State Reps. Stephanie Kifowit and Linda Chapa LaVia joined me this week to speak with Latinos in my Aurora office about everything from access to social services to the challenges facing prospective Latino-owned small business.
 
In a wide-ranging talk, we touched on affordable housing-shelters, assistance to the elderly, programs that support small business owners and we discussed lack of Latino management leadership in local non-profit organizations and how to build a Latino business community.
 
Some of our participants included representatives of the Aurora-based Foundation for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, Waubonsee Community College, the Hispanic Advisory Board of Aurora and Rush Copley Hospital.
 
I’m always interested in matters that concern the Latino community in the district I represent. We'll hold another meeting in January. If you have questions or concerns or want to be a part of the January meeting, contact my office!

AURORA — West Aurora School District 129 today announced its proposed new West Aurora School District Campus – a 15-acre site near the intersection of Galena Boulevard and Edgelawn Avenue on Aurora’s west side.

“The unique partnership demonstrates how high quality education offerings affect economic development and quality of life in the community,” said District 129 Superintendent Jeff Craig. “Most certainly, this investment from the District, the City of Aurora and Advocate Health will benefit West Aurora School District for generations to come.”

The campus will be home to the district’s new Early Childhood Development Center, new district administration offices, and a new technical training center.

The agreement comes 14 months after a capital needs referendum that identified early childhood and post-secondary training as areas to expand upon, Craig said. State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, assisted the district by bringing together representatives of Advocate and the school district.

“This is the result of government, business and school districts working together,” Holmes said. “Dreyer has been a member of the community for nearly a century and this is an investment in the community that will enrich education for generations of students to come.”

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Are you self-employed, or the owner of a small business? Need information on health care options for you or your employees? Come get information at the Business and Community Health Action Fair!

Aurora Beacon-News - Oct. 20, 2015 | Original article

By David Sharos

Transitioning to adulthood for people with disabilities was the focus of a panel discussion held in Aurora Monday night at Waubonsie Valley High School.

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Naperville) hosted the panel discussion, which offered information for parents as well as caregivers of people with disabilities who are in the transitioning phase from childhood to adulthood. Foster was joined by state Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), as well as representatives from a number of agencies including the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services, Great Lakes ADA Center, the Ray Graham Association and PACT, Inc.

"I don't have children with disabilities but I know as a parent, I worry about them all the time," Foster told a crowd of more than 70 people. "Parents want to know how to take care of their children in all phases of their life, and in terms of those who have disabilities – not all parents are aware of the contacts that are out there."

Foster also praised the Aurora area, saying that "historically, it has had good support and services" and also spoke about the advantages of employing those with disabilities.

"This happens to be National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and I feel employing those with disabilities is a good economic opportunity," he said. "We have found these individuals to be good, dedicated employees. We also need to focus on issues like transportation and vocational training and providing more affordable housing."

Foster added he continues to support legislation that would increase voter registration among those with disabilities as well as backing new technology that would make the voting process easier.

Holmes said her interest in those with disabilities "started close to home."

"I'm the only state legislator I know who has multiple sclerosis, and while I don't have any signs of a disability we need to make reasonable accommodations for those that do," Holmes said. "We have made some legislative progress is this area, and we need to continue to offer gainful employment for all citizens."

Holmes said her biggest concern is for those with autism whose numbers, she said, continue to rise.

"The question is what will happen to these children when they reach adult age and still need services and their parents are no longer able to care for them," she said. "I don't feel those problems have as yet been addressed adequately."

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