Dulce Ortiz, Executive Director

Dulce joined Mano a Mano Family Resource Center as Executive Director in April 2019. She is responsible for leading Mano a Mano in the implementation of their mission through strategic planning, programming and community engagement. She leads in the development of strategic community partnerships and the policy advocacy agenda. Dulce has been actively involved with the non-profit sector and has dedicated her time to serve as a Board Member of different social, environmental, business health and government organizations. She currently serves as the President of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Board, serves on the Community Trust Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, IDHS Social Services Advisory Council, and is the Co-Chair of Clean Power Lake County. In 2020 she was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker to serve on the Commission on Environmental Justice Commission and in 2022 she was appointed to the Health and Human Services Task Force. Dulce also serves as a Waukegan Township Trustee since April 2021.

Dulce holds a bachelor’s degree from Robert Morris University. She is an advocate for the underserved and vulnerable population, and brings her expertise and drive to empower immigrant families. She is an immigrant, originally from Mexico City, Mexico.

Carla Rosales, Director of Operations and Human Resources

Carla has been with the organization for over 16 years. She is responsible for the oversight of all agency facilities, financial management, relationships with all outside vendors, and all supportive services such as reception.

Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Carla moved to the United States while in high school and is a proud graduate of Round Lake High School. She holds an Office Administrator certificate from the College of Lake County. Carla is proud to be a part of Mano a Mano because she enjoys helping other people and being a part of her community.

Celeste Flores, Director of Community Building

Celeste joined Mano a Mano as the Director of Community Building in Jan 2021. She is responsible for developing and implementing civic engagement and advocacy work, focusing on immigrant community organizing and policy advocacy. She also oversees the Democracy in Action program and the Liderazgo program for emerging leaders of the Latino communities in Lake County. Celeste is the child of immigrant parents. She was born and raised in Lake County, Illinois, and has been a lifelong member of Most Blessed Trinity Parish.
Before joining Mano a Mano, Celeste spent six years working in the environmental justice movement in several different positions, most recently as the Lake County Outreach Director at Faith in Place. Celeste’s work with frontline community members has drawn national attention to the environmental injustices associated with corporate polluters in Lake County. As Co-Chair of Clean Power Lake County, she has built strong relationships with various coalition partners and elected officials. Celeste has continually championed the need for environmental justice and frontline communities to be part of conversations that shape the policy decisions that will work towards an equitable clean energy future. Most recently, in 2020, Celeste was the guest of Senator Tammy Duckworth for the State of the Union address. She was a recipient of the 2020 Energy News Network 40 under 40 awards.

Celeste holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Theology from Bellarmine University. She looks forward to bringing her skills and knowledge to Mano a Mano where she can work for systemic changes that will eliminate barriers for immigrant families in Lake and McHenry Counties, enable immigrants to participate fully in their communities, and advocate for a path to citizenship for all.

Diana Gutierrez, Community Health Education and Outreach Program Manager

Diana joined the team in 2012. Diana is originally from Mexico and is bilingual in English and Spanish. She oversees the Community Health Education and Outreach Program. She has a background in medicine and public health as a former medical practitioner, professor, and researcher in Mexico. Diana has worked extensively with Community Health Workers or Promotores de Salud, both in Mexico and the U.S. Diana develops curriculum and training opportunities for Mano a Mano’s Community Health Workers and develops community partnerships seeking opportunities to inform, promote and advocate for health literacy in immigrant communities. Diana also sits on various local committees including those through the local hospital systems and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

Irma Barrientos, Healthy Families and Successful Children Programs Manager

Irma joined Mano a Mano in November 2019 as Community Health Caseworker. In July 2022, Irma transitioned into the Program Manager position. Irma is the daughter of immigrant parents from Zacatecas, Mexico. She was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her family migrated to the Round Lake Beach Area in 1987, where she finished elementary and middle school and, in 2011, graduated from Round Lake Senior High School.

Irma received her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Northeastern Illinois University. Since her start at Mano a Mano, she has provided direct case management through all Healthy Families projects and initiatives. She is dedicated to providing support to her fellow community members alongside her team.