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'Chuy' Garcia kicks off ECC's Latino Heritage Month

"We need to share more of our history, especially as it relates to the struggles and victories," said Jesús "Chuy" García, giving the keynote address Friday at Elgin Community College's Latino Heritage Month kickoff breakfast.

His visit marked the first in a series of events that are part of ECC's Latino Heritage Month observance running through Oct. 14 - coinciding with National Hispanic Heritage Month.

García, 59, a Cook County Board commissioner and 2015 Chicago mayoral candidate, said Latinos need to be more vocal about their experiences and how they have helped shape American history.

Seeing prominent Hispanic leaders among the roughly 200 at the breakfast, García said he wished Donald Trump and other presidential candidates were there "so that they could see what our community is contributing in Elgin and throughout the state of Illinois."

"I hope (Trump) gets a clip of today's gathering," he joked, taking a jab at the Republican real estate mogul's statements about Mexican immigrants.

García spoke of the 1947 landmark federal case, Mendez v. Westminster, that challenged racial segregation of Mexican-American students in Orange County, California, schools, setting a precedent for Brown v. Board of Education, whose ruling ultimately ended racial segregation in 1954.

"Latinos' struggle has run parallel with the struggle of other minorities," he said. "The courage displayed by the Mendez family inspired me to speak out. It motivated me to work as a paralegal."

García said it prompted him to advocate for children in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, where he still lives, who were being denied equal access to education in the 1970s and 1980s. He related his own struggles as a community organizer before being elected to the Chicago City Council in 1986 and later as the first Mexican-American member of the Illinois Senate in 1992.

"It was a fascinating time," García said, adding that he showed the ropes to then freshman state Sen. Barack Obama. "I helped break the guy in, taught him what to do and not to do."

Though Obama ignored most of his advice, "still I claim some credit for his success," García joked.

García said that though he was defeated by incumbent Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the first mayoral runoff in the city's history, it forced discussion and raised awareness about issues, such as gun violence and shootings and school closures.

"Chicago needed a robust debate about its future," he said. "Big money and politics were preventing a real democratic contest. We shook Chicago up. We raised the Latino community's profile and elevated our rhetoric at an important political moment. Presidential candidates will have to seek our votes more aggressively than ever before. We are a unique force with a unique experience that can serve as a catalyst and a bridge."

This year, ECC celebrates 25 years of hosting the Hispanic heritage breakfast, which has brought many notable Latino leaders to Elgin, and the establishment of the Organization of Latin American Students, which represents ECC's more than 4,100 Latino students - the largest minority group comprising 40 percent of the college's total student enrollment.

"Success without identity doesn't mean anything," said Jane Barbosa, a longtime Elgin resident and a retired ECC multicultural admissions coordinator who helped establish the breakfast.

Barbosa said she never imagined the event would grow to such prominence for the Elgin area Latino community.

"It's very rewarding that the community has kept it up," she said. "You have to have pride in your identity ... and I hope you will be here celebrating another 50 years."

  "We need to share more of our history, especially as it relates to the struggles and victories," said Jesús "Chuy" García, giving the keynote address Friday at Elgin Community College's Latino Heritage Month kickoff breakfast. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  More than 200 people attended Elgin Community College's Latino Heritage Month kickoff breakfast Friday featuring Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García. It was the first in a series of events that are part of ECC's Latino Heritage Month observance running through Oct. 14 - coinciding with National Hispanic Heritage Month. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García meets with Jane Barbosa, who helped establish Elgin Community College's Latino Heritage Month breakfast, which marked its 25th year Friday. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com
  Cook County Commissioner Jesús "Chuy" García visits with Gricel Arroyo, 19, president of the Organization of Latin American Students, Friday at Elgin Community College. The club has organized ECC's Latino Heritage Month breakfast for 25 years. Madhu Krishnamurthy/mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com

Latino Heritage Month events

<b>At Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive.</b>For a complete list of events, visit <a href="http://elgin.edu/news.aspx?id=21067">elgin.edu.</a>

• Sept. 16: A screening of "Bless Me, Ultima," at 12:30 p.m. in Building C. The film is a drama set in New Mexico during World War II. It will be followed by a discussion.

• Sept. 19: ECC's Family Day - Dia de la Familia - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Building C library. Families can get assistance with planning for college, including information about admissions and financial aid. College staff members will lead small group discussions with parents and older children while younger children can participate in supervised craft projects.

• Sept. 24: Latino comics will perform in the Spartan Auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets for "Los Compadres of Comedy" are $5.

• Sept. 29: "All Things Latino," a "Jeopardy"-style contest, is noon to 1 p.m. in the Building B Jobe Lounge. Participants will be tested on their knowledge of Latino culture and popular cultural icons.

• Oct. 5: Students in ECC's History of U.S. Latinos class will present their research findings 11 a.m. to noon in the Building B hallway. The presentation will focus on 25 years of Latino history at the college and in Elgin and surrounding areas, stretching back more than 100 years.

• Oct. 9: The Wise Latina Brunch will recognize inspiring, accomplished women, and feature an appearance by author Nora Renteria.

• Oct. 14: Students and ECC staff will have a discussion, "Dreamers: Achieving the American Dream," from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Jobe Lounge.

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