Zully Alvarado: Transcontinental Journey of an Entrepreneur


By Robin Lisa Savinar 



The second of five girls, Zully Alvarado was born in the 'campo' (countryside) outside of Guayaquil, a seaport town in Ecuador. Zully was an active child, running and playing in the campo with her sisters until she acquired polio at age two. 

Zully's parents, neither of whom had more than a second grade education, didn't know why their little girl was sick. They noticed she became weak, having difficulty standing and wobbling while she walked. She was taken to see a 'curandera' (folk healer) in a nearby village. The 'curandera' said Zully's illness was proof she had been given the evil eye. Zully was given herbal treatments. Her parents were told to massage her, and apply hot 'hojas de plátano, coco y aguacate' (plantain, coconut and avocado leaves) to her body. 

The Alvarado family saved a little money and took Zully to see a physician in Guayaquil. The physician misdiagnosed Zully with typhoid and told her parents there was nothing they could do for her. Determined to find a miracle cure, Zully's parents consulted other 'curanderas.' They were told to leave Zully alone at midnight to allow the evil spirits leave her body. When half of her body showed improvement, Zully's parents were convinced the spirits had left only one side of her body.

Aside from the folk healing treatments, Zully's parents treated her just like her sisters. Her father insisted she go to school, riding her to the local schoolhouse on the front of his bicycle every day. It was at school where Zully met Father Joseph Laurel, a missionary priest from Chicago, IL. Father Joseph recognized Zully could not get appropriate medical care in the 'campo.' There was no electricity, running water or medical facilities where the Alvarado family lived. Arrangements were made for Zully to travel to the United States for medical care. 

Zully arrived in Chicago during a chilly winter at the tender age of nine. She was wearing a spaghetti-string dress, hat and white sandals - an outfit her parents splurged on before she left Ecuador. Zully spoke only Spanish when she moved to the States. She lived with Father Joseph's brother and his family who spoke only English. They communicated using body language until she learned English. The family took Zully for treatment and therapy and she began to walk and run with braces. Nevertheless, she was forced to go to a special education school against her will. The local elementary school barred her because they were scared she would fall on the playground.

After two years in the United States, Zully was sent back to Ecuador. She had almost completely forgotten Spanish and could no longer live with her family. The hardships were simply too numerous in the 'campo.' Zully moved to an orphanage in Guayaquil where she resided for over a year. While in Ecuador her health deteriorated. She had poor nutrition and no medical attention. It was decided she should return to the United States. Zully was happy to go back. She knew she would be bedridden for life if she stayed in Ecuador.

Zully went to an all-girls high school in Chicago and attended Saint Teresa college in Minnesota. She was one of the first students to receive services through the Department of Rehabilitation. They covered Zully's room and board costs while in college. Zully went on to receive a Master's degree in Child Development from the Erikson Institute affiliated with  Loyola University and a Certificate in Rehabilitation Administration at De Paul University.

After graduation Zully began work as a Head Start schoolteacher. She was only in the classroom one year before she was moved by the need of her students to begin a career in social work. Zully began to re-connect with her roots, working in social services at a school for children with profound disabilities in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood. Zully wanted to educate parents about how to advocate on their children's behalf. 

Social service work began to wear on her health. In the early 1980s Zully was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome and was put on heavy medication for the pain. The medication caused Zully to sleep most of the day and she could not continue working. She decided to make a lifestyle change, watching her nutrition and getting appropriate rest. Zully came off the medication and was able to move on with her career. But she wanted to make a change. Zully decided to pursue a career that would allow her to work at home.

In a bold departure from her career experience, Zully began to study fashion design - an interest since childhood. She wanted to bring color and pleasure into her life, and to find an outlet for her creative energy. Zully says the working in fashion was like therapy for her body and soul. Still, she was determined to make her work in fashion a contribution to the world. 

With money from her own pocket, Zully decided to go into shoe design. She disliked the look of her orthopedic shoes and decided to make designer orthopedic shoes so people with disabilities could have comfortable shoes that were aesthetically pleasing. For the next 11 years Zully designed and made shoes for the hard-to-fit. She had clients from all around the world sending her casts of their feet for pairs of her made-to-order shoes. 

Zully left the shoe-making business when her illness worsened and her thoughts turned to trying something else. In order to be prepared for retirement Zully began taking financial services courses. She decided to open up her own financial services consulting firm. Zully opened Silverado Financial Network in 1999, one year after she married her sweetheart.  She and her husband worked together for eleven years, making their business a success.  During this same period, she also founded a non-profit, volunteer organization, Causes for Change International (CCI) to help meet the health, educational and economic needs of children, women, and persons with disabilities. Zully sees CCI as the bridge serving her two Americas.

Zully says her life experience has made her a stronger person. She is passionate about advocating for a just society for all, and continues to "shoot for the top" in everything she does. Zully strongly believes people with disabilities should pursue entrepreneurship to define their own boundaries, goals and successes.