The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation was established in 2002 by a cohort of Chicago-based legislators, all of whom were men at the time.

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“Their vision was to create a non-profit arm that would not only nurture future Latino leaders but also provide a means to gain deeper insight into the real-world challenges facing the Latino community,” explained Oswaldo Alvarez, the foundation’s Executive Director.

Alvarez highlighted that the foundation has now grown to include 18 legislators, with a significant portion being women. Interestingly, most of these legislators now hail from suburban areas.

“This shift mirrors the demographic trends of Latino migration within Illinois,” he noted.

The foundation actively supports emerging leaders by offering scholarships as one of its initiatives.

In total, the foundation has distributed over a million dollars in scholarships to students over the years.

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