New UIC Report: Growing Latino population needs more educational, economic resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2017

CHICAGO – Before the Chicago City Council meeting this morning, the City Council’s Latino Caucus, Metropolitan Family Services and the University of Illinois at Chicago held a joint press conference announcing a new report entitled The Latino Neighborhoods Report: Issues and Prospects for Chicago, which highlights the growing opportunities and challenges of the city’s Latino population.

This report, commissioned by Metropolitan Family Services to further its delivery of social services, presents demographic characteristics of Latinos in Chicago and examines the neighborhoods with a majority Latino population.

The report uses primarily U.S. Census Data and examines 12 of the City’s neighborhoods where Latinos are prevalent. Among the findings in the report:

The Latino population has increased substantially and is widely distributed throughout Chicago neighborhoods.  
Current levels of education for Latinos lag behind White and Black populations.  
Income levels of Latinos lag behind non-Hispanic White populations citywide but Latinos have higher median  household incomes in 5 of 12 predominantly Latino neighborhoods.  
Latino neighborhoods have higher concentrations of their labor force in manufacturing and typically low paying  service industries and lower concentrations in higher paying service industries.  
Low rates of Latino homeownership and high rates of foreclosures challenge wealth-building and neighborhood  stability in many Latino neighborhoods.  
All 12 of the Latino neighborhoods of study had higher rates of their population without health insurance than  in the city of Chicago.

"This report demonstrates that Latinos are present throughout Chicago's neighborhoods and have unique social, economic and housing success and challenges,” said the author, José Miguel Acosta-Córdova, Research Assistant at the UIC’s Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, a James J. Stukel Student Fellow at the Great Cities Institute, Graduate Student in Urban Planning and Policy, and President of UIC’s Latino planning student organization, LPODER.

“This in-depth study clearly outlines the dynamic growth of Chicago’s Latino community and the need to further expand its access to educational and economic resources to realize its potential and maximize its contributions to the city,” said Ric Estrada, President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services. “Metropolitan Family Services is excited to use these findings to strengthen the services we provide daily to thousands of Latino families throughout the Chicago area.”

“Reading the UIC report made me incredibly optimistic. The fact that the future of Chicago is inexorably tied to Latinos is a great sign for our City,” said Latino Caucus Chair Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36). “I am committed to continuing to fight for educational and economic resources for the Latino community as we move forward.”

The author, Josė Acosta, can be reached via phone at 312.918.0906 or email at jacost29@uic.edu. A complete copy of the report can be found at https://greatcities.uic.edu/2017/10/11/latino-neighborhoods-report/

The Latino Caucus includes 11 members from across the city. They represent wards as diverse as Chicago itself. In addition to Chairman Villegas, the Caucus membership includes Ald. Joe Moreno (1), Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10), Ald. George Cardenas (12), Ald. Raymond Lopez (15), Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22), Ald. Danny Solis (25), Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26), Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30), Ald. Milly Santiago (31) and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35).

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Latino Caucus Condemns Mention of School Vouchers in Chicago

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2017

CHICAGO – Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently dodged questions about a rumored plan to allow a school voucher program to infiltrate Chicago Public Schools. “Thankfully Mayor Emanuel has not come out in support of school vouchers,” said Latino Caucus Chairman Gilbert Villegas, “at the same time it is frightening to think that the Mayor did not condemn a voucher program given Chicago Public School’s financial mess.”

Throughout the ongoing Springfield battles for fair school funding, Governor Bruce Rauner has demanded vouchers be apart of any school funding bill. Up to this point, Legislators from across the state have defended students, parents and teachers by refusing the Governors demands. Now is not the time for these Legislators and Mayor Emanuel to give up on Public Schools.

Chicago Public Schools could not recover from a voucher program that would siphon at least $100 million out of a system that seems to be constantly struggling. Governor Bruce Rauner, President Donald Trump and Secretary Betsy DeVos praise voucher systems because they know it is a way to attack unions and privatize education. We will not stand idly by and allow our Democratic ideals to be attacked. We will stand up for our teachers, parents and students.

The City Councils’ Latino Caucus includes 11 members from across the city. They represent wards as diverse as Chicago itself. In addition to Chairman Villegas, the Caucus membership includes Alderman Joe Moreno - 1st Ward, Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza - 10th Ward, Alderman Cardenas - 12th Ward, Alderman Raymond Lopez - 15th Ward, Alderman Rick Muñoz - 22nd Ward, Alderman Danny Solis - 25th Ward, Alderman Roberto Maldonado - 26th Ward, Alderman Ariel Reboyras - 30th Ward, Alderman Milly Santiago - 31st Ward, Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa - 35th Ward.