Who We Are
Alza exists to rise with families, lifting them with dignity, compassion, and opportunity.
We are more than a nonprofit. We are a human-services concierge that connects people to the resources they need with care and precision.
Vision Statement
A future where every person has a home, hope, and the culturally rooted care to rise beyond crisis and thrive.
Our Mission
Alza Foundation partners with individuals, families, and organizations to lift lives and build futures through intentional, culturally responsive care.
We work to strengthen people and communities by addressing the challenges that prevent stability and growth—providing support, connection, and solutions that adapt to evolving needs.
Every journey is unique—and we walk beside each one with compassion, respect, and a deep commitment to fairness and belonging.
The Meaning of Our Name
In Spanish, alza means “to rise” or “to lift.” For us, it is both a promise and a practice. We believe that every person deserves the chance to stand taller, to find stability, and to move forward with hope.
Our Work
At Alza Foundation, we believe lasting change happens when compassion meets strategy.
Our work is rooted in helping people and organizations rise together—because every life and every mission deserves the tools to thrive.
Direct Services
We provide hands-on support to individuals and families through case management, shelter operations, and housing services, while connecting clients to the resources that promote stability, wellness, and self-sufficiency.
Although these are our core programs, we are not limited to these services—our team adapts to the evolving needs of the communities we serve. Every service we offer is guided by cultural responsiveness, ensuring that each client is met with understanding, respect, and solutions that honor their background and lived experience.
Whether helping someone secure permanent housing, access mental health care, or meet their basic needs, we walk beside each person with care, dignity, and commitment to their unique journey.
Collaborative Partnerships
Alza Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to amplify their missions and strengthen their capacity to serve. Through subcontracting and back-office support, we provide expertise in operations, human resources, training and development, and administrative systems.
We go beyond logistics—helping organizations train staff, cultivate leadership, and align internal practices with their vision and values. Every partnership is built on respect, collaboration, and a shared goal: to empower nonprofits to operate more effectively and sustainably while creating positive change in the communities they serve.
Concierge Case Management
What sets Alza apart is our concierge-style approach to case management—a personalized, client-centered model that treats every individual as a whole person, not a case file.
We coordinate comprehensive care that addresses housing, health, food access, and other essential needs, creating a bridge between immediate support and long-term stability. Our culturally responsive, intentional approach ensures that each client receives the resources, advocacy, and encouragement they need to truly thrive.
Meet Our Founder
Rodrigo Carrillo is a seasoned public servant, strategist, and humanitarian dedicated to building systems of support that strengthen families and uplift communities. The son of immigrant parents, Rodrigo’s work is rooted in dignity, equity, and the belief that every person deserves safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive. He is widely recognized as a connector of resources, people, and solutions — especially in moments when they are needed most.
Rodrigo has led some of the nation’s most complex human service and disaster-response efforts. As the former Associate Secretary of Human Services for the State of Illinois and Chief Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross, he has guided large-scale operations, overseen multimillion-dollar initiatives, and developed innovative systems of care during times of crisis. While at the Red Cross, Rodrigo led Hurricane Harvey relief efforts across the Texas Gulf Coast, delivering more than $34 million in assistance to families devastated by the storm.
His career spans leadership in nonprofit, government, housing, and emergency management sectors. As HR and Operations Director at La Casa Norte, Rodrigo helped manage a $4 million organization providing emergency, transitional, overnight, and permanent supportive housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Later, as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Illinois Housing Development Authority, he led the creation and implementation of both the Illinois Rental Payment Program and the Illinois Mortgage Assistance Program — innovative initiatives that helped more than 175,000 households remain housed and deployed over $1 billion statewide.
Most recently, Rodrigo led shelter operations for the State of Illinois’ New Arrival Response, designing coordinated systems that supported asylum seekers with safety, stability, and pathways toward independence. He created the Asylum Seeker Rental Assistance Program, enabling more than 20,000 people to successfully transition out of shelter. He also launched Welcome With Dignity, a groundbreaking initiative that partnered with border-region cities to identify individuals choosing to come to Chicago and ensure their basic needs and health needs were met even before arrival.
Across every role, Rodrigo remains guided by compassion, clarity, and a deep commitment to community resilience. Through the Alza Foundation, he continues his mission of elevating people during life’s most critical moments — ensuring that families not only rise, but rise with dignity.
Rodrigo Carrillo is a seasoned public servant, strategist, and humanitarian dedicated to building systems of support that strengthen families and uplift communities. The son of immigrant parents, Rodrigo’s work is rooted in dignity, equity, and the belief that every person deserves safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive. He is widely recognized as a connector of resources, people, and solutions — especially in moments when they are needed most. Rodrigo has led some of the nation’s most complex human service and disaster-response efforts. As the former Associate Secretary of Human Services for the State of Illinois and Chief Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross, he has guided large-scale operations, overseen multimillion-dollar initiatives, and developed innovative systems of care during times of crisis. While at the Red Cross, Rodrigo led Hurricane Harvey relief efforts across the Texas Gulf Coast, delivering more than $34 million in assistance to families devastated by the storm. His career spans leadership in nonprofit, government, housing, and emergency management sectors. As HR and Operations Director at La Casa Norte, Rodrigo helped manage a $4 million organization providing emergency, transitional, overnight, and permanent supportive housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Later, as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Illinois Housing Development Authority, he led the creation and implementation of both the Illinois Rental Payment Program and the Illinois Mortgage Assistance Program — innovative initiatives that helped more than 175,000 households remain housed and deployed over $1 billion statewide. Most recently, Rodrigo led shelter operations for the State of Illinois’ New Arrival Response, designing coordinated systems that supported asylum seekers with safety, stability, and pathways toward independence. He created the Asylum Seeker Rental Assistance Program, enabling more than 20,000 people to successfully transition out of shelter. He also launched Welcome With Dignity, a groundbreaking initiative that partnered with border-region cities to identify individuals choosing to come to Chicago and ensure their basic needs and health needs were met even before arrival. Across every role, Rodrigo remains guided by compassion, clarity, and a deep commitment to community resilience. Through the Alza Foundation, he continues his mission of elevating people during life’s most critical moments — ensuring that families not only rise, but rise with dignity.
Our Director of Operations
Alfredo Oses brings over a decade of experience managing complex shelter logistics, vendor coordination, and service delivery—most recently with the American Red Cross and Casa Michoacán, where he oversaw resettlement operations for hundreds of newly arrived families. He has designed systems for inventory, procurement, facility readiness, and team supervision across high-volume shelter sites, ensuring daily operations run with consistency, structure, and cultural responsiveness. With a professional foundation in hotel and hospitality management, Alfredo brings a service-oriented mindset to shelter operations, setting high standards for cleanliness, safety, and responsiveness. As a formerly monolingual immigrant himself, he intimately understands the fear, confusion, and barriers residents may face—especially those navigating new systems in an unfamiliar language. This lived experience makes him uniquely attuned to the needs of the shelter’s diverse population and enhances his ability to lead operations with empathy and precision. His leadership will ensure the program functions smoothly, safely, and with dignity at every level. In his role as Director of Operations, Alfredo will be responsible for the daily functioning of the shelter, coordination between departments, management of vendors and procurement, and upholding facility standards. His strategic, hands-on leadership ensures the shelter runs smoothly, services are delivered reliably, and every resident is treated with dignity.
Alfredo Oses brings over a decade of experience managing complex shelter logistics, vendor coordination, and service delivery—most recently with the American Red Cross and Casa Michoacán, where he oversaw resettlement operations for hundreds of newly arrived families. He has designed systems for inventory, procurement, facility readiness, and team supervision across high-volume shelter sites, ensuring daily operations run with consistency, structure, and cultural
responsiveness.
With a professional foundation in hotel and hospitality management, Alfredo brings a service-oriented mindset to shelter operations, setting high standards for cleanliness, safety, and responsiveness. As a formerly monolingual immigrant himself, he intimately understands the fear, confusion, and barriers residents may face—especially those navigating new systems in an unfamiliar language. This lived experience makes him uniquely attuned to the needs of the shelter’s diverse population and enhances his ability to lead operations with empathy and precision. His leadership will ensure the program functions smoothly, safely, and with dignity at every level.
In his role as Director of Operations, Alfredo will be responsible for the daily functioning of the shelter, coordination between departments, management of vendors and procurement, and upholding facility standards. His strategic, hands-on leadership ensures the shelter runs smoothly, services are delivered reliably, and every resident is treated with dignity
Our Leadership
Alza is guided by leaders who bring strength from many directions: emergency management, nonprofit collaboration, and personal stories of resilience.
They understand what it means to navigate complex systems and what it takes to create lasting change.
Zaidi Fearon
Board President
Rohit Patel
Board Member
Raj Patel
Board Member