Civic Engagement Lunch Talk: Supporting Older Latinas’ Volunteerism and Civic Engagement

Supporting Older Latinas’ Volunteerism and Civic Engagement

Dr. Yamilé Molina and co-presenter and community partner Araceli Lucio will discuss opportunities to support marginalized and resilient populations’ participation in community and political discourse. Their research focused on pilot-testing a civic engagement navigation program among older Latinas in Pilsen, Little Village, South Chicago, and East Side communities. The presentation will include multi-media examples of Latinas engaging political leaders about breast healthcare programs at city, county, and state levels.

This research will be presented in Spanish and in English. Lunch is provided.

Dr. Yamilé Molina is a scholar activist focused on promoting the voices and agency of marginalized and resilient populations, including communities of color, LGBTQ communities, and communities living with chronic conditions. At the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Molina serves as an Assistant Professor within the Community Health Sciences Division at the School of Public Health, Faculty Affiliate within the Center for Research On Women and Gender, and Academic Partner within the UI Cancer Center’s Office of Community Engaged Research and Implementation Science.

Araceli Lucio, an immigrant from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, has been a health organizer for the Resurrection Project since 2006. In 2003 She started as a volunteer for TRP after learning about the organization at her Church, when an organizer came to speak about immigrant rights. Since becoming a community organizer, she has been a fierce advocate for health services for the uninsured. Under her leadership she has educated thousands of women about breast cancer prevention, referring them for annual check-ups, and promoting the need for health information and more resources for undocumented and uninsured women.  Araceli began ELLAS in 2012 as a support group for breast cancer survivors. Out of the first group of cancer survivors, Araceli created the first group of Promotoras de Salud of ELLAS (Health Care Provider) to give information and resources in Spanish, as well as training of leaders that would continue advocating for programs to help the community with health disparities. Some of her accomplishment are: Changing the Cook County system on their approach to Spanish speaking cancer patients. Presenting the ELLAS model at national conferences, like the American Association for Cancer Reaserch, as a clinical way to support survivorship among those affected by breast cancer. Most recently, ELLAS have develop a relationship with another organization, to learn how to create knitted breast prosthetics. In the next few months the ELLAS Pop-op Store will be unveiled, a thrift store which proceeds will go to support our cancer fighters. Araceli Lucio has a strong passion for health advocacy and helping women who do not have the resources to take care of their health needs. She enjoys learning and making connections with those in the health field to bring more resources to those who need it most. When Araceli is not working she enjoys running and cycling in front of the lake in the company of her daughters.