Alfredo, 30, has worn many hats during his five years and five months with the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP). He currently serves as both a Community Organizer and the Coordinator for the Legal Protection Fund and Illinois Access to Justice initiatives. But his journey with SWOP started like many others: as a community member being invited to act.
He first learned about SWOP while attending St. Gall Church —a SWOP member institution — when organizers were there encouraging people to register to vote. That moment struck a chord with Alfredo. With a background in higher education advocacy, particularly focused on student voice and leadership development, he found organizing to be a natural extension of the work he already loved. “SWOP felt like that same advocacy, just without the student focus,” Alfredo shares. “But here, it’s more like family. Things are more difficult and more challenging—but also more rewarding.”
Growing up in both Little Village and Gage Park, and now living near Auburn Gresham, Alfredo brings a deeply rooted understanding of Chicago’s neighborhoods to his work. He sees organizing not as a way to reinvent the wheel, but as an opportunity to guide people toward transformation—both in their public actions and private lives. “I want to be a witness to people becoming empowered by the tools SWOP gives them through me,” he says.
Some of those moments of transformation have been life-altering. Alfredo recalls helping undocumented community members secure legal status, opening doors to new jobs, long-awaited family reunions, and the ability to travel freely. “We can’t help everyone,” he admits, “but we’ll meet people whose stories really touch us. Following up, getting those wins—that really moves me.”
Alfredo’s faith and organizing work remain closely linked. He was introduced to SWOP through St. Gall and continues to stay active at St. Rita. Through these spaces, he sees firsthand how organizing can restore hope, especially amid the uncertainty of immigration policy. “Organizing gives a level of hope to the people. It is a privilege, an honor, and a blessing to be an organizer. It is not easy, but I’m grateful for it.”
When asked what he hopes for the future, Alfredo is clear-eyed and grounded: “You don’t know what will happen or what the future will bring. We can’t plan everything. We can only make sure our community has what it needs in the moment. My hope is that whatever issues we’re dealing with, it’s the right one to tackle.”
In a world that often feels chaotic, Alfredo’s quiet persistence and deep care for his community remind us that real change happens not all at once—but in the steady, powerful work of showing
up, again and again. For Alfredo Palafox, organizing isn’t just work—it’s a calling rooted in a lifelong commitment to advocacy, service, and community empowerment.
