Inspirational Stories

My name is Luz, and my story begins in a magical town in Mexico where I spent a wonderful childhood surrounded by my family. As the youngest of nine siblings, I learned the value of support and connection, values which continue to guide me today as a happily married mother of three beautiful daughters. For over twenty years, Chicago has been my home.

From a young age, I've been fascinated by medicine and driven to help others. I initially earned my degree as a dental surgeon in Mexico, but my journey took a new direction when I graduated as a community health worker from Richard Daley College here in Chicago. This marked the beginning of my transformative commitment to service.

My passion for helping the community has led me to volunteer with organizations like CPS as a Parent Mentor and The Little Village Community Church. This passion, coupled with a desire to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancers, led me to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). There, I've deepened my understanding of blood cancer, honed my communication and leadership skills, and experienced tremendous personal and professional growth. As a leader, I work alongside an incredible team of community health workers, significantly expanding the reach of educational programs within Latino communities.

I firmly believe that an informed and oriented community is an empowered community, and I use the "Train the Trainer" model to develop more leaders and ensure lasting knowledge within our team. My work has given me the privilege of creating genuine connections with countless patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Seeing the positive impact of our efforts to improve access to care and resources for those affected by blood cancer is the most rewarding aspect of my journey. With love, I continue to serve my community.