How much do you know about the history of Hispanic and Latino culture and community in Rockford?
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Rockford Register Star has partnered with La Onda, a newly-formed nonprofit organization, to help share and celebrate the impact of Hispanic and Latino people, businesses and organizations in and around the Rockford area.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Visit rrstar.com or the Rockford Register Star newspaper each day to read about the people and places that make up Rockford’s Latino community.
Gratitude to pioneers of the past is a consistent theme in this series, and the Coalition of Latino Leaders exemplifies this sentiment.
Established in 2011, the coalition emerged from a collective recognition by Latino leaders of the need for a consistent platform to share information and connect with key stakeholders in Rockford.
Since then, the meetings have grown to include partners from companies to organizations who seek to connect with the Latino community.