Pastor Lawrence Garcia is a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). Prior to becoming a full time pastor he had a very successful career as an auditor working for Rockwell International on the U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber plane and also with Northrop Corporation on the U.S. Air Force B-2 Stealth Bomber. His professional careers also lead him to work for HUD Public Housing as Director of Technical Services and also for a Public Water Utility company as a Project Manager. Currently he is a pastor of New Life Church in the Kankakee area. Through his ministry he has opened a free medical clinic (New Life Pentecostal Medical Clinic for the Uninsured on February 1, 2011 for people without any type of insurance (private or governmental). He is currently working on plans to take the faith base free medical clinic nation wide. In 2011 he also organized the effort planting a 3 acre community organic garden (New Life Pentecostal Community Garden) that will be providing fresh table vegetables and fruit for area food pantries and kitchens that help the hungry. He currently serves on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Kankakee Illinois, sits on the Kankakee Community College Hispanic Advisory Board and is also the President of the Kankakee County Hispanic Partnership. Currently he is in the process of opening a free day care for single working mothers.  

_  Lupita Sorich has served the community of Kankakee County since 1989, and has been an active member of the Kankakee County Hispanic Partnership since 1994. She was born in Mexicali, Baja California, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 20.  She married John P. Sorich in La Jolla California in 1985, and moved to Illinois in 1989, and together have 11 children.  Lupita graduated from CETYS Universidad of Tijuana Baja California, Mexico, with a associates degree in Clinical Psychology (1984).  She holds various certifications; A Youth Ministry Certification from the University of San Diego and the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (1987), a Hispanic Pastoral Ministry Certification from Loyola University (1990-1993), a Professional Certification in Community Ownership and Credit Counseling from Neighborhood Works. and a Certification on Natural Family Planning from St. Francis Hospital in Memphis TN. and BOMA USA.

She has worked in the community in various positions; at the Kankakee County Court as an Interpreter, translator and supervisor for 15 years, The Duane Dean and Behavioral Center as a Spanish Drug and Alcohol Counselor, The Illinois Migrant Council as a community health worker. At Neighborhood Partners as a credit counselor, at HomeStar Bank as a loan officer where she was instrumental in creating the HomeStar Bank  Educational Scholarship for Hispanic Students, and presently working at Kankakee Community College as a supervisor of ESL and St. Rose of Lima Parish as a Pastoral Associate and advisor for the Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Diocese of Joliet.   Lupita has 30 years experience in Pastoral Ministry. She has presented workshops and retreats nationally and internationally on Youth Ministry, Marriage, leadership, Teen Chastity and Natural Family Planning.

Lupita organized and developed the first Hispanic Youth Ministry in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties (1989). While working at Duane Dean with the help of the Joliet AA Chapter, she organized the  Spanish Alcoholic Anonymous group in Kankakee. During her Chair term Lupita Sorich developed and organized the “Make a Difference Awards” for Hispanic adults, youth, business owners, leaders and volunteers; and  she implemented the Educational Gifts for Hispanic High School students. She Implemented, developed and is currently the Instructor of The Spanish Certification Course for   Interpreters and Translators at Kankakee Community College. Presently she is implementing and organizing an area wide Spanish Marriage and Family Enrichment: Family Bridges “Lazos de Familia” with Family Bridges Chicago  and St. Teresa Church.

Mrs. Sorich believes in actively working and serving our community so others can live and succeed with dignity.  Since 1993, she has volunteered as an Interpreter and translator for the local hospitals and Bradley Police Department.  She has served as a Vice-Chair of The Board of Directors of The Pledge for Life Partnership, The American Red Cross of Kankakee County Board of Directors, Past President of the Kankakee County Hispanic Partnership and presently the Vice-Chair, Member of the Hispanic/Latino Advisory Committee of KCC. President of the Kankakee County Association of Spanish Interpreters and Translators, member of the National Catholic Hispanic Youth Ministry “La Red”.  Member of the ATA for Interpreters and Translators, and active member of The Volunteer Recognition Luncheon planning committee. President of a grass-roots Hispanic Board “El Valor-Kankakee”. She enjoys her free time with her family, cooking, reading and watching her sons play soccer.

 

Marcos Barajas graduated Momence High School as the class Valedictorian in 2009, and graduated Kankakee Community College with an Associates of Biological Sciences in 2011. During his time in school, he was very involved in the organizations that were available. Using the leadership skills he received during his schooling, he began volunteering for the Relay for Life of Kankakee County as well as the New Life Pentecostal Medical Clinic for the Uninsured. Marcos currently attends Governors State University to pursue a Bachelors in Biology and afterwards plans on attending medical school to become a doctor and continue to help out the Hispanic community of Kankakee County.

Carole Franke, a registered nurse, has been the Director of Youth Opportunities, Iroquois- Kankakee Regional Office of Education, since January 2001, coordinating positive out-of-school time activities for youth in Kankakee County.  Beginning in 2008 Ms. Franke also serves as the Coordinator of the 21st Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council.  Prior to 2001, Ms. Franke was employed by Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois for 23 years, serving as the Manager of the Mental Health Unit for five years prior to joining the Regional Office of Education staff.

Ms. Franke is a Professional with over 30 years experience working collaboratively with diverse groups including  many different neighborhood groups, city government and the police to form active neighborhood associations in the city of Kankakee. Since January, 2004, Ms. Franke has served in a part-time position with the City of Kankakee as Volunteer in Police Services Coordinator recruiting, training and mentoring community volunteers to implement a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in the community. 

 She serves on the state-wide Teen REACH Advisory Council, the Illinois Afterschool Network Board of Directors; the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership and has served as the co-convener of Local Area Network # 26 for the past ten years collaborating with other youth serving agencies and institutions to maintain strong and productive working relationships to benefit youth and their families. Ms.  Franke served served as the Project Manager from 2007-2009 for the Grant to Integrate Schools and Mental Health Systems in both Kankakee and Iroquois Counties organizing and implementing professional development training opportunities.

 Ms. Franke has a strong belief in giving back to the community and in addition to serving on the Executive Committee of the Kankakee County Hispanic Partnership she also serves on the Illinois Child Abuse Prevention Coalition Advisory Committee, Kankakee Resident Advisory Council, Kankakee County 4-H Foundation, Kankakee Community Development Corporation, Institute for Public Safety Partnership Policy Board, American Red Cross of Kankakee County Board of Directors, 21st Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council, Kankakee County Teen Conference Committee, Habitat for Humanity of Kankakee County Board of Directors, Child Network Board, Kankakee County Teen Court, Kankakee Area Regional Vocational Education System Advisory Board and the  Kankakee County 4-H/Youth Foundation.  In 2004 Ms. Franke received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Exemplary Volunteer Service. 

 Ms. Franke has lived in Kankakee County for over fifty years, and is the proud mother of four children:  Laura Faye( Marty), Rebecca Sidener( Andy), Deborah Thornton( Jim)  and Steven Franke( Lisa),  six grandsons: Matthew and Nathan Lagacy, Andrew Franke (Tamra), Gavin Franke , Caleb and Jared Sidener and  two granddaughters: Anna Thornton and Madison Franke and one great grandson Aiden Franke. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering, gardening and reading.