Our Mission

The Anhelo Project is a non-for-profit organization that consists of a group of student leaders and professionals from various educational institutions and community-based organizations in Chicago. Our goal is to support undocumented students, who despite growing up in the United States and earning a high school diploma, continuously face challenging roadblocks when pursuing a post-secondary education. The biggest obstacle is financial aid due to their ineligibility to apply for federal and state financial aid. The Anhelo Project Dream Scholarship is available to undocumented high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students residing in Illinois, attending any college or university within the State of Illinois. Students do not need to have DACA status, and we strongly encourage undocumented students from all racial/ethnic backgrounds to apply.

The Team

The Anhelo Project Board Members:

Joanna V. Maravilla, Refugee & Immigrant Student Advocate, Chicago Public Schools

Karla Cabrera-Perez, Dream Gala Committee Member

The Dream Gala Committee:

Lisa Chavez, Dream Gala Committee Member

2019 Dream Scholarship Committee:

Lydia Saravia, University of Illinois at Chicago

Alicia Rodriguez, City Colleges of Chicago

Victor Negrete, Harry S Truman College

Gabriela Guzman, City Colleges of Chicago

Luvia Moreno, NEIU

David Leija, After School Matters

Carlos Ballinas, Northwestern University

Edith Cote, Little Village Academy

Carlos Samaniego, John Hancock College Prep HS 

Nayeli Fernandez, City Colleges of Chicago

Syeda Raza, Back of the Yards College Prep

Gerardo Galan, 826CHI