Almost 50% of CPS students are Latino. Outreach efforts are being offered to help Latino and immigrant residents who fear voting in-person due recent immigration enforcement.
Image: KP Yamu Jayanath/Pixabay
by Judith Ruiz-BranchPublic News Service
CHICAGO - As Chicago voters prepare to elect every member of the city’s Board of Education for the first time this November, Latino advocates are working to ensure their communities have a voice in shaping Chicago Public Schools. Nearly 50% of Chicago Public Schools students are Latino. Roberto Valdez Jr., Midwest regional director for the Hispanic Federation, said language barriers and a lack of culturally relevant voter information can make it harder for some Spanish-speaking families to learn about the candidates who will shape their schools. He pointed out the federation's nonpartisan Midwest initiative, called “La Voz de Mi Gente,” is working to provide appropriate voting information. Many residents, particularly first-time voters, may not realize how much local elections can affect them. “If you are a parent, this board will be making decisions for your children that can have a very critical impact. And even for those who don't have children in Chicago Public Schools, you have neighbors who do, so there is really a community stake in this,” Valdez explained. He stressed the goal is to make voting information accessible to Latino and immigrant communities in Chicago. Residents can register to vote up until the Nov. 3 election and early voting has already begun. People can learn more at ChicagoElections.gov. The outreach efforts come as some Latino and immigrant residents fear voting in-person amid heightened federal immigration enforcement. Valdez noted trusted community partners are trained to share information on legal rights, while the organization addresses other barriers like confusion over school board districts. “We're not just speaking Spanish but if it is a predominantly Puerto Rican community, we're using verbiage that is very familiar to the Puerto Rican community. Same goes with the Southwest side, where the majority are of Mexican background and so folks are able to see that it is language that they can feel comfortable with,” Valdez emphasized. Valdez added his organization is also helping voters understand early and mail-in voting options and encouraged them to check their registration and make a voting plan at TurboVote.org. The elected school board will take office in January 2027.