Side Street Studio Arts names its first Latino outreach coordinator

Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court in Elgin, is pleased to announce that Elgin resident Chris Toledo has been named the organization's first Latino outreach coordinator.

Toledo will work closely with executive directors Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg to develop and oversee the organization's new Latino Outreach Program, which will include dual-language staff training, programming, and marketing, with a goal of better representing and serving the Elgin community.

"We have been working for months to secure funding and build a platform for our new Latino Outreach Program," Rehberg said. "Thanks to the generous support of the Logan Foundation we are able to not only welcome Chris to the Side Street staff, but build on pre-existing programs throughout SSSA in an effort to better welcome and represent the Spanish-speaking population of Elgin and beyond."

Toledo was born in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. She is a freelance hair artist and photographer, and has a background in case management specifically working with a Latino clientele. She specializes in relationship building and communication with a culturally diverse community, and hosts a women's support group both on social media and once a month at local businesses in the downtown Elgin area.

"One of my goals within the first few months is to develop a Spanish-speaking social media community for SSSA, and I am looking forward to building relationships within Elgin as well as the Latino community to create some awesome collaborative artistic events," Toledo said.

The Latino outreach coordinator position is funded by a two-year grant from the Reva and David Logan Foundation out of Chicago. The grant will also support three Latino Artists-in-Residence, including stipends; partnership support for its work with other area businesses and organizations; and Spanish Language education support for current staff.

Side Street Studio Arts was founded by Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg in 2013 as an outlet for the Elgin arts scene. Currently under the direction of Amanda Harris, Roberto Martinez, Melvin, and Rehberg, Side Street provides educational and creative resources and an accessible space, run by artists. Its mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration.

For information, contact Side Street Studio Arts at (847) 429-2276 or visit www.SideStreetStudioArts.org.