Guadalupe Duran

El Valor

El Valor is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 1973 by the late Guadalupe A. Reyes. A visionary leader and mother, Mrs. Reyes dreamed of a community in which all members, including her son with special needs, could live, learn and work. She and several others took out a small bank loan and borrowed a church basement in Pilsen where they started the first bilingual, bicultural rehabilitation center in Illinois, and named it El Valor, meaning "courage."​ El Valor is a multipurpose organization with a mission that reaches thousands of families throughout Chicago and surrounding communities via direct services. El Valor reaches millions more families through its National Public Awareness Campaign on early childhood learning. Our mission is to support and challenge urban families to achieve excellence and participate fully in community life. Programs enrich and empower people with disabilities, the disenfranchised and the underserved. El Valor builds stronger, more inclusive communities by supporting people with disabilities, promoting early childhood development, enriching youth, strengthening families and developing leadership. As a result, 3,000 families who have or care for a child under the age of five, including children with disabilities are in research-based early childhood programs that work. More than 1000 people with disabilities lead more independent through comprehensive rehabilitation programs. Over 350 young people between 6 and 13 years of age are increasing their grade levels through academic-based youth enrichment programs. In partnership with area universities, 600 leaders from the Latino community have received master and doctorate degrees through our leadership program held at El Valor centers.