“Latino Unity Day” in Springfield, communities invited

On May 7, the Illinois Latino Family Commission will celebrate "Latino Unity Day" by inviting everyone to join them in the Springfield Capitol for a chance to meet with legislators and discuss issues that affect Latinos. This is the third year that the Commission is organizing such an event. So far, 57 people have registered to attend. The idea is to tie in the event with the Cinco de Mayo celebration.

The main focus of the event will be education from preschool to K-12 including bilingual education. "Our students are not graduating. What supports do they have internally for Latinos to graduate? Only 17 percent graduate with some type of certificate. Sixty-seven percent of jobs in Illinois need a certificate," said Layla Suleiman Gonzalez, executive director of the Illinois Latino Family Commission.

Gonzalez said that Gov. Pat Quinn increased the budget funding for the MAP grant, which would allow more low-income Latino students to get the financial aid they need. The problem they face, she says, is that they don't apply early enough and this is key to get the MAP grant.

Budget cuts have also affected family support services such as domestic violence, youth programs, rape victim programs and child care, which is "one of the areas that Latino families depend to work," said Gonzalez. "We want to make sure we are saying loudly do not remove those family supports that get them. Without that help, it is very difficult and if those are gone it will be a tough situation for Latino family services. The revenue has to be there to be able to cover those programs."

The other major pieces of legislation that will be discussed on "Latino Unity Day" are uniform racial data classification and language access plans, in addition to the changes to Medicaid/Medicare plans. "There are a lot of programs that don't count Latinos. When you ask them how Latinos are doing, they can't give you information," said Gonzalez. "Every state agency has to have a language access plan. If you are on Medicaid/Medicare, you chose your provider before. Now you get to choose your insurance plan and within that plan choose a medical home."

Anybody can register for "Latino Unity Day." The event is free and starts at 11 a.m. and wraps up at 4 p.m. You can register at [email protected]. "Even if you don't make it to Latino Unity Day we can make materials available to you, just e-mail us at [email protected]. Ask for material for your district and make an appointment to sit with local legislator to discuss what it is to be Latino in your district," said Gonzalez.

The Illinois Latino Family Commission works closely with the Latino Caucus to bring new legislations for Latinos in Illinois. The Commission was formed Feb.1 2013.

Crédito: Nikoleta Morales