Projects
Over the years Conexiones Latinas de McLean County (formerly the Hispanic Families Work Group – HFWG) has had remarkable success because of the hard work of countless volunteers with the support of our local organizations, schools, and businesses.
Without an operating budget or staff, our group of volunteers and interns continue to diligently work on helping each other and in turn the the Hispanic and Latino Community in McLean County (1990-2010 County Profiles – Latino Growth) and Bloomington-Normal (Illinois).
For 2012, we will be focusing on helping with education efforts, social events, and community involvement in McLean County and Bloomington-Normal. Please see our calendar of events for more information on you can get involved. In 2012, with the help of Leadership McLean County and PATH we are also updating and rebranding our Spanish Community Directory (Donde Esta).
In July 2010, we launched our redesigned website with the help of webdesigner and former HFWG intern Michael Gorman. During 2010 we also launched our facebook page, which combined with our website have helped the organization reach over 400 people a month.
In April 2009, the HFWG published the Hispanic and Latino Community Study: Needs and Assets which completed a two-year comprehensive analysis of the Hispanic and Latino community in Bloomington-Normal, McLean County, Illinois. In addition to demographic and socioeconomic data, this study addresses the issue of better knowing and understanding the Hispanic community through the top 11 issues facing our community.
The research portion of this project involved collaboration between multiple departments, classes, groups and interns from Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the community. Additionally, the majority of this research was conducted over 11 months in 2008 by Rebecca Bliss, an ISU Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development intern, who completed her research in December 2008. The top five recommendations from the study include:
- Create a taskforce of Latino students and parents to address education issues (in progress)
- Work with MAPP to address driving and police issues (in progress)
- Work with non-profits to build a Latino friendly infrastructure both externally and internally (see Confianza report)
- Support current and new communication vehicles to help promote and support community events (see WJBC en Español and Radio Latino)
- Work with the Bloomington-Normal Public Transportation System to address transportation issues
In August 2009, the HFWG in collaboration with WJBC and State Farm Bank® 
launched WJBC en Español (AM1230 and 93.7FM) with Ingrid Ramirez (Dilo en Español) which aired on Sundays from 8-9pm or online. Although no longer on the air, the awarding winning show was one of the largest (geographically) Spanish radio programs in Illinois reaching LaSalle-Peru, Champaign, Decatur, and Peoria and featuring interviews, news, and community announcements.
Since 2006, the HFWG has joined other community partners like Illinois State University and St. Mary’s Church (Bloomington) in our Annual Bloomington-Normal Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month Celebration (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011) which features cultural and community events throughout the community.
In October 2008, the organization worked with the Action Research Center at 
Illinois Wesleyan University to launch Radio Latino (88.1FM) in Bloomington-Normal. Started as a lunch hour all Spanish Latin music radio show only on Wednesdays it later broadcasted Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and hosted by IWU students.
In 2006 and 2007, the HFWG created and published Donde Esta: El Directorio de Servicios en la Comunidad– a directory of social service agencies offering services to the Hispanic community in Bloomington-Normal and McLean County.
On May 10, 2006, the HFWG hosted its first Regional Conference on Working with Differences within our Community at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington, IL. The conference covered various topics important to the Latino community and non-profits: brochure.
Interns
The HFWG would never have been able to complete these aforementioned projects and countless others without the hard work and devotion of our current and past interns:
- Patrick Beary (IWU ARC): HFWG strategy, survey, and list
- Erin Cox (IWU ARC): community study researcher
- Heidi Adams (IWU ARC): community study researcher
- Michael Gorman (IWU ARC): conexionesmc.org design and publication
- Rebecca Bliss (ISU Stevenson Center): community study researcher and author
- Michelle Bourgeois (IWU ARC): community study editor
- Erin Bradley (IWU ARC): executive board intern and radio show host
- Kristy Hosack (IWU ARC): confianza research and contributor
If you are interested in working or interning with the HFWG or learning more about the Hispanic and Latino community in McLean County please contact us.
