Governor Quinn Makes Appointments To Latino Family Commission

CHICAGO – October 25, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today made three appointments, including chairperson, to the Latino Family Commission. The Commission will advise the Governor and the Illinois General Assembly on issues and opportunities for Latino families.

“These three dedicated community leaders bring professionalism and integrity to this commission that is vital to ensuring the voice of the Latino community is heard in Illinois,” Governor Quinn said.

The Commission, which was established in 2007 but has never met, will also work directly with State agencies to improve and expand existing policies, services, programs and opportunities for Latino families.

The newly appointed members are:

Maria Esther Lopez – Lopez, of Cook County, is the Director of Institutional Advancement for El Valor, which supports urban families to achieve excellence and participate fully in community life. Lopez is a member of the Chicago Latino Network and Latinos in Development. She has presented in forums including the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships. Lopez holds a bachelors degree from DePaul University and is in the process of completing an Executive MBA at National-Louis University.

Henry H. Martinez, Chair – Martinez, of Cook County, is the Founder and Executive Director of the Mexican Community Committee, which aims to reduce crime and gang activity in the South-East Community of Chicago. He is also the Founder and Director of Latino Resource Institute of Illinois. He currently serves as Senior Supervisor at The Chicago Area Project, which addresses juvenile delinquency in some of the poorest communities of the city.

Marisol Morales – Morales, of Cook County, is the Associate Director of DePaul University’s Steans Center and a workshop facilitator with L.J. Frame, LLC. A licensed teacher who spent three years in the classroom, Morales developed high school curricula that met state standards in Puerto Rican History, Puerto Rican Literature and Latin American Studies. Morales has a Bachelors Degree in Latin American Studies and a Masters Degree in International Public Service Management from DePaul University. She also holds certificates from Harvard University and Loyola University.

For more information on Illinois Boards and Commissions, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

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