Our Chicago: Fostering the next generation of Latino leaders
The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation got its start in 2002. It was founded by a group of legislators, all of them from Chicago and all of them male.
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"What they wanted was to found a non-profit arm that could also serve as the arm that allowed them to be able to promote the next generation of Latino leadership but then also to have a system through which they could also understand on the ground level all the issues that are affecting the Latino community," said Oswaldo Alvarez, Executive Director of the ILLCF.
Alvarez says they now have 18 legislators, and the vast majority are women. He says the vast majority are now from the suburbs.
"So, it really reflects also the way that Latinos have been moving here in the state of Illinois," he said.
One way the foundation fosters young leaders is through scholarships.
Over the years, more than a million dollars has been awarded to students.
State Representative Barbara Hernandez from the 50th District, which includes parts of Aurora, North Aurora and Batavia, is one of those who's received one of those scholarships.
She said it was a great help, as a first-generation college student.
"For me, it was hard to navigate going to college. So, for me to receive that scholarship was a blessing because I was able to continue my education, finish my school. I was able to go get my bachelor's and then my master's. And now, I get to be a representative and continue that legacy that people have done in the past and hopefully help other students
navigate that too," Hernandez said.
Alvarez said it's hard to stay focused during current immigration action in Chicago.
For more information on ILLCF Gala: https://www.illcfoundation.org/events/illcf-4th-annual-gala-our-wings-our-legacy
