Champions of Change
Michael D. Rodríguez currently serves as Executive Director of Enlace Chicago, a not-for-profit community based organization formerly known as the Little Village Community Development Corporation. Enlace Chicago is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of the residents of the Little Village Community by fostering a physically safe and healthy environment in which to live and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development. Through four program areas—Community Education, Community Enrichment, Economic Development and Violence Prevention—Enlace Chicago directly serves more than 5,000 youth and adults. The organization's impact reaches well beyond this number and benefits the entire community of nearly 100,000 residents. Enlace Chicago recently received the LISC Chicago and Chicago Community Trust, 2011 Community Strategy of the Year award for its comprehensive violence prevention strategies. Mr. Rodríguez completed a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago in Community Organizing, Planning and Development where he was the recipient of the McCormick-Tribune Fellowship for outstanding leadership in Community Development. Mr. Rodríguez is a life-long resident of the Little Village community and currently resides there with his wife Jackie, one month old daughter Sophia Mar and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Kahlo.