Continuing on with our #HispanicHeritageMonth celebrations, we are proud to spotlight our community partner, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center (Mano). Established in 2000, Mano is a community-based organization in the Village of Round Lake Park, Illinois that offers a variety of resources and services, including health resources, educational classes and workshops, and immigration legal services. Their focus is on helping the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable families and individuals in the community.
We asked Joanna Jaimes, Engaged Citizens Program Manager at Mano, what Hispanic Heritage Month means to the organization. She shared:
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate our culture and community out loud. This month we honor the strengths, richness, and diversity within the Hispanic community. Mano celebrates our community’s resilience, and we affirm dignity and belonging. Despite the [current] obstacles, our community will not be silenced. We will continue to be proud of our roots, organize, and thrive together.”
She also shared the importance of Mano’s programming at this critical time:
“In a time where the administration is using fear tactics to continue silencing our community, it’s important for us as an organization to be as visible as ever. Through our education and outreach, we regularly promote our services to ensure that we meet the need. We provide critical resources, education, and advocacy at a time when many Hispanic and immigrant families are facing uncertainty. With policies and messaging designed to marginalize our community, visibility and accessibility are more important than ever.”
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the strength, culture, and resilience of the Hispanic community by uplifting the essential work of organizations like Mano a Mano. At a time when fear and uncertainty weigh heavily on immigrant and Latinx families, Mano stands as a beacon of hope – offering not just services, but empowerment, dignity, and solidarity.
Let’s continue to honor Hispanic Heritage Month not only with words, but through meaningful action that supports the communities at its heart.