Pilsen was originally a Czech neighborhood that became home to many Mexican immigrants in the 1970s due to development at UIC. Today, Pilsen is a predominantly Latino neighborhood that celebrates Mexican culture through organizations like the National Museum of Mexican Art and annual events like Fiesta del Sol. Community organizations work to support the Latino community through services like education, health resources, and leadership development.
Pilsen was originally a Czech neighborhood that became home to many Mexican immigrants in the 1970s due to development at UIC. Today, Pilsen is a predominantly Latino neighborhood that celebrates Mexican culture through organizations like the National Museum of Mexican Art and annual events like Fiesta del Sol. Community organizations work to support the Latino community through services like education, health resources, and leadership development.
Pilsen was originally a Czech neighborhood that became home to many Mexican immigrants in the 1970s due to development at UIC. Today, Pilsen is a predominantly Latino neighborhood that celebrates Mexican culture through organizations like the National Museum of Mexican Art and annual events like Fiesta del Sol. Community organizations work to support the Latino community through services like education, health resources, and leadership development.
Pilsen was originally a Czech neighborhood that became home to many Mexican immigrants in the 1970s due to development at UIC. Today, Pilsen is a predominantly Latino neighborhood that celebrates Mexican culture through organizations like the National Museum of Mexican Art and annual events like Fiesta del Sol. Community organizations work to support the Latino community through services like education, health resources, and leadership development.
Originally a Czech neighborhood in the 19th century, the czech
immigrants named the neighborhood Pilsen after a city with the same name in the Czech Republic In the 1970s, the neighborhood began to have a large influx of Mexican immigrants due to the construction of UIC, which caused the affected Mexican residents to move to Pilsen. Recent gentrification, largely from the expansion of UIC, and rising housing values and rent have made it difficult for some residents to stay in the neighborhood.
Population: 72, 784
Racial/Ethnic make up: 78% Latino 14& White 3% African American Median Household Income: $36,154 National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th street Chicago, IL 60608
Opened in 1987 as the Mexican Fine Arts Center
Museum with the purpose to establish a cultural institute focused on celebrating Mexican culture and making it accessible to the Pilsen community and beyond.
Exhibits Mexican art and history from both Mexico and
the US
Bilingual Summer Camp: Bilingual summer camp for
children to learn about the arts. After-school art: Museum artists teach children various art techniques Family Sundays: Families participate in gallery tours and create art together. Adult Classes: Classes taught to adults by active Mexican artists Benito Juarez Community Academy
Opened in 1977 to create a high school for
the predominately Mexican-community in Pilsen. The campus was designed by Mexican architect Pedro Ramirez Vazquez The high school is named after the Mexican President Benito Juarez Home to a sizable Mexican student body Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Founded in 1996 to give low-income
students access to a quality private education. Serves predominantly the Pilsen community and requires that all students be low income and be able to understand and converse in Spanish since some classes at the school are conducted completely in Spanish. Uses the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) in which all students are given paid internships that pay 65% of the students tuition. Fiesta del Sol
Began in 1972, to celebrate the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council
Teresa Fraga, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council board member and community leader says that the sun is a vital symbol to the Mexican- American people. Although there is no written documents that confirm the origin of the name, Fiesta del Sol is representative of many things Mexican. Immigrants are the people who toil the soil, says Fraga. We are people who work under the sunand we also celebrate under the sun. Pilsen Neighbors Community Council continues to evoke this energy, art and culture through Fiesta del Sol every year. Today is a Latino based mass block party where Latino foods are sold and Latino based activities are provided.
Generates revenue to the Pilsen community;
Brings business to local businesses;
Promotes the Pilsen Community;
Provides scholarships to Latino youth;
Creates jobs for local youth;
Helps build leadership skills for Pilsen youth;
Allows local organizations and schools to fundraiser on-site
Pilsen Neighbors Community Council
a non-profit, community-based organization whose
mission is to develop new community leaders through leadership training to bring about civic engagement and action in Pilsen and Southwest areas of Chicago. Allocation and construction of Benito Juarez High School
-Allocation and construction of Harrison Park Field
House
-Allocation and construction of the West Side Technical
Institute, a new City College opening in the spring of 1996
-Allocation of $26 million in city infrastructure funds
between 1995-1999
-Planning and development of Alivio Medical Center, a
not-for-profit community health center located in the Heart of Chicago and serving Pilsen, Little Village, and Back of the Yards. Mujeres Latinas en Accin
Domestic Violence: Provides resources
and referrals to survivors to crisis intervention , legal counsel, and counseling services both in English and Spanish Sexual Assault: Offers counseling, medical advocacy, legal consul, professional therapy. Also assists with explaining legal process and how to assist police with investigation Leadership: Offers 20-week course that gives participants tools to strengthen their leadership skills with the aim of the participants becoming leaders in their community. Discussions of cultural intersection and Latina identity in leadership are emphasized. El Hogar del Nino
Founded in 1972 as a daycare center for
children, El hogar del nino has transformed into a non for profit organization devoted to providing services and programs for kids and families Offers early education and after school programs Offers guidance about the Affordable Care Act Provides home visits in which staff come to clients homes periodically to assist clients with child care and dvelopment. Instituto del Progreso Latino
Its mission is to contribute to the Latino community
by providing education, training, and employment Provides career service training Provides adult ESL classes Operates the largest citizenship program in the state of Illinois Giron Books
Local Book store that sells almost exclusively books in
Spanish Both originally Spanish language books are sold and also books translated into Spanish This book store gives Pilsen residents access to resources in Spanish Arturo Velasquez Institute
Community College created to provide an
affordable two year education for the community and to provide services to the Latino population Offers 2 year associate degree program Offers Certificate programs for entry-level work Offers GED and Citizenship classes (these classes are tuition free)