a call to action

As Mexicans, it is incumbent upon us to demand the changes we want to see and participate actively in making these changes happen. This report is a starting point to make those changes happen by presenting wide-ranging and revelatory data about Mexicans in Chicagoland. 

 

We call on Mexicans to become our strongest advocates and:

• Engage in ongoing conversations about what it means to be Mexican. Use the complementary discussion questions to guide these conversations.   

• Urge all recipients of public resources such as school districts, public hospitals, FQHCs, nonprofits, and government agencies to collect data specific to national origin and ethnicity.  In the multiple spaces we occupy through our personal and professional lives, we must insist that the data be prioritized.  

• Be civically engaged: participate in local government bodies, apply for U.S. citizenship, and vote!

• Support Mexican leadership–donate your treasure and volunteer your time to Mexican-led and Mexican-serving nonprofits.

 

We call on all our allies to join us in these advocacy efforts and:

 

• Assess your organization’s leadership and whether it reflects the Mexican population in the communities you serve

• Seek out ways to collect data that is specific to national origin and ethnicity within your organization. 

• Ensure financial support and donations are being equitably distributed to Mexican-led/Mexican-serving organizations.  

 

We all must support the production and promotion of the next phase of this project to encourage a deeper understanding of who we are and how we want our community to grow through more studies and reports. . 

As Mexicans, we must exercise our first voice to demand access, representation, and accountability for our communities. Together we are la fuerza (the force) to advocate for a more fair and just society for ourselves and generations to come.