2025 Raíces Report: Advancing Equity, Justice, and Community Development

Executive Summary:

The 2025 Raíces Report is a collaborative effort between the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) and the UIC Great Cities Institute (GCI), designed to elevate the voices of Illinois’ Latino communities and inform legislative priorities. This report is the result of extensive community engagement at the 2024 Raíces Public Policy Conference, where stakeholders, policymakers, and residents gathered to discuss pressing issues surrounding Equity, Justice, and Community Development—the three core values, or Raíces (Spanish for “roots”), that shape the ILLCF’s work.

Key Findings & Legislative Priorities

The report synthesizes insights from community participants, supplemented by quantitative data, to highlight priority issues that must be addressed to foster a more just and equitable Illinois:

- Equity: Ensuring access to language resources, stable housing, and economic opportunities, alongside strengthening early childhood and advanced academic pathways.
- Justice: Addressing immigration justice, advocating for criminal justice reform, and pushing for environmental protections in Latino communities disproportionately affected by pollution and limited green spaces.
- Community Development: Expanding support services, youth programs, and healthcare access, including mental health resources, to create thriving neighborhoods.

The Power of Latinos in Illinois

The report also underscores the vast contributions of Latinos to Illinois’ economic growth, political influence, and cultural landscape, emphasizing their pivotal role in the state’s workforce, business development, and civic engagement. Latino-owned businesses, for example, generated over $4.1 billion in revenue in 2021, employing more than 80,000 workers.

Acknowledgments

The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation and Great Cities Institute extend their deepest gratitude to the community leaders, policymakers, and participants who contributed their expertise and lived experiences to this report. Special thanks go to the ILLCF Public Policy Committee, the GCI team, facilitators, and notetakers whose work made the 2024 Raíces Public Policy Conference a success.

The 2025 Raíces Report is more than a policy document—it is a moral commitment and a legislative roadmap that ensures Latino voices are heard, needs are met, and policies reflect the realities of the communities they aim to serve.