Guide to Teresa Fraga Papers

Teresa Fraga has been a community organizer in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood since the 1970s. Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, she began her American life as a migrant farm worker in Texas. In 1966, Fraga, with her husband and small children, arrived in Chicago and settled in the Pilsen neighborhood among other recent Mexican immigrants. By the early 1970s, Fraga became concerned that her six young children were being exposed to drugs, gangs, and poor schools in their chosen neighborhood. It was at this time that Fraga became involved with local school boards and the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council (PNCC), an organization for which she would be elected President twice. She became an American citizen in 1979 and by 1983, Fraga had returned to school to earn her G.E.D. and a bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University. Fraga has gone on to serve the community through her membership on numerous boards, involvement with neighborhood groups and initiatives, and as a teacher.

Chronology: 1976 Chairperson, Benito Juarez High School Construction Committee; 1975-1977 President, Jungman Local School Council; 1976-1977 President, Benito Juarez Steering Committee; 1976-1978 President, PNCC; 1977-1979 President, Benito Juarez Local School Council; 1977-1986 Board Member, El Hogar del Niño; 1981-1983 President, Cooper Upper Cycle School Council; 1982-1986 Board Member, Pilsen YMCA; 1985-1987 President, UNO of Chicago; 1986-1990 Board Member, Gamaliel Organizing Institute; 1989-1990 President, PNCC; 1989-1990 Teacher Representative, Orozco Local School Council; 1990- Trustee, Chicago City Colleges (CCC) (during no confidence vote of chancellor in 1992 and following boycott from classes); 1995 Aldermanic candidate, 25th Ward; 1997 Aldermanic candidate, 25th Ward

This collection documents Fraga's participation in various community organizations in order to affect change in a neighborhood that faced urban decay, overcrowded schools, the stigmas of race and immigration, and few committed resources from the city. The papers also chronicle her personal journey from migrant farm worker to serving as a trustee and board member of numerous organizations. Materials include correspondence and memoranda, meeting minutes, newsletters, publicity, reports, photographs, event programs, and biographical documentation.

This collection is organized into four series: 1. Biographical; 2. Pilsen Neighbors Community Council (PNCC); 3. Pilsen Subject Files; 4. Photographs. See series-level descriptions for individual arrangement details.

• Names
  • Fraga, Teresa.
  • Pilsen Neighbors Community Council (Chicago, Ill.)
• Subject
  • Mexican Americans--Political activity--Illinois--Chicago--Archives
  • Mexican Americans--Social conditions--Illinois--Chicago--Archives
  • Social participation--Illinois--Chicago--Archives
  • Community organization--Archival resources--Illinois--Chicago
  • Community development, Urban--Archival resources--Illinois--Chicago
  • Community and school--Archival resources--Illinois--Chicago
• Geographic CoveragePilsen (Chicago, Ill.)--Social conditions--Archival resources

This collection is open for research use.

The preferred citation is: Teresa Fraga Papers, [Box#, Folder#], Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois.

Accession # 2010.14