Blanca Acevedo

Blanca Acevedo is the program coordinator for the TRIO Upward Bound program at Northeastern Illinois University. Ms. Acevedo holds a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education from the ENLACE  leadership program at NEIU. She currently works to develop 21st-century skills through the use of STEM/STEAM innovation to low-income and first-generation communities. She is a state, regional and national best practice presenter providing professional development on how to infuse maker education activities into the classroom. Ms. Acevedo serves as the co-chair for the University Roundtable of Gamaliel of Metro Chicago and the Legislation and Education co-chair for the Illinois TRIO professional Association. As a first-generation, DACA recipient and daughter of immigrants, she is committed to serving underrepresented populations in Chicago’s Southwest area, Cicero & Berwyn. 

Alex M. Garcia
Alex joined the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council (PNCC) in 2016 as a Chairperson for a Town Hall Meeting with the Illinois State Police to discuss their statewide enforcement of the Trust Act. While he came to the organization with little community organizing experience, he brought a wealth of finance, auditing, and accounting knowledge. Since then, he has overseen 5 restorative justice expos and led multiple leadership meetings.
After starting his professional career as an Accounting Supervisor for CNA Insurance, Alex transitioned into the public sector as the Manager of a public CPA firm, where he gained most of his experience and knowledge for over 12 years. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer & Director of Operations for a non-profit organization on the West Side of Chicago. As the CFO & Director of Ops, Alex defines and implements the infrastructure and systems needed to support substantial growth for the organization.
Alex serves as a Board Member for PNCC, SAY of Chicago (a youth soccer league), Treasurer for his local parish, and Vice-President of the Local School Council for Galileo Scholastic Academy.
In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors with his 13-year-old child and Golden Retriever. He’s risk-averse by day, and a risk-taker by night.
We are happy to announce that the Drivers License Reinstatement Expo will be happening on February 20th, 2021. In order to attend the event, you must register AND qualify.
To register visit www.pilsenneigbors.org/dlrexpo. Once you register, you will receive a email within a couple weeks regarding whether or not you qualify to attend the event. There will be no walk-in appointments allowed.