October Center Court Star: Raul Raymundo
Raul Raymundo
Co-Founder, The Resurrection Project
Raul Raymundo is a local hero who has dedicated his life to improving communities on Chicago southwest side. Raised in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, a few miles north of Illinois Tech's campus, Raul has long understood the challenges and strengths of working-class and immigrant families. After graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota with a degree in sociology, he returned to Chicago in 1988 to live and work in Pilsen.
In 1990, he co-founded what is now known as The Resurrection Project. The organization started with $30,000 seed capital raised by area parishes. Since then it has leveraged that money into $346 million in community investment impacting 38,000 families in Pilsen and surrounding southwest side.
The Resurrection Project has created more than 600 affordable homes in Chicago, community facilities like health clinics, early childhood centers, and schools serving thousands of families. Through job creation, assistance in strengthening local businesses and being active in public policy issues, TRP improves the quality of life for many communities in the Chicago region.
Raul’s leadership and innovation includes the realization of the first nationwide community-based college-student housing and resource center—La Casa. This project addresses the challenges faced by first-generation college students with support services to help students graduate from college and succeed in life.
Currently, Raul serves on several boards including Ounce of Prevention Fund, Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, Illinois Justice Project Advisory Board, Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, St. Anthony Hospital Ministry Board, National Association of Latino Asset Builders, and Self-Help Federal Credit Union. He is the recipient of the Association for Fundraising Professionals Chicago 2015 Outstanding Community Leader Award and a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and has receives numerous awards for his service to our community.
Sponsored by Lewis College of Human Sciences, Center Court Stars is a monthly feature brought to you by Illinois Tech Dining and Illinois Tech’s Coalition on Inclusion: Celebrating Diversity in our Community. Are there other famous Illinois Tech alumni or people from Chicago you would like to see featured here? Submit your nominations to IITCenterCourtStars@gmail.com.
