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.
This week, we share biographies of remarkable Latino leaders who made historical strides in Rockford. It is both an honor and a challenge to encapsulate the contributions of only a few incredible individuals from the community in a single week.
Along with his family, Armando Cardenas moved to Rockford from Texas in 1963 in search of employment opportunities, leaving behind the field farm worker migrant stream. He has been a dedicated advocate in the Latino community. His inspiration was influenced by his participation in the civil rights movements of Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez farm workers boycotts.