Spring 2023 Newsletter

A Message from President & CEO Sylvia Puente

Friends and neighbors,

Happy Spring! May the season of new beginnings revive and reinvigorate you.

We at the Forum are revitalized this April as we celebrate 15 years, our quincinera, of building the Latino community's power, influence, and leadership. My continued heartfelt thanks to the generous support of our friends, donors, and the many foundations that see the Forum as a wise investment. Thank you to the organizations, communities and individuals with whom we have been privileged to work with to strengthen the mosaic of Latino families and neighborhoods... Continue Reading

Polls Released Amidst Mayoral Election

Ahead of the Mayoral election, Northwestern University’s Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy (CSDD) and a coalition of Black and Latino nonprofits funded and developed a poll to better understand the issues mobilizing Black and Latino Chicago voters, showing common ground among the two groups of voters. View poll results here.

Shortly before the run-off election, Northwestern University’s Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy (CSDD) and the coalition of nonprofits released the results of a second nonpartisan poll showing candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas in a neck-and neck race to the finish line. View poll results here.

The coalition included Hispanic Federation, Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative, Latino Policy Forum and Latino Victory Project. The polls were conducted by BSP Research.

Illinois Latino Agenda Calls for Action

A Letter to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson

On April 5th, the Illinois Latino Agenda (ILA), a coalition of Latino leaders from the largest Latino-serving organizations in Chicago, addressed a letter to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on the disparities in Chicago’s Latino communities, calling for him to prioritize a better quality of life for Latinos in Chicago.

The letter addressed to Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson congratulated him on his victory and specified that in order to truly promote equity and ensure a better quality of life for Chicago’s Latino communities, Johnson will need to focus on the four priority areas:

1. Community Development
2. Equitable Representation
3. Youth Violence Prevention
4. Sanctuary City

The letter calls for real commitment from Mayor-elect Johnson to address the disparities in Chicago’s Latino communities, which too often go ignored. The co-signers pledged to be a resource to Mayor-elect Johnson to help ensure his commitment to improving the wellbeing of Latinos throughout the City. That starts with Latino representation at the highest levels of the new administration. The nonprofits that signed on to this letter serve tens of thousands of the City’s most vulnerable residents in all aspects of vital social service.

Read Letter

The Forum and Partner Organizations Host Conversations with the Mayoral Candidates

The Forum convened 17 Black and Latino organizations to host Chicago's Black and Brown Future: Conversations with the Mayoral Candidates

On March 20, 2023, the Forum along with 17 Black and Latino organizations hosted a mayoral run-off conversation at the Chicago History Museum. Questions focused on key issues amongst the Black and Brown community, addressing variety of subjects including education policy, immigrants, public safety, affordable housing, and ensuring Black and Latino representation in city leadership roles. Thank you to all who joined and helped make this event a success!

Watch event
View photos

Education

Rosario Hernandez, Senior Education Analyst, was invited by Senator Pacione-Zayas to provide expert subject matter testimony on the benefits of full-day bilingual preschool for Illinois English Learners. Using research from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, she testified the importance of early education for the growing English Learner population to ensure their readiness for kindergarten and beyond.

Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro, Director of Education Policy and Research, was invited to participate in a national panel discussion with the 2023 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Policy Briefing over the national teacher shortage. The panel discussed the importance of understanding why a teacher shortage exists, how that impacts the classroom and policy decisions, and most importantly how we can work towards closing this gap/shrinking this shortage.

2023 Multicultural Leadership Academy Cohort Selected

On January 11, 2023 at the Pritzker Foundation, the Multicultural Academy Alumni Selection Committee selected the 2023 MLA Cohort. Thank you to: Luis Narvez, Cory Stevenson, Craig Stevenson, Wendy Williams, Barbara Meschino, Ebony Campbell, Jose Luis Alvarez, Aasia Castandeda-Mohammad, Esteban Rodriquez.

The 2023 MLA Cohort gathered for their first meeting on February 18, 2023 at the Field Museum where they introduced themselves and shared stories of their ancestors.

On March 23-25, 2023, the 2023 Cohort participated in their first retreat at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Joliet, Illinois. Cohort members participated in workshops and activities that focused on promoting black and brown collaboration.

More in MLA:

Congratulationes to MLA Alumni, Claude Robinson. On March 9, 2023, Mr. Robinson launched his business, Onyx Strategic Partners at the beautiful Bordeau Griffin Design Center.

Public Charge Rule Update

On March 30, 2023, Nina Sedeño, Immigration Policy Analyst of the Latino Policy Forum, gave an update on what has changed for the 2022 Final Public Charge Rule. In this presentation, topics include who the new rule applies to and which programs will be considered. To learn more, watch the video, download the presentation and resources.

Sylvia Puente Recognized With Three Awards

Women Who WIN Class of 2023, iHeartMedia Chicago

The Honorary Doctoral Degree, Governor's University

2023 Career Achievement Award, Harris Public Policy

Staff Updates

Erika Mendez, Associate Director of Education, welcomed her baby Catalina Isabel on March 22nd at 8lbs and 12 ounces. Bien venida Catalina!

Winter 2023 Survey Results

Are you fully vaccinated?

Spring 2023 Survey Question

Which community investment or reform action do you find to be most urgent following Mayor-elect
Brandon Johnsons position in office?

Take Survey

The Forum News Roundup

3/2/23: Sylva and Ald. Leslie Hairston analyze voter turnout in the mayoral race after the polls close – CBS Chicago

3/2/23: Final thoughts on election night results, Sylvia and Ald. Hairston – Yahoo

3/3/23: “My read on it, as I’m calling it, is the old-school progressives in the Latino community, most of whom I think went with Congressman García, and the new-school progressives in the Latino community, who went for Brandon Johnson,” said Sylvia Puente, her thoughts on the mayoral election results. – Block Club Chicago

3/6/23: Announcing the 2023 iHeart Media Women Who WIN class, including Sylvia Puente – Radio Online

3/7/23: Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson election forum livestream – NBC Chicago

3/13/23: Jose Munoz’s commentary on winning Latino Voters in the Tribune – Chicago Tribune

3/13/23: Noreen Sugrue’s op/ed: work is killing Latinos – The Edge

3/18/23: PR release on Dr. Ayala’s Voice4Equity Lifetime Achievement Award which will be awarded at the When Women Lead Summit on June 19. – Yahoo News

3/21/23: Recap on the mayoral conversation event – Chicago Sun-Times

3/28/23: Story about statistical tie between Johnson and Vallas, cites Northwestern poll – NBC Chicago

3/28/23: Video story from Fox 32 broadcast says that Latino vote might determine the election, interview with Sylvia – Yahoo News

3/28/23: Chicago latinos tilting towards Vallas in mayoral race, citing Northwestern poll – NBC News

3/28/23: Fox 32 video interview with Sylvia – Fox 32 Chicago

3/28/23: Poll: ‘Striking’ lack of mayoral campaign outreach to Latino, Black voters – Chicago Sun-Times

3/28/23: Noreen highlights barriers Latinas still face, even during Women’s History Month – The Edge

3/30/23: News package discussing the priorities and concerns of Latino voters in the runoff election – NBC Chicago

4/3/23: Article about Latino voters in Chicago, references the mayoral poll – The Washington Post

4/3/23: Commentary by Sylvia and Raul Raymundo on their willingness to work with the next mayor – Chicago Tribune

4/4/23: WBEZ quotes Sylvia saying that “with Latinos really up in the air,” as far as who they were voting for – WBEZ

4/16/23: Election results analyzed by ward, mentioning the Northwestern survey – Center for Illinois Politics

4/17/23: Sylvia interviewed about the lack of diversity in Mayor Lightfoot’s administration, “There is certainly a heightened awareness of equity, but the metrics do not reflect progress.” – WTTW

4/19/23: “They were very invested in this election, so there was a lot more, I would assume, boots on the ground,” said Sylvia, on Brandon Johnson’s campaign reaching Latino wards. – Block Club Chicago

4/20/23: Mentions the Northwestern diversity poll in explaining how Chicagoans voted in this election – WBEZ Chicago
4/24/23: Article about Sylvia’s lecture at U of I and her advocacy work supporting Latinos – Gies College of Business