ILACHE

Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Mu***os, opens on Friday, September 25th with a reception from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Join us as we reflect on four decades of collecting, preserving, and celebrating Mexican art and culture. This exhibition looks back through the Permanent Collection to trace the evolution of Day of the Dead and the Museum itself. Just as Day of the Dead keeps the memories of loved ones alive, the museum preserves memory through art. Let us know if you plan on attending by clicking GOING on our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/902980789128428

Image details: Olga Costa, Ofrenda de mu***os (Altar of the Dead), 1965-1967, oil on linen / óleo sobre lino, NMMA Permanent Collection

Michael Roman, Taquería (Taco Stand),1988-89, oil and silkscreen collage on canvas / óleo y collage serigrafiado sobre lienzo, NMMA Permanent Collection, Gift of Dick and Holly Altman
Alfredo Zalce, Descanso (Resting), 1979, etching and aquatint / aguatinta y aguafuerte, 32/60, NMMA Permanent Collection, Gift of the artist

QEPD el Profe. Rudy Acuña.

Rudy Acuña didn’t just teach Chicano Studies — he was the key architect in building it.

He challenged power, told our stories, and helped generations of students see themselves in history.

That is legacy. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. Rest in power, Profe. 🕊️

As someone who pursued a minor in Chicano Studies, I know how transformative that education is — it laid bare the systemic racism and institutional barriers our communities have organized, resisted, and fought to dismantle.

That is why, when I served in the State Assembly, I was a principal co-author of Ethnic Studies 101 — so every high school student could learn our history - history that for so long has been denied to us and that has only been accessible if* you went to college. Our stories belong in our classrooms.

And if you haven’t read his book, “Occupied America,” I encourage you to pick it up. Its lessons on history, power, and resistance are more relevant in today’s political climate than ever before.

Happy birthday to Ruben Salazar, born in 1928. Salazar was a pioneering journalist who brought national attention to the Mexican American experience at a time when it was largely ignored by mainstream media. Through his reporting for the Los Angeles Times and later as news director at KMEX-TV, he helped the broader public understand the goals, frustrations, and significance of the Chicano Movement, covering issues such as educational inequality, discrimination, and the Vietnam War’s impact on Mexican American communities.

His life was tragically cut short on August 29, 1970, when he was killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy while covering the Chicano Moratorium protest. His death shocked the nation and raised urgent questions about press freedom, policing, and civil rights.

Ruben Salazar’s legacy reminds us of the power of journalism to illuminate injustice and amplify voices too often left unheard.

The 2026 ILACHE Annual Conference is officially at capacity. Unfortunately, on-site registration will not be available on the day of the event.

Thank you to everyone who registered for “Raices y Resistencia: Building Educational Equity Through Community Strength” — Friday, March 6, at Roosevelt University is going to be incredible!

Visit ILACHE.org for updates and future opportunities.

Congratulations to the 2026 undergraduate student scholarship winners. These undergraduate students were selected for their outstanding commitment to leadership, community service, and learning.

📍 We’re coming to Roosevelt University! 🎉

ILACHE is thrilled to announce that our 33rd Annual Professional and Student Development Conference will be held at the Lillian and Larry Goodman Center at Roosevelt University on Friday, March 6, 2026!

This year’s theme, “Raíces y Resistencia: Building Educational Equity Through Community Strength,” reflects our commitment to honoring the roots that ground us and the resilience that drives us forward.

We’re grateful for our partnership with Roosevelt University in providing a beautiful space for our community to gather, learn, and grow together. We look forward to welcoming Latino/a/x educators, students, and professionals from across Illinois!

📅 Friday, March 6, 2026
📍 Goodman Center, Roosevelt University | 501 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago

🔗 If you haven’t yet, Register at ilache.org—link in bio!

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🎉 Meet ILACHE Board Member Dr. Tricia Rosado, Ph.D. 🎓

Dr. Rosado serves as the Dean of the Southlake Campus at the College of Lake County. She has been an equity advocate for first-generation, minoritized, and financially vulnerable students and their postsecondary aspirations.

Close to three decades of leadership in bringing together upper-level and local administration in institutions of higher education, schools, and non-profit organizations in various Chicagoland communities to close equity gaps connected to student success and retention during the critical phases of outreach, enrollment, transfer, and graduation. Over two decades of experience in developing and managing grants, budgets, and projects to ensure programs are executed with fidelity and operating within regulation, as well as implementing necessary administrative policies (locally and city-wide) to ensure success.

¡Bienvenida, Doctora! We’re proud to have Dr. Rosado on the ILACHE Board! 🎉

📍 College of Lake County
🔗 ilache.org

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✨ Meet ILACHE Board Member Blanca Jara, M.P.A. ✨

Blanca serves as the Interim Executive Director of Government Relations at Northeastern Illinois University, where she leads the University’s legislative relations, advocacy efforts, and government partnership initiatives.

With over 15 years of professional experience in public relations, government affairs, and nonprofit management, Blanca previously served as Chief of Staff at the Partnership for College Completion and as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Morton College. She is an alumna of the HACU Academia de Liderazgo and a Fellow of the National Community College Hispanic Council.

We’re grateful for Blanca’s expertise and passion for advocacy on the ILACHE Board! 🙌

📍 Northeastern Illinois University
🔗 ilache.org

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📣 Meet Mew ILACHE Board Member Aaron Cortes, M.S. 🎓

Aaron serves as the Director of STEAM Pathways at Northeastern Illinois University, where he directs TRIO Upward Bound, TRIO Upward Bound Math and Science, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Computer Science.

A passionate advocate for STEAM education, international access, and college readiness for low-income and first-generation students, Aaron began his journey at NEIU in 2003 as a college tutor within the GEAR UP Alliance and TRIO UBMS.

He has since earned recognition as a HACU Leadership Academy Fellow (2024), an ILACHE Educational Leadership Award recipient (2023), and a two-term president of the Illinois TRIO Association.

We're proud to have Aaron's leadership, experience, and dedication on the ILACHE Board! 👏

📍 Northeastern Illinois University
🔗 ilache.org