Latino Policy Forum

Happy holidays from all of us at the Latino Policy Forum! Wishing you joy, love, and peace this holiday season. ¡Felices fiestas de parte de todos nosotros en el Latino Policy Forum! Les deseamos alegría, amor y paz en esta temporada festiva.

Almost 25% of all home health aides are Latinas, providing physical and emotional care to the elderly—yet despite soaring demand and predictions of continued growth, not to mention, hard work, their wages remain stagnant. What does this troubling trend tell us about Latinas and the wealth gap? Read more in Noreen Sugrue’s latest article about the Latino Wealth Gap in Forbes.com. https://lnkd.in/gTAM3jNg

After 16 years at the helm of the Latino Policy Forum, today was Sylvia Puente’s last day as President & CEO. This morning, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution honoring her and recognizing her lifelong dedication to building bridges between communities, advocating for policies that advance justice and equity for Latinos and all vulnerable people across Illinois, and for serving as a mentor to so many. Today’s resolution is a testament to Sylvia’s legacy and as she prepares to pass the torch, we want to say “thank you” to Sylvia for being our fearless leader, no matter the challenge, but most importantly, for having so much love for our community. Read her final letter as President & CEO here: https://bit.ly/4iDHl9T

Over the course of 16 years, the Latino Policy Forum has grown from a “scrappy” organization of three staff to nearly 20, and the one constant over the years has been our community's support. Thanks to all of you, the Forum is an organization that is a prominent and trusted voice on the systemic inequities standing in the way of Latino progress and the policy solutions that will move Illinois forward for *all* of us and our shared future. Become a catalyst for change today! Your support will help advance equity and opportunity for Latinos in Illinois. https://bit.ly/LPFGT24

Acuerdo is a Spanish word meaning “mutual understanding, agreement, or accord.” At the Latino Policy Forum, we developed a partnership model where we bring together experts in education, housing, and immigration who are not only shaping policy but are also on the ground, providing amazing programs and services to our communities. These Acuerdos are critical to our advocacy work. They provide a space for information sharing and ensure that our policy and advocacy is rooted in community, and represents the needs of Latinos throughout Illinois. We are proud to work alongside these amazing community leaders, and as we look ahead to 2025, we will work together to protect our community and advance equity for Latinos. Learn more about our Acuerdos here: https://lnkd.in/gaZSvCw2

This week, several of our team members presented at the 2024 Multilingual Illinois Statewide Conference! On Day 1, Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro, PhD, Latino Policy Forum VP of education policy & research and Marisa de la Torre, University of Chicago Consortium on School Research managing director and senior research associate, co-presented on new research from the Consortium about English Learners in high school. Their session discussed the Consortium’s findings plus how the study can influence education policy to allocate support and resources for English Learners. On day 2, Erika Mendez Diaz, M.Ed, director of P-12 education policy moderated the “Blueprint for Dual Language Expansion in Illinois” panel with Dr. Olimpia Bahena, Dr. Rita Guzman, and Francela Lopez. Drawing from a recent ISBE report about dual language programs, their session highlighted key recommendations for enhancing dual language across Illinois to ensure equitable access. Lastly, on day 3, Nina M. Sedeño, MPP, senior immigration policy analyst participated on a featured panel with Eréndira (Ere) Rendón from The Resurrection Project, and Marilu Moreno from Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. In their session, they covered how educators and administrators can support and empower immigrant students and their families as we all prepare for the changing political climate in 2025. Learn more about our education work: https://lnkd.in/gaqgF9Ji #MultilingualIL24

As you know, Sylvia is transitioning from being the president and CEO to a new role in 2025. Don’t miss her year-end letter, along with other updates from the Forum! Make sure you’re signed up for our mailing list to ensure you don’t miss out! Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3vKBWtP

Bilingual education works. Full stop. Earlier this week, The 74 Media's Jo Napolitano wrote about the recently released report, "English Learners in Chicago Public Schools” by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research that showed the academic success of Former English Learners. The achievements of Former English learners (ELs), she said, are “a powerful reminder that bilingualism is not a barrier, but a bridge, to greater opportunities.” -Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro, PhD, VP of Education Policy & Research Please share this widely to help us shift the narrative on bilingualism and bilingual education! https://lnkd.in/gi-pKUeF

Latinos across the nation deeply value higher education - a dream instilled in many of us by our parents and community, recognizing it as a powerful tool for upward social mobility and providing a better life for our loved ones. But systemic barriers make it difficult for Latinos to realize this dream. In her latest wealth gap column in Forbes.com, Dr. Noreen Sugrue, Latino Policy Forum senior research fellow, talks about challenges around the FAFSA application and why its increasingly difficult for Latinos to afford a higher education. Read her full piece here: https://bit.ly/49lThZD

Today is #GivingTuesday, a day when people come together and extend their generosity to support the causes they care about. This Giving Tuesday, you can help us advance equity, opportunity, and justice for Latinos across Illinois with a donation to the Latino Policy Forum. With your generous donation, you will support: 🌞 Education workshops that equip Latino parents with tools to support their children's wellbeing so they can learn and thrive. 🌞 Advocacy training for students and young people at Latino Unity Day in Springfield where they will learn the basics of advocacy and connect with their elected representatives on the issues that matter to them most. 🌞 Scholarships for promising community leaders to have the unique and transformative experience of the Multicultural Leadership Academy. Your gift, at any level, will have a real impact on the strength and resilience of Latino communities across Illinois. Thank you all for your support! Donate here: https://bit.ly/LPFGT24