Hispanic chamber offers variety of opportunities
By MEITAL CAPLAN
Within the Lake County Chamber of Commerce lies the Hispanic group, which provides programming and events for the Hispanic community.
The subcommittee was started 10 years ago, when it was apparent that the Hispanic population in Lake County was growing rapidly, said Dwight Houchins, president of the LCCC.
Today, the Hispanic group, along with the LCCC, presents a variety of opportunities that members, and Lake County residents, can take a part in such as the ‘Fiestas Patrias’ put on in September.
“Its a great turnout,” Houchins said. “It’s pretty high energy. People are running through town with their pickups with the Mexican flag and the American flag flying.”
To reach out to the community, the Hispanic group has introduced an all-Spanish radio program hosted by Jose Rodriguez and Carmen Patlan. The “Union Latina” radio show airs Saturdays 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on 1220 WKRS-AM.
Besides playing music, the show comments on topics such as health and domestic violence, Jose Rodriguez said.
“Our purpose it to reach out to the community by bringing special guests such as non-profits who talk about how [people] can help the community,” he said. “We also like to help local talent and Hispanic talent.”
Of the programs offered, Houchins said that the biggest impact to the community comes from the scholarship gala in the fall which raises funds for the “Si Se Puede Hispanic Scholarship Program” – a scholarship targeted towards Lake County high school seniors from Hispanic descent.
Even with the tight economy, there was an increase of awards given in the scholarship’s second year.
Maira Rodriguez of Mundelein, 18, was a recipient of 2010’s Si Se Puede scholarship. As the first member in her family to go to college, the scholarship made a huge difference, she said. Maira Rodriguez will be a freshman at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wi., this fall.
“I looked for scholarships all over during senior year; it was a very stressful time in my family because of the economy,” she said. “It brought me a step closer to my dream and to going to college.”
The Hispanic group and the LCCC are in the midst of planning new changes which will affect the Hispanic community.
