Raul Raymundo ’87 receives prestigious Lincoln Laureate award

“In the city of Chicago, we regularly have the debate of who is the GOAT — the greatest of all time,” said Ric Estrada, CEO of Metropolitan Family Services, as part of his introduction for a Lincoln Laureate recipient this year. “Is it Michael Jordan, or is it the other guy? In the city of Chicago, we know who it is, and everybody else is trying to measure up to him.” 

The man in question? Raul Raymundo ’87, sociology and anthropology major and current Carleton trustee. 

On April 13, Raymundo was inducted into the Order of Lincoln as a Lincoln Laureate, the highest honor awarded by the state of Illinois. Named after President Abraham Lincoln, the award highlights those whose “dedication to the principles of public service inspires all Illinoisans.” 

Raymundo received this award for his work as co-founder and CEO of The Resurrection Project, which, as Estrada described it, is “a community development organization which grew into an innovative portfolio of community investments and grassroots services that are building healthier and more engaged communities throughout Chicagoland.” For Raymundo, this is simply his way of fulfilling the American dream. “The American Dream is leaving this country better than how we arrived,” Raymundo said, “giving back to a country that has given us so much.”

In practice, this has resulted in the construction of 800 affordable homes, as well as community centers, senior centers, and a charter school. 

“[Raymundo] is responsible for thousands of people staying in their homes,” said Estrada. 

The Resurrection Project began in Raymundo’s home neighborhood of Pilsen, Illinois when Raymundo returned after college and felt a call to action. 

“In that late fall of 1988, Father Charles Dom was preaching from the pulpit about a young man who had been shot across the street from the church. He was asking, ‘What are we gonna do about it? Are we just going to pray and pray that the problem goes away or are we going to do something about it?’” recalled Raymundo in his acceptance speech for the Order of Lincoln. “That really moved my spirit, and he challenged me to act on my faith and values.”

From the very start, The Resurrection Project was a product of community. In 1990, six local parishes contributed a total of $30,000 in seed money to establish the organization. In his own personal life, Raymundo acknowledged many people whom he found “deserving of a piece of this award.” He highlighted his immediate family, explaining how his mother served as a “model of service and organizing from a very young age” and how his wife has “been the rock of the family.” Raymundo says he’s relied on community to build community over the years. 

“Our challenge from the beginning was not to move to a healthier community, but to build one — and to build it with the tangible assets and the non-tangible assets that exist in the community,” said Raymundo. “In our community, the tangible assets were the churches, the geographic location of the community, and access to transportation. But equally important were the non-tangible assets: the culture, the values, the spirit of community, the people wanting to do something for themselves.”

While very local in its aims initially, The Resurrection Project has broadened its horizons. “As we build on our strengths,” said Raymundo, “we were also looking to build beyond our community.” 

Looking forward, Raymundo “continues to channel his energies into transformative solutions for change, strengthening opportunities for working-class, immigrant families,” said Estrada. 

Raymundo also offered an example of present accomplishments in his speech accepting the Order of Lincoln, reporting that “today we are partnering with the White House, with the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and we are a leading partner in creating work permits for recent arrivals. In the last five months, we have registered over 6,000 families to apply for work permits.”

In closing, Raymundo extended a call to action: “In 2025, The Resurrection Project will mark its 35th anniversary. I invite you all to join us as we continue to uphold our legacy of service and excellence. There’s still more to be done. As a servant leader, I will never stop serving others.”