Alejandra L. Ibañez is a passionate bridge-builder, change-maker, community organizer and nonprofit leader. She has spent her entire career creating and facilitating relationships, programs, initiatives, and institutional partnerships that elevate the voice, power, and agency of historically marginalized communities of color, including her Latinx community.
Keyla Ferretiz is a Latina graphic design and marketing professional based in Greensboro, North Carolina. She specializes in social media marketing strategies and design for Latinx non-profits. Some of the industries she has done work for include: law, podcasting and apparel. She graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in Media and Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her free time, Keyla enjoys painting and spending time with her dog.
Marilyn Ortiz, drawing on her extensive experience with the Latino Community in Chicago, has become a dedicated Community Health Worker involved in various programs aimed at fostering holistic development—physically, mentally, and educationally. Her role includes organizing conferences, workshops, and talks on diverse topics related to personal and emotional growth.
Romavic David is Illinois Unidos’ Administrative Assistant, dedicated to advancing community-driven social impact. Guided by anti-oppression values, Romavic supports the Executive Director and team by coordinating meetings, streamlining communications, and handling key administrative tasks that ensure seamless operations. With experience in project management, data organization, and media design from roles with Urban Impact Seattle and NBMBAA she brings a blend of technical skill and dedication to equity, strengthening IU’s advocacy efforts.
Iris Sanchez, a newly licensed Illinois Unidos Health Navigator, has a strong background with two years of teaching and three years as a daycare intake specialist. Her work with Illinois Action for Children has helped her empower families navigating the Chicago Early Learning Program (CEL). Outside of work, she enjoys time with her dog, Nairobi, and her cat, Lily. Passionate about helping others, Iris is dedicated to continuous learning and community impact.
Alejandra L. Ibañez is a passionate bridge-builder, change-maker, community organizer and nonprofit leader. She has spent her entire career creating and facilitating relationships, programs, initiatives, and institutional partnerships that elevate the voice, power, and agency of historically marginalized communities of color, including her Latinx community.
Alejandra started her career as a community organizer at Erie Neighborhood House working with predominately immigrant, Latina mothers building community power and democracy at the grassroots level in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. In 1996, Alejandra joined Sonia Silva’s successful campaign as the state’s first Latina to the Illinois’ House of Representatives and served as her Chief of Staff until the end of her term in 2000. She is most proud of their work to increase free and reduced school breakfast and lunch for Illinois children as well as creating the Illinois Taskforce on Day Laborers in 1998 that helped lay the groundwork for the state’s first Day and Temporary Labor Services Act in 1999.
After spending a few years in the public sector, Alejandra returned to her community roots and became Executive Director of Pilsen Alliance, a direct-action community organization. Alejandra was able to intertwine her commitment to community and systems change at the grassroots level and led innovative and culturally relevant leadership programs and community organizing campaigns that included the creation of the first community housing and zoning board as well as a community-school based partnership that included, multi-generational programming and a parent community organizing campaign.
Alejandra has spent the last ten years in the philanthropic sector bringing her community organizing, nonprofit leadership and public sector experience to her work. She served as co-chair of the Chicagoland Workforce Funders Alliance and the National Funders Group Funders for a Just Economy.
Alejandra is honored to serve as Executive Director of Illinois Unidos; a statewide coalition of Latino health professionals, representatives of community-based organization, and elected officials committed to the equitable Covid-19 response and recovery for the state’s Latinx population.
Marilyn Ortiz, drawing on her extensive experience with the Latino Community in Chicago, has become a dedicated Community Health Promoter involved in various programs aimed at fostering holistic development—physically, mentally, and educationally. Her role includes organizing conferences, workshops, and talks on diverse topics related to personal and emotional growth. Serving as a crucial link between the community and various health organizations, Marilyn facilitates interaction, volunteers in different committees, and engages in projects that promote team integration and reinforce commitments to providing timely and efficient services to the community, fostering fraternal ties and trust.
A Colombian national and a clinical psychologist by profession, Marilyn has dedicated her career to working in vulnerable communities, focusing on the prevention of mental and emotional disorders. She has successfully developed and implemented projects centered around empowerment and leadership within the community.
Deeply committed to Illinois Unidos, Marilyn values the opportunity they’ve provided her to integrate her knowledge and professional experience as a Health Promoter into active participation in various committees.
Founded in April 2020, our coalition continues to have unwavering determination, driven by our mission: to fiercely champion equitable responses and recovery efforts in the face of the profound impact of COVID-19 within the Latinx community.
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