Office of Latino Affairs

2015 Year-in-Review
catholic char ities of the archdiocese of chicago
Office of Latino Affairs
BUSINESSES AS PARTNERS IN OUR MISSION
Northern Trust
Volunteers
The Office of Latino Affairs welcomes
the support of the business community
in serving and strengthening the
individuals and families served by
Catholic Charities.
One group of business leaders
who partnered with us in 2015 is
the Northern Trust Latin Heritage
Leadership Council (LHLC). Formed 10
years ago, these employees seek to
serve their community. This past year,
the LHLC volunteered twice at Casa
Catalina Basic Needs Center located
in the Back of the Yards community,
unloading donated food from a
truck, filling bags with nonperishable
food items, and distributing them to
individuals in need. In 2016, they are
doubling their commitment and will be
volunteering on a quarterly basis.
Catholic Charities is grateful for their
dedication and service. We invite your
company to join us as well. Contact Ilse
Zenteno from the Office of Latino Affairs
at latinoaffairs@catholiccharities.net or
(312) 655-7596 for more information.
LHLC members at Casa Catalina Basic Needs Center in the Back of the Yards.
Hispanic Business Expo
To raise awareness of Catholic Charities programs and services,
the Office of Latino Affairs and the Latino Advisory Committee
participated in the annual Hispanic Business Expo on August 6
at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce provided us
with an informational table, giving us the opportunity to
further educate and engage with the business community.
In total, we collected more than 70 new business cards,
allowing us to expand our service and community outreach.
We are grateful to the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
for their generous support and partnership in our mission.
Roberto Escalante, Chief Operating Officer at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, with Jose Melendez, Catholic Charities Board Member, and Ilse
Zenteno at the Hispanic Business Expo reception.
MISSION
LATINO ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese
of Chicago has a long-standing
history of service to immigrants.
Recognizing the growth of the
Latino community in Cook and Lake
counties, the Office of Latino Affairs
was established in 2007.
The focus of this office is three-fold:
promote community outreach and
education; identify unmet needs
in the Latino community and work
toward solutions; act as a resource to
parishes and community partners.
In the spring, the LAC invited family and friends to serve dinner
at Cooke’s Manor on the Hines VA Campus (a residence for
veterans in recovery).
In the fall, members sponsored and served a warm meal to the
hungry and homeless who visit our offices.
OFFICE OF LATINO AFFAIRS
Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Dalia Bagdonas Rocotello,
Director
(312) 655-8492
Ilse P. Zenteno
Bilingual Project Manager
(312) 655-7596
LATINO ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland
President, Catholic Charities
Clement Martin
Stella Gaytan
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Marta Lundy
Melissa Abad
Sylvia Maldonado
Gustavo Abello
Most Rev. John Manz
Tatiana Alonso
Cesar Marin
Lilia Alvarado
Jose Melendez
Carlos Aparicio
Deacon Jesus Casas Juan Fernando Mendoza
Raiza Mendoza
Hugo Chavez
Jorge Saucedo
Flor de Maria Delgado
Elizabeth Florez Anthony Suarez-Abraham
Margarita Garcia Layla P. Suleiman Gonzalez
Goya Vega-Byrnes
Angel Gutierrez
Arthur R. Velasquez
Martha Ibarra
Carmen Velasquez
Rita Arias Jirasek
Mireya Vera
Karen Larimer
Maria Vidal de Haymes
Jose Lopez
The Latino Advisory Committee (LAC) is a standing committee of the Catholic Charities Board of
Advisors. Founded in 2007, the Committee supports the Latino community through fundraising for
agency programs and advocacy efforts. We share with you here some of the highlights of 2015 and
invite you to join us as we build on these successes in 2016.
Building Membership and Leadership
The LAC focused on building and developing
its membership and increasing leadership
engagement among the different committees
of the Board.
In March, they hosted an Info Social at the
Union League Club to encourage colleagues
to become involved with Catholic Charities.
More than 20 attendees expressed an interest
in volunteering and Board service. In April, the
LAC invited family and friends to serve supper
for veterans in recovery from addiction at
Cooke’s Manor on the Hines VA Campus, and
in September, they sponsored and served a
warm meal to the hungry and homeless at our
Tuesday Night Supper at 721 N. LaSalle Street
in Chicago.
We extend our thanks to the LAC for their
extraordinary leadership and service.
Chairman of the Junior Board Executive Committee, Kristina
Mulhall (center), with Violeta and Judith Hernandez at the Info
Social in March.
Advocacy Days
Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of Chicago
OFFICE OF LATINO AFFAIRS
721 N. LaSalle St. • Chicago, IL 60654
Board member Goya Vega-Byrnes with City Southwest
Regional Director, Marilu Gonzalez, on the Capitol steps in
Springfield, Illinois.
Every 30 seconds someone counts on Catholic
Charities for help.
In the spring, the LAC joined members of the
Catholic Charities Board to advocate on behalf of
the more than 1 million vulnerable Illinoisans we
serve each year. Program and agency information
tailored to legislative districts was provided to 65
elected officials.
Follow up visits from this trip included Senator
Martin Sandoval of the 11th Legislative District, who
conducted a site visit to our new City Southwest
Regional Office and committed his support to our
work in his district.
COLLABORATIONS
The Lake County Latino Advisory Council at the
Chicago Botanical Garden on May 12.
Community leaders and stakeholders meet at the
Catholic Charities City Southwest Regional Office.
On The Table
Through participation in community
networks in Cook and Lake counties, the
Office of Latino Affairs is able to identify
emerging trends impacting Latinos and
explore opportunities for collaboration.
On May 12, we partnered with the Chicago
Community Trust and joined them in hosting
community-wide conversations known as
“On The Table.” We coordinated two events
with the goal of discussing Latino leadership
and philanthropy. Marilu Gonzalez, Regional
Director of the City Southwest Region, held a
breakfast discussion at her office in Gage Park,
and the Catholic Charities Latino Advisory
Council held their luncheon at the Chicago
Botanical Garden. Both discussions were
lively, with many participants interested in
continuing the conversation and proactively
pursuing opportunities for action.
New Regional
Advisory Board
Forms
In the fall, a new Regional Advisory Board
formed out of the City Southwest Regional
Office. In October, the group attended a
retreat and reflected on how they could
each be an active member and guide and
support the operations of the office. In
December, they hosted their first Info Social
at St. Casimir to invite more colleagues
and community members to get involved.
This vibrant group of leaders brings a
fresh breath of energy and passion to the
region. To learn how you can get involved,
contact Marilu Gonzalez at marigonzalez@
catholicchariites.net or (773) 349-8835.
Partnerships with Universities
Ibero students with grandmothers from the Chicago Lawn Child
Development Center at the “abuelitas workshops” developed to
promote the importance of early childhood education.
Partnerships with universities
both locally and internationally
–i.e. DePaul, Dominican, Loyola,
Iberoamericana in Mexico City –
allowed us to identify unmet needs
in the community and collaborate
toward creative solutions. Students
engaged in diverse projects
focusing on themes such as early
childhood education, nutrition
health, family communication, and
art expression with youth and adults.
Our office welcomes volunteers
and interns wanting to serve our
Latino community. Contact Ilse
Zenteno to learn how you can get
involved at (312) 655-7596.
FUNDRAISER
Catholic Charities President Msgr. Michael Boland, Patricia
Perillo from The Perillo Motor Group, and Cesar Marin, a
LAC member.
Ayudando
Nuestras Familias
In October, the LAC hosted its Ayudando
Nuestras Familias (Helping Our Families)
Cocktail Reception Fundraiser. Every
year, proceeds benefit Catholic Charities
programs that serve and strengthen Latino
families. This year, in honor of its 10th
Anniversary, all proceeds benefited Casa
Catalina Basic Needs Center. Sister Joellen
Tumas and her dedicated team of staff
and volunteers distribute over 525,000
meals each year, providing much needed
nutrition to families that promotes wellness
and academic success.
More than $40,000 was raised (a 57%
increase from 2014!) to provide food and
emergency services to the residents of the
Back of the Yards community.
We thank all of our sponsors, donors,
volunteers, and attendees who made this
event such a success! To learn how you can
get involved this upcoming year, please
contact Ilse Zenteno at (312) 655-7596 or
izenteno@catholiccharities.net.
2015 EVENT SPONSORS
Perillo, Wintrust, Azteca Foods Inc., BGK Security,
Chicago Title, @properties, Thomas & Gregoria VegaByrnes, BMO Harris Bank, Claretian Missionaries,
Dr. Jorge & Karen Saucedo, Dutch Farms, Gustavo &
Isabell Abello, Hero-Beech Nut, Holy Cross Hospital,
Manufacturers Sales Solutions – Goode Foods, Arias
Information Solutions LLC, Silvercreek Finance, Abt,
Alfred Bedia & David Herrera, Carmen Velasquez,
Clem & Norma Martin, Elizabeth Florez, Friends of
CCLA, Hughes-Socol-Piers-Resnick-Dym Ltd., Illinois
Hispanic Nurses Association, Joseph Gonzalez, Kimball
& Karen Anderson, La Criolla Inc., Arnold Arias Jirasek
& Rita Arias Jirasek, Saint Cletus Church, Wallin/
Gomez Architects Ltd., Central Printers & Graphics
Inc., Constellation Brands, Hispanic Pro, Melendez
Insurance, Monterrey Security