Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Announces New Leadership Team

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus recently elected their leadership team for the 103rd General Assembly. They are:

• State Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, House Chair
• State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, Senate Chair
• State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, D-Chicago, Joint Caucus Chair
• State Sen. Javier Loera Cervantes, D-Chicago, Secretary
• State Rep. Lillian Jiménez, D-Chicago, Treasurer

The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus works to empower Illinois Latinos through comprehensive social and economic policy. This includes legislation and advocacy that increases economic prosperity, equitably invests in community resources, and ensures fair compensation and safe work conditions.

“I am honored to be joining the Latino Caucus as Joint Chair and working with my co-chairs and the rest of leadership to advance commonsense and comprehensive legislation to uplift our state’s Latino community and immigrant groups. With recent rises in hate crimes affecting the most vulnerable in our community, I look forward to expanding protections for hate crime victims, enhancing workplace protections for immigrants and creating a justice-oriented platform to correct institutional wrongs.”

“Making up a large proportion of Illinois’ population, Latinos play an integral role in our state’s diverse and thriving communities and make extensive contributions that benefit the entire state,” Avelar said. “As a caucus, we will continue our work to uplift our state’s Latino communities so that everyone, regardless of background or immigration status, has the resources they need to support their families, access health care, and reach their full potential.”

“As a proud daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, it has been my life’s calling to be able to fight for change and equity for the Latino/x community,” said Villanueva. “I am proud to serve in such an esteemed role in the General Assembly and will continue to fight for increased  representation of our communities, to ensure that we are present at the decision making table and to lay the foundation for the next generation of Latino/x leaders.”

“Growing up in the Latino community gave me a unique perspective on our community’s problems. I am proud to join this Caucus and continue its legacy of fighting for economic prosperity in our cities, supporting Latino businesses and organizations who fight for our rights, and devoting myself to impacting residents we represent,” said Cervantes. “As we continue to fight for change in Illinois, I look forward to working with Latino Caucus members and continuing the fight for our rights and prosperity as a community.”

“I made it my mandate to uplift the Latinx and immigrant communities in my district and across Illinois, and I am excited to join the Latino Caucus leadership team as their next Treasurer,” Jiménez said. “I hope to use our financial resources to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people we represent.”