[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 154 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S7718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CARMEN VELASQUEZ

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to thank 
Carmen Velasquez of Chicago, who is retiring as executive director of 
Alivio Medical Center, for her many years of service to the Latino 
Community and the city of Chicago.
  As a community leader, civil rights activist, health and education 
advocate, and one of my personal ``she-ros,'' Carmen Velasquez has 
dedicated her life to justice and equitable health access for all. As 
one of the original founders of the Alivio Medical Center, she has 
served the community for 25 years, helping grow one community health 
center to a network of 6 clinics, with plans to open two new sites this 
year.
  Carmen is the daughter of Mexican immigrants--her father harvested 
beets in South Dakota before coming to Illinois to start a successful 
jukebox business. Carmen went on to earn degrees from Loyola University 
Chicago and the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico.
  In her professional career, Carmen dedicated her talents and energy 
to universal health care and immigration reform as a community 
organizer. She was a social worker and bilingual education specialist, 
who quickly became a pillar of Chicago's Latino community.
  As a member of Chicago's Board of Education, she realized that more 
needed to be done not only to address the needs of the Latino community 
in schools, but also in health clinics.
  In 1988, Carmen's mission was clear; she needed to find a place to 
address the too often neglected medical needs of her community. While 
walking through Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood in search of clinic 
space, Carmen came upon a muffler shop parking lot littered with 
rusting old trucks. She went inside the shop and asked its owner if the 
lot was for sale.
  His response? ``Offer me something.''
  Carmen Velasquez made an offer, and with that, she began her active 
campaign to raise $2.1 million for construction of the first of 
Alivio's community health centers.
  Carmen's passion and tenacity turned her dream into a reality. Alivio 
Medical Center opened its doors 1 year later in 1989, as a bilingual, 
bicultural nonprofit community health center. Alivio has since grown to 
become a respected advocacy organization that is also an essential 
safety net provider for many low-income and vulnerable residents of 
Chicago.
  Because of Carmen Velasquez's hard work and dedication, Alivio 
continues to meet the primary health care needs of over 20,000 Spanish-
speaking, predominantly Mexican immigrants who fall through the cracks 
of the health care system every year. The residents of the Pilsen, 
Little Village and Back of the Yards neighborhoods who come to the 
clinic every year know that, regardless of their income level or 
insurance coverage, they can expect the very best quality care.
  Carmen's commitment to her community has not gone unnoticed. She has 
been recognized for excellence in her work throughout the years. She 
was recently recognized at halftime by the Chicago Bears with the 
National Football League's, NFL, Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, 
and she has been honored with the MALDEF Lifetime Achievement Award, 
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award, 
and Premio Ohtli, the highest honor bestowed by the Government of 
Mexico on an individual for service to Mexicans living abroad. Illinois 
Governor Pat Quinn has also honored Carmen as the Latino Heritage Month 
``Trailblazer of the Day.''
  I was fortunate to meet Carmen and her family early in my Senate 
career. On so many occasions I have counted on Carmen's wise counsel 
and caring heart to help me through the challenges we face. If I could 
make one phone call before facing a tough decision on an issue of 
social justice, particularly in the Hispanic community, I would call 
Carmen Velasquez and know that her life experience, caring heart, and 
street-level wisdom would never disappoint me.
  Carmen's perseverance and her indomitable spirit are tremendous. Her 
willingness to stand up as a voice for the community during her tenure 
as Alivio's executive director has left an incredible legacy to 
Chicago's Latino community enormously.
  Congratulations to Carmen on a spectacular career. I thank Carmen for 
all her years of distinguished service. I know I speak for Alivio's 
professional staff, the thousands of families that have benefited from 
her caring leadership, and all of Chicago when I say she will be sorely 
missed.
  I wish her the best as she opens the next chapter in her life.

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