Illinois Local Government Hispanic Network

¡Celebrando Día de los Muertos! ¡Celebrating Day of the Dead! Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday that honors the life of those who have passed and a time where families can welcome back the souls of their deceased loved ones. It is believed that on November 1 and November 2, the veil between the Land of the Dead and Living lifts, allowing those souls to visit. To prepare for this visit, families will create ofrendas, or offerings/altars, of their loved ones with their picture, favorite foods, drinks, snacks, and trinkets. Ofrendas are often also decorated with candles, cempasuchil (marigolds), and calaveras (sugar skulls). Many create trails of cempasuchil, as these trails help guide the souls of the dead into the land of the living. Día de los Muertos also honors the life and souls of non-traditional family members, pets. On October 27th, it is believed that lighting a candle on an ofrenda will allow the souls of furry loved ones to visit for one day. Día de los Muertos has recently become more popularized and familiar with the release of the movie, Coco. As this celebration continues to grow, many non-Latinx/non-Hispanic individuals have begun to honor the souls of their deceased loved ones by partaking in creating ofrendas. To learn how to create your own ofrenda, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gpS5hB5t https://lnkd.in/gzHzun9t *It is most important to note that Día de los Muertos is not the same as Halloween.*

Today, we commemorate Indigenous People's Day and their rich cultures, resilience, contributions, and overall history. South Dakota was the first state to back a resolution to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day in the late 1980s. Indigenous Peoples' Day was first commemorated in 1992 in Berkeley, California and was declared a day of solidarity with Indigenous People. In 2021,the Biden Administration signed a proclamation recognizing today as Indigenous People's Day and has subsequently continued to recognize this day as such. Today, only 18 states recognize Indigenous People's Day. Indigenous People's Day Proclamation: https://lnkd.in/eVxHsXE3

October 10 is known as World Mental Health Day. While Hispanic/Latinx communities share similar vulnerabilities to mental health disorders as the general population, these communities face greater disparities to access and quality of treatment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 35.1% of Hispanic/Latinx adults with mental health disorders receive treatment in comparison to the national average of 46.2%. Many of the barriers to accessible and quality mental health treatment include, but are not limited to: language barriers, poverty and health insurance coverage, lack of cultural competence by mental health providers, legal status, acculturation, and stigmas. To learn more about mental health amongst the Hispanic/Latinx communities, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gW6uHqU8 https://lnkd.in/gJkvMYTM https://lnkd.in/ed4geA-7

Today is Latina Equal Pay Day. On average, Latinas earn $0.51 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man earned. In some states, the wage gap is much larger, with some earning as little as $0.44 for every dollar. Latinas are one of the fastest growing groups and are overrepresented in industries that are considered essential yet are underpaid and often lack basic workplace protections and rights. This issue, however, goes beyond numbers. They highlight challenges and barriers Latina women face in their journey for financial stability and professional advancement. To learn more about Latina Equal Pay Day or to learn how to become an advocate, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eURJSYKC

Happening this Saturday (9/28): Join members of ILGHN in Pilsen to appreciate some art and good food! Meet us at the National Museum of Mexican Art at 10 AM!

Mark your calendars for the Legacy Project's virtual session with Alejandra Lopez on "Leading the Way: Navigating a Career as a Woman in Local Government"! The session will be moderated by our very own Professional Development Co-Chair Esperanza C.!

Honored I was featured in the September issue of the Public Management (PM) magazine, the official, award-winning 🏅magazine of the ICMA - International City/County Management Association! Not only did it showcase the inspirational leader Dawn S. Peters 👏🌟, it also featured the Madrinas y Padrinos mentoring program, which provides crucial career guidance for Hispanic and Latino local government professionals. I was included in the article titled Mentorship: A Career Game-Changer. I discussed my experience participating in the Local Government Hispanic Network Madrinas/Padrinos mentorship program. which also included participation from fellow professionals Laura Castillo, Marisol Gómez, and Ernesto Chavez. I’m grateful for participating in the program this past program year and am looking forward to participating in the program again this year. 😌 Special thanks 🙏 to Christine Butterfield for managing the program! She has been instrumental! https://lnkd.in/gZGEZC6r I was interviewed when I was working for the City of Warrenville. I’m happy to report I recently joined the Village of Addison as Assistant Director of Community Development #publicsector 😃 #payitforward #mentoring #coaching Local Government Hispanic Network (LGHN), Illinois Local Government Hispanic Network (ILGHN)

Yesterday marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Week. Two decades later, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month-long recognition. The first Hispanic Heritage month was celebrated in 1989. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 through October 15 and honors the cultures, countries, and legacies of the Latin American, Central American, And Carribean communities. September 15th marks the anniversary of "El Grito de Dolores", or "the Cry of Dolores", named after a town in Central Mexico, which launched the efforts for independence from Spain. The following countries also celebrate their Day of Independence during this month: September 15th: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica September 16th: Mexico September 18th: Chile September 21: Belize

¡Pasando mañana! ¡Happening tomorrow! ¡No pasen la oportunidad de atender nuestro seminario sobre Superando la Ansiedad y Desarrollando la Resiliencia con Doctora Alicia La Hoz de BridgesXL! ¡Don't miss out on this opportunity to attend our webinar on Overcoming Anxiety and Building Resilience with Doctora Alicia La Hoz of BridgesXL! Para registrar/To register: https://lnkd.in/e3QTUhaQ

Congratulations to our member, Consuelo, on starting her new position as the Assistant Director of Community Development with the Village of Addison! We are so excited to see what this new journey brings for you!