Happy #HispanicHeritageMonth! To kick off the celebrations, we are proud to spotlight our community partner, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos (CTU). CTU is a grassroots organization based on the Southeast Side of Chicago that builds collective power with immigrant and low-wage workers. Through organizing, leadership development, legal services, and economic alternatives like cooperatives, they work to advance immigrant rights and economic justice for their communities.
We asked Legal Clinic Coordinator, Luisa Fernanda Rodríguez Hurtado, what Hispanic Heritage Month means to CTU, she shared that:
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to uplift the culture, contributions, and resilience of Latinx communities – especially those who are often marginalized or silenced. For CTU, it’s a time to reflect on our roots in collective struggle, honor the labor and leadership of immigrant communities, and recommit to building a future rooted in dignity and justice for all.”
She also spoke about the necessity of CTU’s programming right now:
“Immigrant and working-class communities on the Southeast Side continue to face systemic inequities, including wage theft, lack of protections at work, and exclusion from vital services. CTU's work directly addresses these gaps by organizing workers to defend their rights, access legal support, and build power to win structural change. In the current political and economic climate, this work is not only urgent – it's essential.”
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s vital to recognize the ongoing efforts of organizations like Centro de Trabajadores Unidos that are fighting for justice, equity, and dignity every day. CTU’s work reminds us that honoring heritage also means supporting the leadership and rights of Latinx and immigrant communities – not just in celebration, but through action.
If you would like to support our incredible partner, please join their phone blast efforts for their current labor campaign aimed at improving conditions and protections for workers in our community. Find more information here.
Together, we can uplift the voices, struggles, and victories that continue to shape a more just and inclusive future.