Since the 1880s, Latinos have been building Illinois’ roads, railroads and water infrastructure. Governor Pat Quinn will showcase their accomplishments as part of 2014 Latino Heritage Month with a free exhibit, open from Monday, September 22 to Friday, September 26, in the James R. Thompson Center Atrium, 100 W. Randolph, Chicago.

“Latinos Building Illinois” tells the stories of the “box-car people” who lived in rail cars in Aurora, Galesburg and South Chicago. It profiles Latinos who built stronger voices for workers, such as Olgha Sierra Sandman, who – with Cesar Chavez’s help – organized field workers in Onarga, Illinois in the 1970s. It salutes Illinois Latino engineers, architects, construction firms and business-owners. The exhibit will also be posted on the Governor’s website: http://www.illinois.gov/LatinosBuildingIllinois.