It is the early 2000’s, Edith Robles is in her early 20’s and just moved to the Southwest side of Chicago. The neighborhood consisted of mostly Caucasian residents, and they weren’t receptive to the influx of immigrant community members, often harassing them and calling them slurs. Edith was one of many that did not feel safe on her own block. She struggled with fitting in and feeling unsafe with her new, aggressive neighbors.
“I felt sad. I had to move from my home parish. Then more and more Anglos started to move out of the neighborhood. The number of Anglos went from 80% to 5% [in my neighborhood]. We were the second Hispanic family on her block, now it’s 100% [Hispanics]. They didn’t want to get to know us, they didn’t want to live near us, they just left.”
Edith began engaging in ministry at her local church, and after hearing an announcement about a meeting on different community issues, she decided she wanted to be a part of that convening. The core issues of the meeting centered around housing, immigration, education, and safety. “I was interested in immigration and education, and I was impressed by the organizer that MC’d the event. He was very energetic and passionate, and I thought I want some of that.” Even though Edith still struggled with her English at the time, she felt truly heard.
Edith reflected on how this meeting had been the first time she had been able to be an active participant in her new community. “I could navigate my new community. It was the first time I finally felt welcome in a diverse environment. I was equipped with tools to become a leader. Community organizing and civic engagement was all new to me.”
Edith went from being unable to vote in her home country, to learning about civic engagement and actively working with her community toward change. Some of the organizing Edith participated in allowed her to travel to New York and Washington, D.C. for rallies to represent all immigrants in lobbying for freedom rights and immigration reform.
“I got momentum as a leader. I grew with the organization. I continued to work as a leader in the community until 2004.”
Things changed for Edith again in August of 2004. SWOP retiree, Maggie Perales, who transitioned from bookkeeper to Parent Mentor Program Administrative Director at the time, left a vacancy that needed to be filled. Edith became the new bookkeeper for SWOP.
Nowadays, Edith manages the budgets and finances of SWOP. The budgets for over 50 employees and 13 programs that make all our work possible. Edith oversees budgets for vendors, supplies, and pay stubs.
Despite Edith missing her time being more active in the heart of the community, she still embraces the power within her work.
“These are just numbers, but behind those numbers there’s change. There are people’s lives being changed for the better. I’ve learned that people are seen as numbers, and I refuse to reduce people-especially immigrants-just a number. We are not a number.”
