DECEMBER NEWS

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES AT IMMIGRATION FORUM Over 50 community residents attended a community forum organized by Alderman George Cardenas at María Saucedo Scholastic Academy. The forum featured a panel of several immigration experts, including Latinos Progresando's Chief Operations Officer Marcy Gonzalez, who provided information about Latinos Progresando's immigration legal services program and answered questions from concerned community residents looking for answers in the aftermath of the presidential election. The forum was covered by local news network Univision Chicago, which highlighted the fears of families in Latinos Progresando's community and stressed immigration experts' recommendations to educate oneself and to remain calm.      UNIVISION CHICAGO RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER TOURS MARSHALL SQUARE On December 2nd, leadership staff from Rush University Medical Center made a special visit to Hammond Elementary School, Taller de Jose, and OPEN Center for the Arts as part of a neighborhood tour organized by the Marshall Square Resource Network (MSRN) in collaboration with the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Latinos Progresando's Chief Strategy Officer Sofia Mendez spoke about The Network's history and work within the Latino community, as well as Latinos Progresando's work focused on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in partnership with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION BEFORE THE NEW YEAR A huge thank you for the support you have shown our       MAKE A GIFT A FULL HOUSE FOR TEATRO AMERICANO'S 'THE HEART OF THE HOPELESS' On December 9th, Teatro Americano's Teen Ensemble performed The Heart of the Hopeless to a completely full house. The play was showcased at OPEN Center for the Arts' new theater space and incorporated personal stories about dealing with conflict shared by Teen Ensemble members, and included elements of action, horror, and suspense. The original piece was written by Jose Blanco, a member of the Teatro Americano Teen Ensemble, and directed by Teaching Artist Armando Villegas. LATINOS PROGREDANDO'S ASSOCIATE BOARD SECRETARY PRESENTS AT TRUMAN COLLEGE On October 25th, Latinos Progresando's Associate Board Secretary, Edwin Monarrez, presented at a workshop for Truman College students as a part of the institution's financial literacy workshop series. In his presentation, Edwin recalled his own history of adversity, as well as his ultimate successes pursuing a career in special education. Edwin also spoke about Latinos Progresando's spectrum of legal and educational services related to immigration and the Dr. Angela Perez Miller Scholarship that Latinos Progresando provides annually to Latino and immigrant students. LAURA J. RÁMIREZ ON BEING MEXICANA At MEX talks, Laura J. Rámirez spoke about how Mexican women carry with them the trauma of their ancestors, their present suffering, and their hopes for the future to reclaim the land that was taken from them. Laura told a story about her relentless search for her "home", only to learn that "home" is not a place, but a community of people fighting for the sake of their children and their land. Today, Laura is an educator and advocate for human rights, education, and government accountability, and the co-founder of Justicia en Ayotzinapa - Comite Chicago. If you missed Laura in September, or just want to see her speak again, watch her talk by clicking the button below.      LAURA J. RÁMIREZ