Strengthening the Latino nonprofit sector in economically challenging times, the Latino Policy Forum announced the ten local organizations selected to participate in the third cohort of its Illinois Latino Nonprofit Leadership Academy. Two representatives – including an executive-level and an emerging leader – from each organization will participate in the intensive nine-month academy, building personal and organizational leadership skills while exploring their role as leaders in both the Latino community and larger society. The Academy is estimated to invest $13,000 per organization and comes at no cost to participating organizations. The Academy invests in leadership to rectify two conflicting trends: the rising Latino population and the decrease in state investment. While tough economic times have reduced state grant funding to many Latino-serving organizations, Illinois’ Latino population grew by 33 percent over the past decade.

Organizations participating in this year’s cohort include: Casa Guanajuato Quad Cities, Centro San Bonifacio, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: Immigrant Workers’ Project, Erie Neighborhood House, HACES (Hispanic American Community Education and Services), Latino Consortium, P.A.S.O. West Suburban Action Project, Project VIDA, Inc., Spanish Community Center, and Youth Service Project, Inc. Collectively these organizations serve the Latino community in areas as diverse as health, workforce development, education, and civic engagement, among others. Participants were selected from a pool of Latino-led and -serving organizations by a panel of past Academy participants and funders, based on their organizational mission and ability to both contribute to and benefit from Academy activities.