Carmen Velásquez is the executive director of Alivio Medical Center, an organization she founded two decades ago as a bilingual, bicultural, nonprofit community health center. As a leader, campaigner, and committed advocate of health care policy, Velásquez changed community health care for Mexican, working-poor, uninsured, and immigrant individuals. Alivio Medical Center operates two sites in Pilsen and a school-based community health center at the Little Village Lawndale High School Campus. Nearly 20,000 patients are served annually.

Velásquez was recognized by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of Chicago's top ten most powerful women in the nonprofit arena. In addition to The Chicago School, Velásquez serves on the board committees of many organizations including the strategic planning committee of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center and the Health and Advisory Council at El Valor. Her recent honors include the Achievement Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Brigid Award from Concern Worldwide U.S., the Anti-Defamation League's Women of Achievement Award, the Cesar Chavez Award from the Rainbow/Push Coalition, and the Nuestra Vision Siempre Jovenes Award from Jovenes U.S.A.

Velásquez received a B.A. in Social Science from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s degree in international education from the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico.