‘A hub that helps’: Nonprofit Roots and Wings hopes to stay in its Bensenville home

Roots and Wings, a nonprofit social service agency that helps immigrants assimilate into American culture, is at risk of losing the Bensenville building where it has operated for more than three years.

Eren Loza, the founder and executive director of the organization also known as Alas y Raices, said the village of Bensenville, which owns the building at 302 W. Green St., wants to sell it for $300,000.

Loza hopes to raise the money to buy the building. Last month, she started a GoFundMe campaign to solicit donations. To date, the amount gained through that account and private donations remains far short of what is needed.

The nonprofit’s lease expires May 31. A clause gives Loza 90 days before the lease expires to inform the village of her decision. But she anticipates a notice to vacate as early as January.

“It’s unlikely, sadly, that I’ll be able to keep it,” said Loza, a parent liaison for Elmhurst Unit District 205 who has worked at York High School since 2017.

“I’m grateful for them. I’m not criticizing them (Bensenville officials),” she said. “I know for me it was a gift that I’ve been able to use the building for four years.”

A native of Mexico naturalized as an American citizen in 2019 following a 16-year process, Loza incorporated Roots and Wings as a nonprofit in 2022.

“I had a dream that I could serve everyone in the community and bring everyone together,” said Loza, who previously led or worked with a variety of charitable organizations, including Metropolitan Family Services and the DuPage County Area Project.

After receiving village approval to use the Green Street building as the sole tenant on a one-year contingency, Loza opened Roots and Wings in May 2022.

“At the end of that first year, they were happy,” she said.

Bensenville subsequently offered a low-cost, three-year contract for Roots and Wings. But in late September, the village told Loza that it plans to sell the building.

According to a Bensenville spokesperson, the village cannot legally donate a building to a private citizen, but can sell it at 80% of its appraised value. In July, the building was appraised at $300,000, the spokesperson said.

“For the last three years, we have believed in and financially supported Roots and Wings through the use of this city-owned property and are grateful for their efforts in the community,” the village said in a written statement.

“With pressure on taxpayers on top of mind, however, we have decided to move forward with selling multiple city-owned buildings, including the property that currently houses Roots and Wings,” the statement said.

“The current occupants were not interested in our offer to sell the property to them at a below-market rate. This was not an easy decision, but one that we believe is best for village taxpayers. We intend to work with the organization and its board of directors to help them continue their mission.”

Loza contends she is interested, “but I don’t have the money,” she said.

Roots and Wings — its butterfly logo signifying positive change and personal improvement — has helped more than 500 families from Bensenville and neighboring towns. The group has hosted more than 200 community events.

Assisted by about 40 volunteers annually, Roots and Wings offers English classes, integration programs, music, dance and exercise classes, youth groups and more.

Loza brings in speakers, presents resource fairs and, if funds are available, leads cultural trips that attract people from throughout the suburbs.

“It’s a hub that helps the community at large,” she said.

Loza is exploring temporary options if she must leave. She said the village has offered space in its village hall a couple of days a week.

But she hopes to stay.

“I’d love to have a steady home,” Loza said. “I’d love to stay where I am, if I can.”