About
Alicia is from Chicago (Pilsen and Little Italy communities) and is the Founding Executive Director of Chicago Run, a local non-profit that provides free physical activity programs to Chicago Public School students as a means of promoting health and wellness, digital learning, social inclusion, and cross-community relationship-building. She helped launch Chicago Run as the first staff member in 2008 and has built and led the organization to its current size of serving over 17,500 students in 50 Chicago Public Schools in 30 low-income neighborhoods across the city – a 775% program participant growth. Prior to Chicago Run, Alicia served as the head of Hispanic Business Development for First American Bank, where she oversaw the expansion of private-public partnerships in the Latino community. Alicia’s roots are in the community and prior to working in the private sector, she held positions as a community organizer and youth development program director in both Chicago (Enlace) and Boston (Hispanic Office of Planning & Evaluation). In addition to Chicago Run, she serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy, and is also on the Board of Directors for Heartland Alliance Human Care Services, Instituto del Progreso Latino, and the Enlace Legacy Board. Alicia is a recipient of the 2017 Crain’s 40 Under 40 List, the 2017 Chicago Cubs Roberto Clemente Community Leader Award, the 2016 President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition Community Leadership Award, the Latina Entrepreneur of the Year (2012) from the Chicago Latino Network, the 35 Under 35 Chicago Leadership Award (2009) from the Community Renewal Society, and the 2009 Emerging Health Leader from the Health and Medicine Policy Research Group. Alicia is a graduate of Stanford University Business School’s Non-Profit Executive Leadership Program, a fellow in the 2013-2014 American Express NGEN Fellows Program with the Independent Sector, a Fellow in the 2011 Leadership Greater Chicago Class, and a fellow in the 2012 Latino Leadership Academy with the Latino Policy Forum. Most recently Alicia was a Fellow in the 2016-2017 German Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program. Alicia graduated with honors in Latin American History from Brown University.
Videos (1)
How Alicia Gonzalez Scaled Back Her Business To Ultimately See Substantial Growth
