Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Celebration: Blanca M. Vargas-Magana, CEDA Service Julieta Bolivar, HUD HOPE Meeting, 26th Ward Ald. Roberto Maldonado, Marine Math & Science Academy

Blanca M. Vargas-Magana
          A CELEBRATION: Blanca M. Vargas-Magana will be honored Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 for her 35 years of dedicated service in Illinois State Government. Everyone is cordially invited to join Blanca at Lobo de Mar Restaurant, 5503 W. Cermak Road in Cicero, IL from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  In lieu of a gift, guests are asked to donate $50.00 to the LULAC National Scholarship fund by making their check payable to: LULAC #5004, P.O. Box 508472, Cicero, IL 60804.  
          BLANCA is well-known in the Mexican and Latino community in Illinois for her activism and advocacy for Latino empowerment. She joined the League of United Latin American Citizens [LULAC] in 1972 and has served in many elected and appointed positions. LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic organization in the United States; serving all Hispanic nationality groups. 
          SINCE 1993, Blanca has served as LULAC National Vice President for the Midwest, National Chaplain, Illinois State Director,President of the Local LULAC Council of Cicero. Currently, since 2009, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors for National LULAC Educational Centers and in 2012 Illinois Deputy State Director for Women. 
          SINCE 1973, to the present, Blanca built her career professionally in the State of Illinois Government by serving in Spanish Speaking Affairs; and since 1981, she was the Community Relations Liaison for the Department of Human Rights. In this position, Blanca developed numerous community outreach programs and participated in many events to increase awareness of the services and benefits provided by the State to protect human rights. 
          BLANCA has a long history of community involvement too numerous to mention. To name a few she conducted U.S. Citizenship workshops, Voter’s Educational Registration Drives, Senior Citizens Rights, Veterans and persons with Disabilities workshops. In 2003, Blanca co-chaired the LULAC of Illinois Education Summit on Hispanic high school dropout and awarded scholarships to high school and college students. 
          ON ADVISORY COUNCIL: Blanca is a member of the Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez Hispanic Advisory Council, MALDEF of Chicago, Cook County Complete Count Committee for the U.S. Census 2010. Politically, Blanca was elected delegate for Jimmy Carter in 1980 and for John Kerry 2004 National Democratic Convention representing the 5th Congressional District.
          SHE CHAIRED the 2007 LULAC National Convention in Chicago Navy Pier, Co-Chaired 2011 National Women’s Convention and helped coordinated the National Commission’s Domestic Violence conference. Blanca was honored with LULAC National Life Time Membership; LULAC National Membership Expansion; LULAC National Youth Program and National LULAC Women’s Commission’s Women Hall of Fame; National LULAC for the Elderly in Chicago and was awarded the CARESS in Public Service; Mexican Community Service and Life Achievement by MALDEF and the OTHLI Award by the Mexican Government on Foreign Affairs from President Vicente Fox.
          BLANCA has two daughters Bianca and Sarah and a brother named Martin. She is a 30 year resident of the Town of Cicero. 
          MEMBERS ON BLANCA’S celebration committee are: Yanet Bahena, Alfonso Barrera, Rose Mary Bombela, Julie Contreras, Nelida Smyser DeLeon, Hilda Frontany, Omayra Giachello, Antonia D. Gamez, Cynthia Guerrero, Esperanza Gonzalez, Guillermo Hincapie, Angelina Huerta, Elda Leal, Jose L. Lopez, Bianca Magana, Sarah Magana, Adrian Mendieta, Estelle Michopoulos, Zeke Montes, Pedro Pineda, Maria Ponton, Fernando Pavon, Hilda M. Ramos, Jesus J. Reyes, Maggie & Joe Rivera, Lupita Rodriguez & Eduardo Rodriguez, Mike Salazar, Jose A. Valdes, Micaela Vargas, Roberto & Hilda Vargas, Micaela Vidana, Evelio Mora and Martha Fragozo. 
          FOR MORE information and to RSVP contact Rose Mary Bombela, LULAC Illinois State Director at 312/437-6644 or email: rbombela@hotmail.com 
Julieta Bolivar
          CEDA SERVICE: Julieta Bolivar, bilingual intake volunteer for Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Incorporated [CEDA], will be accepting applications from low-income families for financial assistance for gas and energy bills. Julieta will be at the Little Village Community Council, 3610 W. 26th Street this Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
Ayuda de luz gas para familias le bajos ingresos. REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Social Security numbers for all members of the household 
  • Current gas and electric billing statements 
  • Most recent employment payroll check stub 
  • A print-out of SSA and SSI benefits
  • If paid in cash bring in a letter from employer stating payroll status on employers letterhead which includes Employer name, address and telephone number. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY. 
          HUD MEETING: Baltazar Enriquez, President of the “Helping Others Progress Economically” [HOPE] organization is sponsoring an open public meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 at HOPE office, 3610 W. 26th St. A HUD Representative has been invited to answer questions relative to HUD guidelines.
          THE AGENDA: The purpose of the meeting is to help homeowners save their home from foreclosures and/or their home from a bank takeover. “We are asking homeowners to attend the meeting to learn how they may protect themselves from the loss of their home to a bank,” said Enriquez. 
          ENRIQUEZ is a certified HUD Housing counselor and HOPE is a non-profit organization which has been in existence five years in the Little Village area. “Based on our experience, we have learned some banks have treated some of their mortgagees unfairly,” said Enriquez.
          FOR MORE information, call Enriquez at 773/522-2552 or log www.hope4younow.org 
          26th WARD NEWSLETTER: Alderman Roberto Maldonado announced he has been lobbying strongly to relocate Marine Math & Science Academy, 145 S. Campbell Ave. The goal is to move the academy into the building which currently houses Ames Middle School, 1920 N. Hamlin Ave.  Maldonado said, “As the Alderman and a parent, I feel it is my duty to provide our children with a viable option to get a quality education in the 26th Ward”. 
Roberto Maldonado
          MARINE MATH & Science is a level 2 school which has seen significant growth in graduation rates. “A high school diploma is no longer sufficient to reach the American Dream.  Our parents deserve a high school in our ward which will send the majority of their graduates to college”, said Ald. Maldonado.
          MARINE MATH & Science, with 92% of their graduates accepted into four year colleges, has delivered both academic and programmatic support to families who need to make college a reality.  In 2012, Marine's graduates received approximately $4 million dollars in scholarship awards.  As part of their college counseling program, seniors are required to have 3 admissions letters in their file. 
          MARINE MATH & Science students are over 60% Latino and many of these students come from the 26th Ward. “Relocating or expanding this school will not only benefit the current students but give the 26th Ward its first high school that provides a safe learning environment,” said Ald. Maldonado.


Marine Math & Science students stand in attention for an early morning drill.