Honoring Celeste Pe?a: a lifelong advocate for Chicago’s youth and families

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) reflects on the profound contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities to our state and to our vital work of supporting families and children.

This year, we honor the legacy of Celeste Pe?a, a remarkable social worker whose life’s work was dedicated to uplifting the youth and families of Chicago. Her story is one of resilience, passion and unwavering commitment to making a difference.

Celeste Pe?a’s journey into social work began in the early 1970s when she was a freshman at Waller High School on Chicago’s North Side. Confronted with the race riots and gang activity that plagued the city at the time, Pe?a realized she had to act. In search of a way to help others, she approached her school counselor, who introduced her to the field of social work. From that moment on, Celeste knew she had found her calling.

In her early years as a social work student at George Williams College, Pe?a’s commitment to service was already evident. One summer in 1978, she spent three months in Reynosa, a small Mexican border town, where she cared for 20 children living in a group home without electricity or running water. The experience solidified her resolve to dedicate her life to helping others.

Her life’s work took her to various community service agencies across Chicago, each role allowing her to expand her impact on the lives of children and families. Pe?a earned a master’s degree from the notable Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and held numerous leadership positions throughout her career. Among them, she was the executive director of the Network for Youth Services, branch director of Centro Nuestro-Chicago Youth Centers and director of community affairs at Norwegian American Hospital. She also taught social work at Northeastern Illinois University and ran her own private psychotherapy practice.

Celeste Pe?a’s final role was as a special assistant to Illinois DCFS Director Jess McDonald. Here, she spearheaded the development of the Social Work Education Program, a transformative initiative that required all DCFS supervisors to earn their master’s degrees in social work. Even as she battled breast cancer, raised three young children and pursued her doctorate in social work, Pe?a continued to mentor, inspire and lead. Her dedication earned her deep respect within DCFS, where she became a role model and a friend to many.

As her health declined, DCFS honored Celeste Pe?a with a special reception to show her how much she was cherished. Her remarkable spirit and dedication touched countless lives. Director Jess McDonald reflected on her contributions, saying, “Celeste Pe?a was one of the most amazing human beings I have ever known. Her remarkable spirit helped change for the better the lives of staff at DCFS and the families we serve.”

Though she passed away in 1998 at the young age of 41, her legacy lives on. Celeste Pe?a’s life is a reminder that the heart of Hispanic heritage is in the stories of those who, like her, dedicate themselves to service, equality and the betterment of their communities.