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Elizabeth De Jesus

Elizabeth DeJesus, a dedicated mother of three girls, is a proud Chelsea native who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and spent her formative years in Puerto Rico. During her time in Puerto Rico, she pursued a degree in nursing, which laid the groundwork for her initial career in the medical field. After moving to Massachusetts, she embarked on her journey in healthcare, where she spent 20 fulfilling years before making a significant decision to transition into Office Management. Over a decade ago, Elizabeth joined La Colaborativa, where she has since grown into her role as the Engagement and Operations Coordinator for La Colaborativa Youth Career Exploration Center, effectively blending her passion for community service with her professional skills. Her deep-seated passions encompass not only community work and family but also the celebration of culture and a heartfelt desire to help those in need. She credits her strong commitment to service and education to her mother, who was a devoted school teacher, instilling in her the values of compassion and support. Known affectionately as the “office mom” to many within the youth, Elizabeth embodies the spirit of community, fostering a welcoming environment for all in Chelsea, MA. Through her unwavering dedication and nurturing approach, she continues to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of those around her.

Land Acknowledgment

At La Colaborativa, we believe that building a more just, equitable, and healthy future begins with recognizing the histories of the land and the communities that came before us, while confronting the systemic inequities that continue to shape our society today.

We acknowledge that La Colaborativa is located in Winnisimmet, now known as Chelsea, Massachusetts, on the ancestral and unceded homeland of the Massachusett People, whose deep connections to this land, culture, and community endure today.

We honor the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land for generations and recognize the lasting consequences of colonization, forced displacement, dispossession, and systemic injustice. These histories are not simply part of the past. Their legacies continue to influence access to land, housing, healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and the resources that allow individuals, families, and communities to thrive.

At La Colaborativa, we understand that health equity cannot be achieved without addressing the social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Structural racism, poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and barriers to education, employment, and healthcare disproportionately affect immigrant, Indigenous, and historically marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of inequality across generations.

This understanding is at the heart of La Colaborativa's holistic, community-driven model. Our work recognizes that the challenges facing our communities are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. By integrating housing stability, food access, healthcare, workforce development, education, economic mobility, and community advocacy, we work to address the root causes of inequity, strengthen community resilience, and create pathways toward lasting social and economic opportunity.

Rooted in our mission of Levantando al Pueblo, we believe that meaningful change begins by centering the voices, experiences, cultural identities, and leadership of the communities most affected by systemic injustice. Just as we honor the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples, we recognize the strength of immigrant families and historically marginalized communities who continue to shape our collective future.

For us, a land acknowledgment is more than a statement of respect. It is a reminder of our responsibility to turn recognition into meaningful action, challenge the systems that perpetuate inequality, and advance a model of community well-being grounded in dignity, belonging, self-determination, and justice.

We offer this acknowledgment with respect and gratitude to the Massachusett People, their ancestors, elders, and present-day communities, and with a continued commitment to learning, solidarity, and building a future where every community has the resources, opportunities, and power to thrive.