About Roots and Wings
Well this is the right spot
Our Founder &
Executive Director
Eréndira C. Loza Navarro
(Eren Loza)
Eren Loza graduated from International Relations in the Political Sciences Faculty area back in Mexico and National University of Mexico, Class 1994.
She has lived in 4 different countries, making the US her home country in the year 2003 and country of origin in 2019.
She moved to the Bensenville, IL area at the end of 2009.
For the last 10 years, Eren has worked PT in the local school district Elmhurst 205 at the elementary and HS level with the Parents, EL population, and the Immigrant Community at risk, at disadvantage, or vulnerable.
She worked PT for 3 other nonprofits as well: Metropolitan Family Services for 3 years, Project HELP for 1, and DuCAP for 4 years, leaving the last one back in Oct 2020.
During these past 10 years, Eren saw the need and successfully brought programs such as ESL classes in partnership with COD (60 people enrolled in the first year), Adult Literacy Program, Adult Education Programs, Parenting Programs, Children Clubs, Art and Music, Youth programs, Mentoring, Home help, Youth development programs with education and focus on Civic Engagement.
She took a youth group to Washington to see the monuments and the Constitution back in 2018.
Eren was also involved in cultural events like Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Marimba celebration in 2018 which brought more than 800 people to Blackhawk Auditorium in the heart of Bensenville.
Additionally, Eren has brought successfully community engagement programs in the southern portion of Bensenville like Christmas events, mother’s day, children’s events, family events plus 2 health fairs to local residents.
Eren founded Elmhurst Resource Collaboration Group and teamed up with other nonprofit groups and collaborate with the Village of Bensenville to bring successfully 2 vaccinations events to the southern portion of Bensenville and organized and lead twice, a big Health, Back to School, Resource, and Career Fair. The first one was in the summer of 2021 and the second one was in 2022. The last one brought more than 400 people to receive all kinds of resources.
Eren is a former board member from Dare to Dream Organization from 2019-2021. Additionally, Eren is an alumnus of the FBI Citizen Academy 2021 and she is currently a member of the Community Engagement Council, CEC. Eren also is the Chair of the LatinX Committee and a Board Member with EWAN (Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network).
Our Board of Directors
Lorenzo Rubio
President
I was born and raised on the US-Mexico Border in El Paso, Texas to immigrant parents. I studied to become a Social Studies teacher for Bilingual and English Learner students and then later became an Administrator in Education at the University of Texas-El Paso, The University of Chicago, Loyola University, and Northeastern Illinois University. I worked for 10 years at York Community High School in Elmhurst, building curriculum and programming for the Spanish Heritage and EL programs. I sponsored the Hispanos Unidos club and was very active and passionate about our community. Currently, I am the Multilingual Division Leader at Fenton High School, where I hope to continue to serve our immigrant populations in Bensenville, Wood Dale, and the surrounding areas.
Ivan Bojilov
Treasurer
Ivan Bojilov is also Grupo REU Law Firm LLC – Director
Ivan has an undergraduate degree in Economics and International Business from Loyola University and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has managed Grupo REU Law, an Immigration and Family law firm, since 2016 assisting in ensuring legal representation to immigrants and asylum seekers alike. Has worked closely with Chicagoland Latin American consulates to help further immigrant rights by helping set up and run mobile consulates as well as local community events to assist and educate immigrants about their rights and options. Prior to that, Ivan worked in corporate finance and accounting at Hart Schaffner Marx and earlier at Sears Holdings.
Ivan is an immigrant himself, moving to the United States in 1996 from eastern Europe with his family. He recognized early on the importance of education, integration, and participation in the community. Through his work and involvement in community organizations, he is keen on helping new immigrants understand the importance of education and their participation in local communities to develop and enrich them.
Edith Reynaga
Secretary
Edith attended Loyola University Chicago, earning an undergraduate degree in social work and psychology, and a master’s in social work with a school specialization. During her undergraduate studies, Edith visited the El Paso/ Juarez border to meet with individuals and organizations that provide essential assistance to immigrants, create community-based alternatives and advocate for just policies while meeting with individuals directly affected. Edith was an intern at Catholic Charities in their immigration and naturalization program, working closely with VAWA and U-VISA applicants. She also interned at Access Living Chicago in their youth program, assisting exceptional students. She is a passionate activist for immigrants and the youth, empowering them and advocating for their rights.
Additional Board Members
Blanca Vargas
Board Member
Blanca Vargas, Parent Liaison and Parent Mentor Coordinator at Fischer School/D205
Blanca Vargas has lived in Elmhurst since 2015. She and her daughter Blanca Mariana enjoy making crafts, playing board games, and watching movies at home. Blanca emigrated from Mexico City (where she worked for Corporations for fourteen years) in 2003 and is a Public Relations graduate, having partially completed her MBA. In the past, here in the United States, Blanca worked for an insurance agency and as a freelance reporter for a newspaper and a business magazine. After staying home for a few years to watch her toddler daughter grow, she joined the education field and worked as a substitute teacher for three local school districts. It was in 2015 when she started working for District 205 and has become very well known in the community for her advocacy and dedication to serving our community. She coordinates the Parent Mentor Program and related communication with Parents in BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Council) and DPAC (Dual Parent Advisory Council). Blanca is also the Assistant Treasurer volunteer for the Homeowners Association Condominium where she lives. Blanca recently received recognition by the Board of Education for her outstanding leadership during the 2022 summer programming for the students.
Kevin Poduska
Board Member
Kevin has been an English Language Arts educator for the past eighteen years, beginning his career in Township High School District 214, and serving the most recent seven years at York High School in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205. At York, Kevin is the Literacy Division Chair, which encompasses both the English and EL programs. His professional mission is to empower all students to reach their highest potentials by supporting them in building the tools they need to use language to affect in all facets of their lives. Kevin is grateful to partner with great minds and big hearts in the community through Roots & Wings as they strive to empower area residents in their own pursuits of happiness.