Influential Woman · Social Services
Rosalinda Chavez
Bilingual Community Navigator, Project Sun
Bourbonnais, IL
Her Story
About Rosalinda
I'm a bilingual case manager who helps families with children diagnosed with mental health disorders get access to the services they need, whether that's healthcare, finding an appropriate doctor, or working within the school district to make sure they have adequate individualized educational plans. Before this role, I worked as a contractor with the Illinois Farmer and Landscaper Advocacy Project, where I served as the point of contact for new arrival immigrant families in Kankakee County, helping them get services and meet their basic needs like food, water, clothing, and shelter. I've also worked as a program clerk for a not-for-profit clinic that focuses on providing health services for individuals who don't have insurance or can't afford to pay their hospital bills, so they can come to this clinic instead and receive low-cost or sometimes even free care. My most notable professional achievement has been working with new arrival immigrant families. I just graduated this month with my Bachelor's of Social Work and I'm starting my Master's in Social Work in July. My parents are Mexican immigrants, and my dad crossed the desert about 35 years ago with only $20 to his name. He worked 4 full-time jobs, sleeping only 4 hours a night, to put us through school, buy a house, and achieve the American dream. I really attribute my parents' sacrifice as to why I do what I do now. In everything I do, I see myself as a kid needing a social worker or supporter and not having that, so now as a social worker, I want to be that support person for others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rosalinda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my upbringing. I had a pretty rough upbringing, and in everything I do, I do it imagining myself as a kid needing a social worker or a supporter and not having that. So now, as a social worker, I see myself as a kid in everything I do, and I want to be that support person for them. My mom and dad are Mexican immigrants. My dad crossed the desert about 35 years ago with only $20 to his name, and he worked 4 full-time jobs, sleeping only 4 hours a night, to put us through school, buy a house, and achieve the American dream. I really attribute my parents' sacrifice as to why I do what I do now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to lead with your heart in everything you do, and then you'll be happy doing whatever it is you're doing. If you're leading with your heart, then everything you do will be enjoyable and will bear fruit.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think that whatever dream you have is defined by our hearts, and our future is really designed by whatever dream we have, and it's okay to dream big.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think right now there's a lot of stigma within the field, a lot of stigma against social workers in general, but also a lot of stigma when we talk about mental health, especially about the mental health of new arrival families and immigrants. There are inadequate services for Hispanic individuals, and it's harder for them to receive therapy in Spanish or any services in Spanish that they could benefit from.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think family above career is really important, especially as women. It's important to value a career, but also value the role as a sister, as a mother, as an aunt, and not shadow that with being so career-driven.
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