CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
EL VALOR
El Valor, which means “courage” in Spanish, was founded in 1973 by Guadalupe A. Reyes, a visionary mother of a special needs child in Chicago’s Latino community. Ms. Reyes dreamed of a community in which all members could live, learn and work – especially the developmentally disabled and educationally disadvantaged. Forming a group with several other concerned parents, Ms. Reyes took out a small bank loan, borrowed a church basement in Pilsen, and got to work. Together they created Illinois’ first bilingual, bicultural rehabilitation center.
From its roots in the Latino community, El Valor has grown into a multicultural, multipurpose organization that touches the lives of thousands of local families every year. Providing programs and services ranging from early childhood development and tutoring to supportive services for people with disabilities and their families; leadership development; and advocacy, El Valor now operates in Pilsen, South Chicago and its newest initiative in Little Village/South Lawndale.
In order to help El Valor grow strategically and manage the development of new programs while sustaining existing ones, President Vince Alloco and the agency’s board and staff have relied on ESC for expert advice and strategies. For more than 10 years, ESC consultants have been working with El Valor on projects ranging from strategic planning and program assessments to marketing plans, communications strategies and more. Several ESC volunteers have even joined the El Valor board over the years!
ESC salutes the dedicated staff and volunteers of El Valor, and what their commitment has meant for the lives of so many local residents. Our ongoing relationship with El Valor is a prime example of how ESC makes such a difference for the nonprofits and public agencies we serve. To learn more about El Valor, click here.