CHICAGO – To highlight the importance of participating in the 2020 Census, state Reps. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, and Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago are working with fellow Latino Caucus members and the Illinois Latino Caucus Foundation to host the Census 2020 Tour, which will include stops across various Latino owned businesses in the Chicagoland area.

“Given Donald Trump’s bigoted attempt to intimate immigrant communities to not participate in the 2020 Census, we must work like never before to address any issues and inform communities on the facts of the census,” Hernandez said. “I hope local families that are hesitant about participating or have questions come out and join us so we could address their issues.”

Hernandez and Villanueva are hosting a series of stops across the Chicagoland area as part of their 2020 Census Tour. Hernandez is inviting local residents to join her and fellow Latino legislators at the final stop of the tour which will take place at 6 p.m. in Mi Tierra en la Villita, located at 2528 S. Kedzie Ave. in the Little Village neighborhood. Other stops will include:

• El Tarasco Restaurant, located at 4358 W. 51st St. in Chicago at 8 a.m.
• Nellie’s Restaurant, located at 2458 W. Division St. in Chicago at 10 a.m.
• La Quinta De Los Reyes, located at 36 E. New York St. in Aurora at noon
• Jorge’s Paletas, located at 110 S. Neltnor Blvd. in West Chicago at 1:30 p.m.
• Dulce Vida, located at 2003 Irving Park Rd. in Hanover Park at 3:30 p.m.

Hernandez and fellow Latino Caucus members are working to ensure everyone is counted in the 2020 Census, so that communities receive their share of funds for local schools, roads, and other critical services that lift up working families.

“The Census will not include a question about someone’s citizenship and you will not be putting your family at risk for participating in it,” Villanueva added. “The Census is crucial in order to secure resources for our communities, so we must be informed and make sure that our friends and neighbors are as well.”

CHICAGO – Committed to ensuring everyone is counted and heard in the 2020 Census, state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago, is hosting a community conversation about the importance of participating on Saturday, September 7 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at El Tarasco Restaurant, located at 4358 W. 51st in Chicago.

“We must work like never before to overcome Donald Trump’s bigoted and politically driven attempt to discourage Latino participation in the 2020 Census,” Ortiz said. “Our communities must know that they have nothing to fear if they fill out the census, so my hope is that this event will allow local families to ask questions and have their concerns addressed.”

As the 2020 Census approaches, Ortiz and fellow members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus are working to ensure every community is counted, particularly focusing on “hard-to-count” which to tend to be immigrant and working class. Local residents are encouraged to meet with Ortiz and other Latino legislators to learn about how the 2020 Census will impact the share of funds communities receive for local schools, roads, and other critical services. 

“In order for us to secure equitable funds for our local schools and other critical services that help our community, we must all be counted,” Ortiz added. “I encourage local families to come out and meet with us and learn how they can help ensure their family members, friends and neighbors participate in the 2020 Census.”