Staff
Luis Gutierrez, Executive Director
Luis founded Latinos Progresando in 1998. A tireless advocate for Latino and immigrant communities, Luis has worked hard to ensure that Latinos Progresando’s work is relevant and reaches the communities he feels are in dire need. Latinos Progresando's Legal Immigration Services Program is accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals, and includes accredited staff, and one attorney who has expanded the VAWA program, serving immigrant victims of domestic violence and their children. Luis is currently on the Advisory Committee for the Midwest chapter of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a board member of the Latino Policy Forum, and sits on the Illinois Coordinating Committee for the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC), a national Latino- and Caribbean-led alliance that seeks to improve the quality of life of Latinos and Latino immigrants. Luis’ belief in the importance of educating our youth and the potential power of their impact led, to the development of the College-Bound Youth Group (C-BYG), a program of Latinos Progresando, that is dedicated to ensuring that Latinos graduate high school, enter and graduate institutions of higher learning. C-BYG also fundraises for and awards a scholarship every year. Luis also developed Teatro Americano, a community theater program that produces original plays highlighting issues confronted by Latinos and Latino immigrants in Chicago.
In 2007, Luis received the Community Renewal Society's 35 Under 35 Leadership Award. In 2005, Luis received a certificate of appreciation from the City of Chicago for his work with Chicago’s Mexican community and was nominated for a Changing Worlds Immigrant & Refugee Contributions Award, which recognizes the contributions of immigrants, refugees, and their children, make to the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
E-mail Luis at luis@latinospro.org
Marselina Gonzalez, Program Director for Legal Services
Marcy joined Latinos Progresando in 2006. Marcy manages the day-to-day operations of the Legal Services program and assists clients in filing for immigration benefits. Marcy is the liaison between the Legal Services and Community Education programs, and she often represents the agency at workshops organized by Latinos Progresando and other community organizations.
Marcy has 15 years of management experience with Heartland Food Corp., one of the largest franchisees of the Burger King restaurant chain, where she specialized in customer service training and management. Marcy is applying for Board of Immigration Appeals certification and is studying for certification as a Microsoft specialist.
E-mail Marcy at marcy@latinospro.org
Deyanira Gutierrez, Caseworker/Accredited Representative
Deyanira has been with Latinos Progresando since February 2001. She is a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative. Her previous work experience includes Citibank Corporation and Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program dedicated to training young leaders by placing them in nonprofit organizations for 10 months of service.
E-mail Deyanira at deyanira@latinospro.org
Juana Salazar, Legal Services Receptionist
Juana Salazar has been with Latinos Progresando since 2007. Juana is responsible for the day-to-day front-office operations at Latinos Progresando's Pilsen office. Prior to joing Latinos Progresando, Juana was a customer service professional for 12 years, six of which she spent in a supervisory capacity.
E-mail Juana at juana@latinospro.org
Ariel Cohen, Director of Development
Ariel first joined Latinos Progresando in 2007 as a student intern for then-Director of Development Laura Seago. Ariel became a part-time Development Associate in January 2009, and began full-time as the Director of Development in June of that year. She graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sociology with honors from the University of Chicago. Her initial projects as an intern included redesigning the organization's e-mail newsletter, and as Director for Development she coordinates and executes funds development for the entire organization.
E-mail Ariel at ariel@latinospro.org