Dear Friends and Community, 

Happy New Year! Earlier this month, we at the Forum had our annual staff retreat and our fantastic facilitators, Sherida Morrison and Patty Meggs-Harbin, reminded us how important it was to take moments to reflect on what we have accomplished and celebrate, so I didn’t want to let this first month of 2024 pass without doing that and also share some of the exciting things we’re planning this year.

In 2023, the Forum produced four important reports that help us better understand the long-standing structural inequities confronting our community. We knew that Latino population growth was being driven by people outside of Chicago, so together with the... Continue Reading

It is essential to provide nuanced and culturally sensitive explanations and analyses of housing and living arrangements to ensure that a descriptive narrative accurately portrays how people live. This is especially important in understanding the Latino community's multigenerational and multifamily living arrangements.

In 2022, nearly one-third, or 32%, of Latino households in the nation, were multigenerational. For Latinos, choosing to live in multigenerational or multifamily situations is often mutually beneficial to all. These arrangements make childcare and elder care more manageable, for example. They also reflect the profound significance of familial ties, the preservation of cultural heritage, and respect for elders. In this context, multigenerational living is a cultural practice, a way of life, and a manifestation of... Continue Reading

Friends and Neighbors, 

I hope you are enjoying the plentiful colors of the season. Our state is beautiful year-round, but it shows off in autumn!

In thinking of this season of change, I reflected on a change of my own when recently celebrating a milestone birthday, not just another number, but I feel it is a symbol of the wisdom and experiences I have gathered over the years. I am claiming my transition to being an elder, a stage of life in which I will seek to be more deliberate in sharing my lessons learned and providing guidance in the quest for justice and equity.

My heart is filled with gratitude... Continue Reading

In ongoing discussions of the housing affordability crisis, the cost of rent or mortgage payments is often the focus of attention. Utility expenses are frequently left out of the housing affordability equation. However, utility costs, (e.g., gas, water, electricity, and the internet), are a critical aspect of housing affordability for renters and homeowners that needs to be addressed. 

Attention to utility costs in the context of affordable housing is critical because these costs disproportionately have a negative impact on low-income and minority renters and homeowners. 

Internet as an Essential Utility

Internet costs are often overlooked as a necessary household expense, but it is crucial to recognize these costs are an essential utility in today’s interconnected... Continue Reading

Illinois Latino College Landscape Study Webinar

In 2019, less than 20% of Latino adults 25 years and older had a 2- or 4-year college degree, the lowest educational attainment among all racial/ethnic groups. The Latino Policy Forum will work to address systemic issues to address this disparity.

To better understand the educational attainment disparity, the Latino Policy Forum initiated the Illinois Latino College Landscape Study in partnership with the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC).

On May 9, 2023, the Forum and IWERC conducted a webinar on the factors that influence Latinos' college preparation, enrollment, retention, and completion and the status of Latinos along this pathway. Please find the recording of the webinar,... Continue Reading

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, the Illinois General Assembly passed a $50.4 billion balanced budget for FY24. The Forum commends the efforts of the Illinois General Assembly and Governor in formulating the budget and recognizing the complex challenges involved in balancing competing priorities. The Forum appreciates the commitment to addressing the needs of Illinoisans.  

Please find below the Forum's  assessment of the budget highlighting strengths and areas that require attention. Overall, the Forum is pleased with key concerns that impact Latino and immigrant families.

• Substantial investments made in the field of education that span the entire educational continuum.
• Continued investments in Welcoming Centers, the Access to Justice program, and funding... Continue Reading

Posted In: Immigration

Friends and neighbors,

Happy Spring! May the season of new beginnings revive and reinvigorate you.

We at the Forum are revitalized this April as we celebrate 15 years, our quincinera, of building the Latino community's power, influence, and leadership. My continued heartfelt thanks to the generous support of our friends, donors, and the many foundations that see the Forum as a wise investment. Thank you to the organizations, communities and individuals with whom we have been privileged to work with to strengthen the mosaic of Latino families and neighborhoods. 

Speaking of new starts, in a few weeks, Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will take office. We, at the Forum,... Continue Reading

By Noreen Sugrue, Director of Research, Latino Policy Forum

The impact of COVID on the Latino community highlights what must be addressed to reset to what some call the new normal where equity is a reality rather than a theoretical ideal or a moral goal. 

Director of Research at the Latino Policy Forum, Noreen Sugrue, outlines how Latinos create their own social safety nets because they often are not afforded access to publicly funded programs.

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With plans to soon retire from her historic post as the first female Latina State Superintendent of Education, the Forum extends deep gratitude to Dr. Carmen Ayala for her tireless leadership and esteemed successes in the face of adversity.

Dr. Ayala has served as the State Superintendent since early 2019, when she was soon confronted with guiding Illinois schools through the difficult COVID-19 pandemic and charged with revitalizing academic improvement for the state. Now at the end of her tenure, Illinois is at a decade-high in its high school graduation rates—a factor driven by a rise in graduation by Black and Latino students. 

... Continue Reading