About the event
The Cook County Assessor’s Office, in partnership with La Casa Community, celebrates Hispanic Heritage month with a Racial Equity & Real Estate Conversation centered on the Latinx community. This year’s theme focuses on Latinas and access to homeownership and wealth building. Through our panel discussion and resource area, we are hoping to provide current and prospective homeowners with the information and tools needed to sustain their homeownership journey.
Panel Information
Moderator: Angelina Romero, Chief Communications Officer, Cook County Assessor's Office
Angelina Romero is an executive communications and public affairs strategist specializing in plain language, multilingual communications, digital strategy, branding, and making government information easier to understand and access. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Angelina has built her career in county government, bringing experience from two of the nation’s largest counties.
Most recently, at the Cook County Assessor’s Office, Angelina built and led an award-winning communications team and spearheaded large-scale communications and branding initiatives. Her work focuses on meeting people where they are and creating communications that are clear, accessible, and engaging. Angelina holds a master’s degree in public administration and a marketing certificate from DePaul University.
Angelina serves on the board of Springboard to Success. She is also a co-host of Bebeton, a community event connecting southwest side families with children ages 0–6 to resources and maternal health services. Angelina is a new mother and resident of Gage Park.
Panelists:
Erica Esquivel, Managing Broker, The Resurrection Project
Designated Managing Broker, Self-Made Investor & Director of Government Affairs
Erica Esquivel is a powerhouse in the Chicago real estate and affordable housing advocacy sectors. Born in Chicago and raised by an entrepreneurial family in Michoacán, Mexico, she returned to the U.S. armed with a degree in Finanzas Empresariales and a deep-seated passion for community economic empowerment. Before transitioning to real estate, Erica spent over six years in corporate finance and accounting analytical roots that ultimately provided the financial foundation and confidence to become a highly successful, self-made real estate investor.
As the daughter of immigrant parents who arrived in the United States with only courage and hope, Erica deeply understands that secure housing is the ultimate cornerstone of family stability. Today, she channels her personal background and financial acumen into systemic change. As the Designated Managing Broker for The Resurrection Project (TRP) Realty, she spearheads the sales efforts for the landmark "Reclaiming Back of the Yards" campaign, a vital initiative driving the construction and rehabilitation of affordable homes across Chicago's South and West Sides.
Beyond local transactions, Erica is a recognized champion for fair housing and policy reform. Serving as the Government Affairs Co-Director for NAHREP Chicago and an active leader on state policy committees, she regularly takes the fight to lawmakers in Springfield. Her advocacy focuses heavily on shaping smart housing policy, protecting property rights, expanding first-time homebuyer resources, and lobbying for equitable property taxation.
Erica’s fierce dedication to low- and moderate-income families has earned her extensive elite industry accolades. She is a multi-year CAR Top Producer, an inductee into the NAHREP Top 250, NAHREP Rookie of the Year, and has been named a Top 10 Realtor by the American Institute of Realtors for six consecutive years. Her industry credentials speak to her elite standards, carrying advanced designations including ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative), RENE (Real Estate Negotiation Expert), CRB (Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager), and the prestigious C2EX (Commitment to Excellence) endorsement.
Erica's approach is defined by transparency, unyielding communication, and absolute community dedication. Whether she is guiding a first-generation family toward homeownership or advocating for housing equity on a legislative floor, she believes that the right property doesn't just house a family it builds generational wealth.
When taking a rare break from her civic and professional roles, Erica escapes to the rural countryside to recharge with her two boys and her horses, drawing inspiration from the peace of nature.
Lupe Marin, Director of Outreach, Cook County Assessor's Office
Lupe is a first-generation Latina who is dedicated to empowering the Latinx community. Through her experience in the nonprofit sector, she has developed expertise in providing financial education services and guiding fellow first-generation students through financial aid. As the Director of Outreach, Lupe utilizes her public speaking skills to ensure that vital information and resources reach all communities in Cook County.
Angie Maciel-Wright, Owner of La Casa Playroom and Community
Angie Maciel is the founder of La Casa Community, a grassroots initiative rooted in her hometown of Brighton Park. A native of the neighborhood, Angie is a mother of two, wife, daughter of Mexican immigrants, landlord, and small business owner.
After leaving Chicago for college in New York City, Angie intentionally returned home to invest in the community that raised her. Through La Casa Community, she creates free and accessible experiences centered around play, culture, wellness, education, and mutual aid—bringing families together and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and connected.
Angie believes deeply that community care should be joyful.