Pilsen: Welcoming and

assimilating Mexican immigrants

Brief History

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)