maria Alviso

Maria Aliviso has been a great person to the Monroe Community. She works with parents, Monroe staff and Universities in the Chicago area. In working with all these different kinds of groups. Maria shows great pride in what she does.

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Esta persona debe ser nombrada heroe de la comunidad por la ayuda que le brinda a las personas que la necesitan. Tambien por la ayuda que brinda en el centro comunitario por ejemplo las clases de ingles, G.E.D, baloncesto, las clases de danza y ayuda con las tareas. Pero lo que mas me interesa es la ayuda de cuidados de ninos cuando los padres estudian por eso considero que debe ser heroe de la comunidad.

Brian Perea

Brian has been a leader since he was a sophomore in High School. He has been deeply involved in LSNA's youth organizing work through the the VOYCE project, After School Matters and housing. He has helped door knock, raise money, plan events and has grown into a strong youth leader through the process. When he speaks, others listen!

Alfredo Rodriguez

Alfredo Rodriguez is a member of Bickerdike’s Affordable Housing Committee. A 36-year homeowner --less than 2 blocks from the Armitage & St. Louis Zapata Apartments site--he is a critical leader in the success of Zapata Apartments. 

Mobilizing neighbors, leading Ward Night teams to push for funding, testifying at City Hall, driving people to actions, giving a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony -- Alfredo shows us how to lead the fight against gentrification.

He is proof that not so long ago a factory worker could buy and keep a home in Logan Square. Now he fights so other workers can realize the same dream. 

Leslie & Andy Willis

Leslie and Andy have been fighting for social justice for many, many years.  They are always willing to use their time and talents to help further dialogue and action on issues they are passionate about, particularly affordable housing and immigration reform.  Most recently Leslie and Andy wrote and illustrated a pamphlet about U.S. immigration and have themselves disseminated it to over 1100 people.  With many people they have had good conversations about the need for comprehensive immigration reform, and are very focused on reaching potential allies.  They are community heroes for global causes!

Isidra & Wenceslao Martinez

Mr. & Mrs. Martinez have bravely shared their story of Bank Mistreatment.  Their story touched many community members and prompted LSNA leaders to rally around them and others in our community facing foreclosure. 

 LSNA Foreclosure Prevention Committee's work builds on their legacy.

Vinnie Hernandez

Vinnie is the first and only General Manager of the Dill Pickle Food Co-op.  The store opened with 500 members.  Today, it has one thousand members. Vinnie works to uphold the cooperative principles.  When neighbors walk into the store, they are greeted by our friendly staff and atmosphere in a store that supports local businesses, farmers and our neighborhood.  Under Vinnie’s leadership, the Dill Pickle serves as an inspiration to our neighborhood.  With a large neighborhood base of support, new business models have a place to thrive. 

Ada Iris Ayala

Ada Ayala is a strong and passionate leader in our community.  She was one of the first parents to knock on doors to start the Funston School community center. In 14 years Ada has served over 600 adult students as well as overseeing the after school community center for the Funston students.

Ada is an inspiration to me and others.

Kathleen Duffy

Kath is the reason that the Dill Pickle exists.  When she came to Chicago from New York she was surprised that the only co-op grocery was in Hyde Park.  She immediately emailed her contacts and scheduled meetings to build support for a local co-op.  Those contacts invited lots of other people and interest grew.  Kath served on the Board of Directors from the beginning and continues to give her time to the Dill Pickle Food Co-op.  She also is an active neighbor in the Logan Square community commits time to support progressive local political candidates.   On a daily basis she works in health care advocacy working to ensure affordable health care for all. 

Maura Nugent

Along with one other colleague, Maura Nugent birthed the Social Justice Academy at Kelvyn Park HS. SJA is a program that teaches students to ask questions about their lives, their community and develop into knowledgable problem solvers interested in working with others for social justice.

Maura combines the strengths of a gifted teacher and loving adult in the lives of many Logan Square area students. Currently she works as a afterschool instructor with LSNA (funded by AfterSchool Matters) on a community leadership development program.

David Rodriguez

David is a social worker who has been actively involved withAmes Middle School, LSNA, and the community for ten years.  David dedicates his time to bringing in new partners and resources for parents and youth; providing mental health and sports programming at the school; and working collaboratively with the community learning center at Ames. 

His vision and commitment helps many youth and families in the Logan Square community and that is why he is a hero in my eyes.

Luz Rodriguez

Luz Rodriguez works passionately and tirelessly to keep young people in the classroom. She advocates for the needs of students and helps parents to overcome challenges and obstacles in order to keep their children in school.

Reverend Kurt Williams

I think that what he does is very much neeeded in our community. There are not a lot of mental health resources available to young men and his program reaches out to break cycles and guide men through troubled times.

Maria Trejo

I love Maria Trejo to be recognized as one of LSNA's 50 community heroes because she has done so many things for our schools. She is the perfect example of a single mom that has raised her daughters in the right path. She is a role model to many of our students and always has that great attitude and that willingness to help. She is committed to helping her students to excel and achieve.  She believes that all students have the capacity to be leaders. Maria Trejo to me is my role model my "Hero"

Maria Marquez

Maria Marquez is a leading model and advocate for LSNA's nationally recognized parent engagement work. Over the last decade she has been a parent mentor, parent tutor and parent program coordinator at Darwin and Ames Schools.

 In December 2011 she graduated with honors from Northeastern IL University with a b.a in bilingual-bi cultural education through LSNA's Grow Your Own teacher program. While pulling all-nighters for the last 6yrs to pursue her education, she also led the work for Grow Your Own to expand into a successful statewide movement.

Her humor and big smile are famous in Logan Square and accross Illinois.

Larry Bulak

Larry has been involved with LSNA's board of directors for almost two decades, specifically supporting LSNA's fiscal and organizational strength as treasurer. He keeps us on the path of Best Practices.  Larry has brought additional financial resources to the organization through his job and relationships. As chair of LSNA's finance committee he provides the leadership to insure that the organizaton's financial structure is strong. 

David Pino

Mr. Pino believes in LSNA's work. Mr. Pino was the first principal who opened the school doors to the health team with salsa, sabor. y salud and was always happy to host LSNA congresses at Ames.  As principal of McAuliffe he always provided 120% support to the parent mentor/tutor programs, after school programs for the students, parent programs and the community center at McAuliffe. 

Martha Juarez

Martha Juarez cares about her community and she is especially passionate about education.  As a leader she never hesitates to speak out on behalf of Monroe.  She is skillful at speaking with legislators and raising her voice to demand more resources for public schools and students. 

Pat Kuhlman

Pat has lived in Logan Square all her life.  A founding member of LSNA, she is a hockey lover, an opera lover and a justice lover. In the 30 years I've known her she has never hesitated to represent her family, her church, or her community.  For her service and dedication I nominate Pat to be a community hero. 

Martha Juarez

Martha cares about her community and she is especially passionate about education.  As a leader she never hesitates to speak out on behalf of Monroe.  She is skillful at speaking with legislators and raising her voice to demand more resources for public schools and students.

Rev. Samuel Acosta

Reverend Acosta represented First Spanish United Church of Christ on the LSNA Board. he was a strong and vocal leader on a variety of issues from the moment he and his family arrived in Logan Square.  He forged strong relationships with other local pastors to address problems of absentee landlords and slumlords.

Jose Skerrett

He has been an incredible inspiration to me for his persistence and leadership. After serving for years on the Funston Elementary Local School Council, Jose brought his relationships and leadership to the Zapata Apartments campaign. I watched many times as he confronted elected officials to bring their support to the campaign and helped us win funding in the Illinois Capital budget. He's been sidelined with chronic illness for several years now but I still have the pleasure of living down the street from him. His courage and commitment make him the definition of a hero.

Sister Joyce Montgomery

Served on the LSNA board to represent the work of the ""Community Building Project"" (CBP) and advocated to funders, other businesses the work of the CBP and LSNA. Through this work she involved other other important local groups with LSNA's work.

She also introduce me to the St. John's seniors group, which open doors for me to advocate, provide resources and work with future senior leaders. 

In addition to representing St. John's Berchmans School & Church. "

Ashley Dearborn

Ashley is a talented actress who made her home in Logan Square for many years in the eighties and nineties.  She worked hard to implement LSNA's Holistic plan as a leader at Unity Park, in the struggle for School Annexes to reduce school overcrowding, as an advocate for Affordable Housing, and a participant in the creation of Paseo Garden.  She made the connection with archi-treasures as an important resource for the Intergenerational Mural Project at CTA wall ""Cuentos en la Pared"" and much more.

Thank You! :)

Laurie Tannenbaum

Laurie's medium is landscaping.  She has dedicated countless volunteer hours to the creation of "Paseo Prairie Garden"" to be used by our seniors at Logan Vistas Apts., other LSNA members and the residents of Logan Square.  She worked closely with the youth and adult volunteers to create this beautiful garden, which added much needed OPEN SPACE for Logan Square.

Laurie is a strong believer of restorative justice and theimportance of working with/for those who are in need. She is a woman with a big HEART and a strong commitment to growing and nurturing community.

Robert Castillo & John Pennycuff

Both Robert and John, who just died, are heroes of this community.  They bravely flew a rainbow flag at their apartment near St. Louis & Wrightwood despite threats.  They sensitized their alderman to the presence and aspirations of GLBT people for full acceptance, defended womens' reproductive freedom from protesters, and more.  My list is not comprehensive.  John worked for the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce and for Alderman Colon.  Together, Robert & John were tireless leaders with the Unity Park Advisory Council. 

Sean O'Bra

Mr. O'Bra has the love and respect of his students at Kelvyn Park High School. He has chosen to be completly committed to Logan Square--it's where he lives, teaches, and serves. With his classrooms he has led projects on affordable housing, collecting the stories of local community heroes (i.e. moms, street workers), and education justice throughout his years at KP. He is the leader of the Social Justice Academy at Kelvyn Park High School, which works to build community consciousness and leadership with over 250 local youth. He serves on LSNA's Board of Directors as the Education Rep. Viva O'Bra!