The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, in partnership with Chicago Latinos In Philanthropy, hosted a brunch in honor of Illinois declaring March 15th as Latina Heritage Day in Illinois last Friday. Over 200 guests attended from different sectors including government, philanthropy, businesses, local organizations, and even students! A panel discussion was moderated by WGN's Lourdes Duarte and highlighted the path of key leaders in the civil sector. The panelists included Representative Dagmara Avelar, Dr. Venoncia Bate-Ambrus, Representative Norma Hernandez, Senator Pacione-Zayas, Maria Socorro Pesqueira, Andrea Saenz, and Senator Celina Villanueva. Stories of their families, their perseverance, and their motivation filled the room, and left many feeling a sense of appreciation for what it means to be Latina.
The story aired on WGN news at 4 pm on March 17th.