Who is she? Does she even go here?

Hi, I’m Estrella Diaz!

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I just want to start off by saying thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me! Now let's get started: I was born in Chicago but I was privileged enough to be raised right here in Peoria!  I was raised by two amazing parents who fortunately happen to be immigrants (Maria and Felipe Diaz) ,  and growing up they  worked tirelessly to provide for my family. It was due to their sacrifices that it taught me the value of hard work, empathy, and compassion. Those values have shaped me into the person I am today.

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I will say growing up, life wasn’t always easy though. My family  like many others faced challenges,  ranging from financial struggles to moments of uncertainty about our future. I remember times when affording even the basics, like washing clothes or putting food on the table, felt like a struggle. It was also the worry about wondering if my mom would be around because of her health. Thankfully we survived those hardships but due to those experiences it did instill in me a deep understanding of resilience and the importance of community.

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Growing up I attended daycare at the dream center then went to Irving for a bit before going over to Franklin Edison, then rolling acres middle school, to then graduating from Peoria High, where I had the honor of serving as the swim team captain (I wasn’t  a very good swimmer though to be completely haha, yet I enjoy the sport and the team.). From there, I’ve worn many hats  which meant working in food service, customer service, canvassing, a hotel receptionist and now as a Safety Advisor at Caterpillar. Beyond work, I’ve been fortunate to volunteer for organizations and programs such as a camp counselor at St. Mary’s cathedral summer camp when I was about 14 to then volunteering with young revolution, the Dream Center, Jolt, Lula, and co-founding Peoria for Palestine.

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But I will say my greatest passion has always been music. As a child I always loved singing  to then playing the flute in band for nearly a decade (can you believe that!), music has always been my way of connecting with others. To let you in on a little secret as I was in an Uber talking to my Uber driver about what I did (you know, about singing and running for council) she had called me the “singing politician” which struck me because it made me realize i could connect the two truly while music has the power to inspire, action is what creates change. From that moment on it stuck with me. 

 

Above all, my journey is guided by empathy and the belief that everyone deserves dignity and a fair shot at life. I carry with me the lessons my parents taught me which is to offer a hand to those who need it and to treat every person with compassion. There are people I hold close to my heart, whose lives and stories remind me daily of the value of life and how little time we truly have with one another.

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I believe that when we come together as a community, we can heal and thrive. If there’s a way to prevent unnecessary hardship, to help someone stand back up when they’ve fallen, then we should. We all know life is already hard enough, so why should we shame those who are strong enough to ask for help? Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed and to live with dignity, and that belief is at the core of everything I do.

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At last, thank you for visiting my page, and thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me! Together, I genuinely believe we can make Peoria a place where everyone has a chance to thrive. Talk to you soon!