Tara Henderson-Redwan’s journey with the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is marked by resilience, dedication, and growth. Her advocacy for citizenship equality began when she married a Palestinian non-citizen, with whom she dreamed of obtaining citizenship. Sadly, her husband passed away before realizing that dream. Today, Tara carries forward this commitment to equality and justice by supporting others on the path to citizenship. A proud mother to her daughter Aminah and stepmother to ten, Tara’s love for her southside roots remains strong, from her childhood in West Englewood to her current role as SWOP's Data Projects Manager.

Tara’s connection to SWOP began through her daughter Aminah, who introduced her to Joel Rodriguez, who offered her a position as Parent Mentor Coordinator at Gage Park High School. Although SWOP was running the Parent Mentor Program at a high school for the first time, Tara’s commitment and adaptability quickly shone through. When the program ended, she continued her journey as an assistant for the Parent Mentor Program, a role that eventually grew into data work at SWOP, where she taught herself the skills needed to manage data and worked closely with her team. This opportunity helped Tara discover her passion for helping children, especially those with special needs or mental health challenges. She has witnessed firsthand the increasing support for students facing PTSD, ADHD, and other struggles, which fuels her dedication to SWOP's mission of empowering young people.

Reflecting on her time at SWOP, Tara says, “I love my SWOP home, and I love what we do. I adore all my coworkers, and I think we work in a job that not many people get to do. No organization is perfect, but SWOP strives for perfection in the things that we do. If we can just put more effort into a few more things that our community needs, I know we can continue to accomplish so much more. If it wasn’t for SWOP and the opportunities they give me, I would never have learned as much as I have. They are about building leaders, and I started this position working off of nothing, so I have only grown since joining SWOP.” Through her work, Tara has become a valuable voice for the community, advocating for expanded resources for youth, especially those who need help processing trauma and adapting to their futures.

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