By Sandra Treviño Extra News Despite the violence that continues to plague Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, there abounds a sense of hope thanks to the efforts of one of its long-time advocates, Marina Alonso. Her charismatic demeanor,…
Local News, Midwest
Intervention program provides Chicago youth with alternatives to gang violence
Sep 13, 2012, 12:08 PM 0
By Deysi Cuevas Extra News Chicago’s recent surge in youth violence and homicide has gained international media attention. According to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago’s homicide rate in 2012 is 26.7 percent higher than last year through the end of…
Local News, Midwest
Jesse Ruiz, vice president of Chicago Board of Education, talks issues ranging from Latino achievement gap to longer school days
Aug 27, 2012, 12:06 PM 0
By Christina Elizabeth Rodriguez Extra News EXTRA had the opportunity to talk to Jesse Ruiz, vice president of the Chicago Board of Education about issues that have been in Chicago’s limelight recently. Via a phone conversation, Ruiz discussed longer…
Extra News State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins’ (D-Chicago) efforts to eliminate Illinois’ so called “food deserts” will receive a major boost under a new program announced over the weekend. Due in large part to Collins’ efforts, the governor announced…
Local News, Midwest
35 years of Latino progression at University of Illinois at Chicago
Jul 23, 2012, 11:22 AM 0
By Christina Elizabeth Rodriguez Extra News CHICAGO — In the 1970s, the University of Illinois at Chicago was a site for change for the Latino community, on and off campus. Latino students and faculty demanded a need for educational…
General, Local News, Midwest
Chicago’s Pilsen: An environmentally conscious community
Jun 26, 2012, 10:40 AM 0
By Christina E. Rodriguez Extra News CHICAGO — Two years ago, the City of Chicago Department of Environment commissioned its fourth community study in the Pilsen neighborhood. Lead by a team which included anthropologists from The Field Museum’s division of…
By Deysi Cuevas Extra News CHICAGO — In many Latino families, it is normal for other family members to take part in raising the children in the family. Aunts, uncles, even grandmothers often partake in the upbringing of children; especially…
by Deysi Cuevas Extra News De Colores restaurant opened in October of 2009 and its owners Sergio and Priscilla Reyes have a recipe book that spans generations. Sergio describes the menu as “different because we have a lot of…
General, Local News, Midwest
Mexico’s poet, Javier Sicilia, calls for unity to help combat Mexico’s violence
May 3, 2012, 10:47 AM 1
by Deysi Cuevas Extra News CHICAGO — Since 2006, when Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, began a crackdown on drug cartels, over 34,600 people have been killed. On Tuesday, April 17, poet, novelist, journalist and activist Javier Sicilia spoke at…
Local News, Midwest
Profile: Sylvia Puente — Executive Director, Latino Policy Forum
Apr 18, 2012, 1:32 PM 0
Extra Sylvia Puente director of the Latino Policy Forum began her journey with the United Farm Workers Union. As a youngster, she took part in protests with her parents and understood the meaning of fair and humane working conditions…
By Wendy Esparza Extra News CHICAGO — Walking around the streets of the Pilsen neighborhood you are sure to run into his work. For Mexican-American artist and muralist, Francisco Mendoza, art was his passion and Pilsen his canvas. “He…
Local News, Midwest
Humboldt Park: Prospering through resilience, understanding
Mar 8, 2012, 9:38 AM 0
By Christina E. Rodriguez Extra News CHICAGO — A community is what the residents make of it and it is a place designed by those who live there. This is the idea that Professor Jose Lopez talks about when…
Local News, Midwest
Local Chicago teacher helps teens combat youth violence through interactive initiative
Jan 31, 2012, 9:50 AM 0
by Deysi Cuevas Extra CHICAGO — Antwan McHenry has worked at Chicago Public Schools for the last 10 years. During his time at West Park Academy as an office assistant for eight years and a substitute teacher for two,…
By Jennifer Patiño Extra CHICAGO — Latinos, regardless of immigration status, encounter various barriers to seeking mental health treatment. These barriers impacting Latinos as a group include affordability, transportation, lack of resources in their community and scarcity of Spanish…
Local News, Midwest
Chicago’s 2.0 plan to end homelessness to be released spring 2012
Dec 19, 2011, 4:21 PM 0
by Christina E. Rodriguez Extra News CHICAGO — Approximately nine years ago, the city of Chicago along with various other groups and organizations collaborated on a 10-year plan to curb homelessness in Chicago. In its emerging 10th year, the…
Local News, Midwest
Teatro Luna’s new play ‘Crossed’ examines what it means to be an Immigrant in the U.S.
Nov 23, 2011, 11:05 PM 0
By Deysi Cuevas Extra CHICAGO — Set in a series of unknown terminals, seven performers share their stories that range from a loud couple who is stopped at an airport security checkpoint to the painful memory of a family…
Immigration, Local News, Midwest, Social Justice
Misrepresenting the underrepresented
Nov 9, 2011, 1:31 AM 0
by Maria Ines Zamudio Extra News CHICAGO — After spending 12 days in an immigration detention center, Mario De la Rosa received welcomed news about his pending deportation case. Within three days of his release, Margaret Carrasco, who De…
Government, Life Issues, Local News, Midwest
What Latinos can gain through Occupy Chicago
Oct 24, 2011, 8:22 PM 0
By Martin Macias, Jr. Extra News CHICAGO — On Sept. 17 in New York City over 2,000 people began protesting nonviolently against corporate influence and against the financial crisis caused by greed and mismanagement of Wall Street firms. More than…
Art, Culture, Local News, Midwest
Latino Art Beat competition winners express Hispanic heritage through art
Sep 26, 2011, 9:26 PM 0
By Deysi Cuevas, trad. Víctor Flores EXTRA news CHICAGO — Founded in 1998 by Don Rossi Nuccio and Daniel Oscar Cisneros, Latino Art Beat is a not-for profit arts organization aimed at encouraging high school students’ artistic talents. In…
Diversity, Local News, Midwest, Politics
City Council’s black and Hispanic Caucuses gear up for remapping fight
Sep 9, 2011, 10:50 PM 0
By Elías Cepeda EXTRA News CHICAGO — Every 10 years the Chicago City Council has to adjust its 50-ward map to reflect whatever new population data is found through the U.S. Census. It’s not just municipal legislatures that are…
Culture, Local News, Midwest, Photography
Pilsen photographer Aurelio Barrios and his piece of Chicago history
Aug 9, 2011, 6:41 PM 0
By Elias Cepeda Extra News CHICAGO — First he brings out boxes. Dozens of them, each with hundreds of black and white photos. Next come the framed large pieces, date-stamped, bright and each with at least two accompanying stories….
Health, Local News, Midwest
Promoting healthy eating from the ground up in Little Village’s Hispanic community
Jul 11, 2011, 9:06 PM 0
by Claire Thompson, trad. Víctor Flores Extra News CHICAGO — Late on a rainy Wednesday morning, a half dozen of Catalina Martinez’ friends, neighbors and fellow mothers trickled into the kitchen of her Little Village house to catch up…
Business, Economy, Local News, Midwest, Women
Latina entrepreneurs help themselves and others
May 19, 2011, 2:02 AM 0
by Elías Cepeda | trad. Victor Flores Extra News CHICAGO — Tanya Diaz, a working mother of three and supportive wife, knew all the excuses for not exercising throughout a busy week. “I used them all,” she says. “I’d…
Local News, Midwest, Politics
Illinois Latino Agenda calls for 20 Latino districts, releases proposed maps
Apr 30, 2011, 12:50 AM 0
trad. Victor Flores EXTRA Newswire The Illinois Latino Agenda, a collaboration of 49 Latino-serving organizations, presented maps Monday outlining 16 Latino House districts, along with a proposal for 4 Latino Senate districts, for consideration by the Illinois legislature as…
Business, Midwest, Women
Latina entrepreneurs put a unique twist in cupcakes
Mar 29, 2011, 2:03 AM 0
By Silvana Tabares Extra News CHICAGO — Horchata, churro, arroz con leche and abuelita chocolate are food items typically found in a Mexican supermarket or sold by a street vendor but now consumers can enjoy these flavors and among…
