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Karina Ayala-Bermejo, President and CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino, will be Awarded the MALDEF, Excellence in Community Service Award.

This award recognizes outstanding individuals or organizations who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to serving their communities. This prestigious award honors those who have made significant contributions through volunteerism, advocacy, and innovative initiatives that address local needs and foster positive change. Recipients of this award exemplify the spirit of selflessness and dedication, inspiring others to engage in community service and make a lasting impact. Their unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others sets a powerful example and embodies the true essence of community leadership.

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Instituto Partners with Project Embrace and Spread Love

to Provide Over 1,000 Prom Formal Wear to High School Youth

Instituto del Progreso Latino (Instituto) was proud to partner with local community-based organizations, Project Embrace and Spread Love, to distribute free prom wear and other free prom accessories to high school youth across Chicago.

The event took place on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Instituto’s 2520 S. Western Ave. building. “We’re extremely proud to partner with Project Embrace and Spread Love on this wonderful initiative,” stated Karina Ayala-Bermejo, Instituto’s President and CEO. “Prom should be a special moment; I am hopeful that we can assist as many high school students as possible through our collaborative efforts.”

This event would not be possible without the original visions of both Project Embrace and Spread Love; both local organizations strive to help provide formal wear to those in need. Project Embrace Founder, Juana Ballesteros, who created this unique program over 11 years ago, emphasized that “prom and senior year expenses can cost over $1,000. Our efforts lessen the economic burden so no high school senior misses out on this once-in-a-lifetime milestone.”

The Instituto Familia Celebrated Earth D ay 2024!

The Instituto Familía celebrated Earth Day 2024 by organizing a community gardening event in partnership with over 100 Target volunteers! It was a beautiful day to be outside and celebrate with each other. Please click below if you are interested in future events or want to volunteer.

Click Here to Volunteer With Instituto!

2024 Chicago Día de los Niños Event

We're thrilled to share that Instituto Justice & Leadership Academy proudly participated in this year's vibrant Día de Los Niños Parade! The atmosphere was electric as we marched together from 21st Street and Blue Island Avenue, celebrating the joy and spirit of children in our community.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the families who joined us in making this event unforgettable. Your enthusiasm and support truly made the day special. Let's continue to celebrate and uplift our community through education and togetherness!

Instituto Hosts Math Night

Math Night is a community event designed and led by IHSCA faculty and students. Our students develop their very own Math games and activities based on their interests. They design interactive Number Sense boards and Math-related experiences for younger children to participate in. We invite families from the community to attend, and each child gets prizes for attending and for completing various Math games. The goal is to help build the confidence of our IHSCA students by giving them opportunities to lead and teach the next generation of Math scholars from our community. We also hope to show everyone who attends what IHSCA has to offer.

Instituto Hosts Job Fair With Blue Plate Chicago

Instituto teamed up with Blue Plate Chicago to host a Career Fair. This successful event provided employment opportunities for servers, cooks, and porters. We are incredibly lucky to partner with local businesses to bring more employment opportunities to our community.

We are Deeply Honored to Congratulate Instituto's Yesica Vazquez for Receiving an Award from The Peace and Education Coalition!

We are deeply honored to congratulate Instituto's very own Yesica Vazquez for receiving an award from the Peace and Education Coalition! As ourSchool & Family Literacy Manager, Yesica plays a crucial role in overseeing a dedicated team of instructors who provide invaluable support to parents enrolled in ESL or citizenship classes at Instituto. Beyond her managerial duties, Yesica collaborates with various community agencies to connect individuals with essential services, ensuring that everyone in our community receives the support they need.

We are incredibly proud to have such a dedicated and passionate member on our team. Keep up the amazing work, Yesica!

GET INVOLVED!

In September of 2022, Instituto responded to the influx of Recent arrivals to Chicago by launching Project AMOR (Asylum Migrant Outreach Response). In conjunction with the City of Chicago, Instituto created an Amazon Wishlist to mobilize donation efforts for this new population. Since the launch of the Wishlist, over $430,000 in essential items such as clothes, toiletries, diapers, and hygiene products, have been purchased by generous donors to help aid migrants. Instituto has also directly assisted over 7,500 asylum seekers by helping them obtain essential items as well as providing them with legal aid and financial literacy direction.

With a surge of new arrivals that began in May of 2023, Instituto del Progreso Latino began accepting physical donations of new and unused clothes and other essential items to its buildings. Additionally, over 900 community members have signed up to volunteer and assist with Instituto's Project AMOR efforts.

Your generous, tax-deductible gift will directly support Instituto's efforts to assist the recent influx of migrants to Chicago.

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Interested in Joining Instituto Familia?

Instituto is hiring for a variety of different positions!

For more information or to apply, visit the website below.

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