Dear Editor:

The month of May is always an exciting time, especially for Latinos who celebrated “Latino Unity Day.” As a very diverse group of people we strive to preserve our Latin-American customs and we celebrate these traditions as a group in a country with many opportunities.

This year I celebrated Latino Unity Day in Springfield and had the honor to do so as the new co-chair for the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus. As such, I plan on organizing events alongside my colleagues in the Latino Caucus to promote our culture and values throughout the state. I also hope to support programs, like high school mariachi bands, folkloric dancing groups, and Hispanic Honors Society chapters.

If you are a student or know one that is interested in becoming involved in the legislative process, know that I am always looking for the leaders of tomorrow to become involved in a variety of ways. Please call my office at 708-222-5200 or send me an email at rephernandezstaff@yahoo.com if you’re interested. Currently, I am mobilizing volunteers so that we can walk around the district with petitions that promote various issues that concern the residents in our community.

Please feel free to ask me about volunteer and scholarship opportunities available through my office with the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus or visit http://www.illcf.org/.

Sincerely,

Lisa Hernandez