The Resurrection Project in Pilsen Puts New Focus on Education, Expands to Melrose Park

Alex Morales-Aponte speaks to students at DePaul University about the changing, growing role of The Resurrection in the Chicago area. (Photo by Luz Garcia Cubillos)

Note: This article was chosen to be featured on ChicagoStorytelling

The Resurrection Project of the Pilsen neighborhood has moved beyond its focus on real estate development to a holistic approach that includes education initiatives and a satellite office in suburban Melrose Park.

“Not [only] brick and mortar” investment, said Pilsen-area tour guide Alex Morales-Aponte, “but human capital” is the new priority for The Resurrection Project’s development efforts.

Morales-Aponte spoke to a journalism class at DePaul University on Sept. 27 about the changing and growing mission of The Resurrection Project in Chicago. He is an authority on the Pilsen neighborhood.  The formation and development of The Resurrection Project is intimately entwined with Pilsen’s rich, proud history.

“Pilsen’s history of activism provided the model” for The Resurrection Project, Morales-Aponte said.

The Resurrection Project is a faith-based organization founded in 1990 by a coalition of six Catholic parishes in the Pilsen community.  Pilsen has been a largely Hispanic area since the 1950’s. And Pilsen’s Catholic parishes have played a major role in grass roots community organizing since the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.

Latinos are very Catholic, Morales-Aponte explained, smiling a little, as he commented on the unique culture in Pilsen that gave rise to The Resurrection Project.