Elder Statements: Sister Alicia Alvarado

Alvarado, a Dominican Sister of Peace, was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Cleveland’s near West Side when she was young. She entered the ministry at 27 and became an ardent activist in Cleveland’s Latino community, helping to found education advocacy group Esperanza. She also worked as a staffer for Cleveland’s second Hispanic councilman, Joe Santiago. After experiencing a brain aneurysm in 2008, she’s unable to drive from the Akron Motherhouse where she lives. Yet, she still donates what little money she has to charities and activist groups. 

My mom was religious, but she was very, very open to others. She was open to gays. My mom was open to all types of people in her life. That’s probably why I am the way I am.

I did have a suitor a long time ago. He didn’t give up on me even though I made my profession. He wouldn’t give up on me until I made my final vows. 

He would always send me roses, so the sisters would know that on my birthday I would get these roses from Victor. 

He made his life, and he has two daughters. They still send me flowers.

The last few years they sent me money, which is even better.

I don’t feel I gave up anything by going into the ministry. I gained, I added more to it. 

When I was in Cleveland, [civil rights activist] Cesar Chavez came to town, to the diocese. He came to see where all the farm workers were in the state of Ohio. So we went to Fremont, we went to Toledo, we went all around Ohio. 

The conditions were always deplorable everywhere you went. They still are. Could you believe that in 2016 they still are? We still have to deal with those kinds of issues.

It’s all with the power of God. Believe that it can be done and all things will come to you. 

Follow your heart. Be giving and compassionate. Be open to all sorts of things in life — I was.

I’m always involved no matter what. United for Peace and Justice is an organization that I belong to. We meet in Norton monthly, and we make protests at the gun shows. 

You need to trust. People say, “I wouldn’t trust anybody.” But I would say, “You don’t know the person. Why can’t you trust?”

My mother would say, “El miedo no es de Dios. Fear is not of God.” And that’s why I have no fear. 

People say, “Why are you going here? Aren’t you afraid?” No, I’m not afraid. 

That is one key thing: Fear is not of God.