Thursday, March 02, 2017
Special to suffredin.org

Evanston resident Josefina Alvarez, PhD was honored as the 2017 Unsung Heroine from the 13th Cook County Board District.  Alvarez was honored by the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues for her commitment to providing mental health care for the community’s underserved.

In addition to her full time position as a psychology professor at Adler University, Dr. Alvarez is a volunteer extraordinaire with Mental Health America of the North Shore.  She assists with youth and families living with mental health challenges.  Alvarez has been an active volunteer with the organization for the past five years and served as President for the past three years.  She has devoted countless hours to recruiting, training and supervising volunteers, conducting community outreach, raising much-needed funds and advocating for inclusive public policy that increases access to vital care that can save lives, strengthen families and enrich our community.  She holds a PhD and MA from DePaul University in Clinical Community Psychology. 

Alvarez was honored along with 17 other women - one from each of the 17 county districts and one from Cook County at large – during Women's History Month. Unsung Heroine honorees were selected based on their contributions to their communities, families and professional endeavors that are vital, but seldom recognized. They are drawn from the community they serve.

The 20th Annual Unsung Heroine Awards Breakfast was held on March 2, 2017 in the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall.  The award was presented by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.  The event was emceed by Chicago broadcasting legend Merri Dee.

Click here to download a photo.2017 Unsung Heroine Award (L to R:Larry Suffredin, Trina Janes (Women’s Commission Representative), Josefina Alvarez (2017 honoree), Peggy Montes (Women's Commission Chair), and President Toni Preckwinkle).Commissioner

Larry Suffredin represents the 13th County Board District, which includes areas of Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago's 49th and 50th Wards.