Building local impact through national partnerships

By: Fatima Sierra, senior program manager, Economic Initiatives 

In a historic Chicago neighborhood, UnidosUS, the Raza Development Fund and The Resurrection Project are driving meaningful change through community-driven housing development. As The Resurrection Project celebrates 35 years, we reflect on their decadeslong commitment to empowering Latino families and immigrants by turning their dream of homeownership into reality.   

In Chicago’s historic Back of the Yards neighborhood, a quiet transformation is underway. Block by block, families are turning the dream of homeownership into a reality through community-driven development.  

Earlier this summer, UnidosUS, along with the Raza Development Fund (RDF), visited longtime Affiliate The Resurrection Project to witness this transformation firsthand. Thanks to support from corporate partners, UnidosUS partnered with The Resurrection Project to drive meaningful change as part of its longer-term goal of adding 4 million new Latino homeowners by 2030.

This year, The Resurrection Project celebrates its 35th anniversary, a milestone that reflects the organization’s decadeslong commitment to empowering Latino and immigrant communities. Since its founding, The Resurrection Project has grown from a grassroots advocacy organization into a pillar of Chicago’s southwest communities, providing critical services to many Latino families.  

At UnidosUS, we know that national reach only goes so far. What’s crucial are the deep, trusted community relationships, and that’s why partnerships with local organizations and with funders who make them possible are at the heart of our impact and showcase how strategic investments are helping families build generational wealth — one home at a time.
 

The Resurrection Project’s efforts with Back of the Yards are a reflection of UnidosUS’s HOME (Homeownership Means Equity) initiative goals. Back of the Yards has long been a vital part of Chicago’s South Side, but, like other Latino and immigrant neighborhoods, it faces challenges related to housing supply and affordability. Local organizations like The Resurrection Project have been at the forefront working to revitalize neighborhoods and continued investment is needed to expand their reach and deepen their impact. Together, with partners and through an initiative called Reclaiming Chicago, The Resurrection Project has plans to build 1,000 homes on the Chicago’s west side and another 1,000 homes on the southside — and they are well on their way! 

This collaboration is a powerful example of how corporate philanthropy, national coordination and local leadership can come together to drive change. UnidosUS is proud to work alongside The Resurrection Project and grateful to corporate partners for their commitment to investing in Latino communities.  

Together, we’re not just making change. We’re building a model for how it happens.