SALUD Youth Leader Zulema Ortiz recipient of the 2009 Sor Juana Young Visionary Award

Congratulations to Zulema Ortiz: 2009 Recipient of the Sor Juana Young Visionary Award

In celebration of the Sor Juana Festival Quinceañera or 15th Anniversary, the National Museum of Mexican Art is proud to honor ten outstanding women from all walks of life for the many contributions they’ve made to our community through academia, arts, civic leadership and community activism. The Sor Juana Women of Achievement Award has recognized many of Chicago’s Mexicana leaders that shine like beacons and serve as pillars in our community.

Zulema Ortiz is an active community leader living in Back of the Yards neighborhood. Zulema has become a role model to her Latino community by accomplishing many leadership programs and leaving doors open for others to follow. Zulema has motivated Latino students by creating a documentary for National Louis University and sharing it with high school students to convince them to take College Bridge courses. Zulema follows her passion of acting by proudly sharing her struggles and success stories on stage through Teatro Americano productions as well as participating in Project SALUD:Healing Through the Arts. Zulema is also an active C-BYG member, a college bound group of Latinos Progresando, an organization which focuses on immigrant rights. Along with Latinos Progresando and C-BYG, Zulema is a strong supported of the DREAM Act and advocates to gain equal opportunities for all undocumented students. Zulema also teaches Catechism to the youth at Holy Cross Church. Today Zulema continues her education at Morton College and continues to open doors and leave them open for others to follow because that is Zulema’s definition of success; knowing that others are successful because of the actions she has taken.

Tags: Latinos Progresando, National Museum of Mexican Art, sor juana, Teatro Americano, youth
Topics: Awards