Resilent Together: Iliana's Story
“MCC’s mission,” says Iliana, who has been connected to MCC for 20 years, “is all about walking alongside families and helping them build resilience.”
Along with a deep commitment to the families we serve, Iliana has developed her own incredible personal resilience over the last two decades. In 2005, Iliana was "drawn to MCC because of its heart and mission…. [their] commitment to equity, dignity, and care really spoke to me.” Iliana continued supporting this mission as an MCC staff member through 2016, during which time she welcomed twin sons and began her own parenting journey.
In 2022, one of Iliana’s twin boys passed away after a two-year battle with cancer, and her other twin passed away from the same cancer in 2023. During this unimaginably difficult time, Iliana found her way back to MCC, becoming the Bilingual Community Resource Advocate as part of the Community Engagement Services team. Working with MCC families as she grieves her own children has been transformational for her: “This work helps me heal. I see that same strength in the families I support: parents who keep going, who fight for their children, and who find courage in community. MCC’s mission is all about walking alongside those families and helping them build that resilience.”
Iliana’s own definition of resilience is both hard-won and deeply personal. To her, resilience means “finding the strength to keep going, even when life feels unbearable. It’s showing up in the middle of grief and pain and still choosing hope.”
Today, Iliana works to connect MCC families to vital resources, meeting them where they are and ensuring that they feel supported and empowered. She believes that MCC can help families stay resilient by building strong and trusting relationships, establishing a community presence that families can lean on, and then showing up consistently.
