An avid Chicago activist, Lozano’s community involvement began with her work as a volunteer for the Centro de Acción Autónomo (CASA), a group that provided social services and information to the city’s undocumented immigrants. In 1983 Lozano’s brother, Rudy, a political and labor organizer, was assassinated motivating Lozano to continue his work. That same year, she successfully campaigned to elect Harold Washington as mayor, the first African-American to hold that position and served on his task force on education reform. In 1987 Lozano formed Centro Sin Fronteras, an organization committed to improving the lives of Mexican immigrants and their families. Through its efforts, a new elementary school, named for Rudy Lozano, replaced the previous crowded facility. Besides, education, the organization addressed issues of bilingual education, lead poisoning, sub-standard housing, police brutality, library services, employment and gentrification. Expanding its international focus on social justice, Lozano led a protest group to Vieques, Puerto Rico, to denounce the U.S. Navy’s weapon testing.

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