It's an honor to be here. I think there's been a lot of things going on, especially with the immigrant community.
I had the privilege of attending my first World Cup and performing. It was a great moment.
I think it was a culmination of everything that came into my life, but it's still in the back of my mind.
I was reminded about who wasn't there to celebrate it, whether that was out of fear of leaving their homes,
going across the country, attending games, or loss of life, to be honest.
I was able to bring USA jerseys with the names of five individuals that passed away in ICE custody.
One being Silberio Villegas from here in Illinois.
In these moments, I feel like these are all celebrations of life.
These are our countries and everything we leave behind and what we're doing now.
But at the same time, it's a moment of reflection and remembrance.
The song I'm going to play right now is called Amor Eterno, Eternal Love for those that don't speak Spanish.
When Juan Gabriel composed it, it was due to the loss of life from his mom and the eternal and unbreakable bond he felt towards her.
That song has since been transcended so many barriers, so many languages.
And more than anything, I think it's a reflection of our internal bond and love to our countries of origin,
from where our family came from.
Although wherever we go in this world, we still hold on to that.
In Peru, we have a saying, donde hay un peruano, existe Peru.
Wherever there's a Peruvian, Peru exists.
And I feel like that's so true for right now.
So with great honor, I'll play you now.
Amor eterno.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for that touching performance.
Please, another round of applause for him.
And now I'd like to officially welcome everybody to this event.
No matter what anyone says, we know what immigrants bring to this wonderful country of ours.
And I think it's appropriate that we have a month and a special day to celebrate that.
So I'm so grateful to all of you for being here.
For our community members, representatives from our partner organizations, our consular corps,
and everybody who has taken time out of their day to come and celebrate with us, I say welcome and thank you.
And now, to give welcoming remarks, I would like to call on the CEO of the Parks Districts.
Is Mr. Ramirez with us?
The superintendent of the Parks District. Thank you.
Good morning. It is an honor to be here at the historic Columbus Park on the west side as our city celebrates its recognition as a four-star certified welcoming community.
On behalf of the Chicago Park District, I want to welcome you to this beautiful historic park,
and I want to congratulate Mayor Johnson, Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponte de Leon,
the Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights,
and every city department and community partner whose work helped earn this recognition.
For the Park District, this work is not separate from our mission.
It is central to it.
Our mission is to give people of all ages, identities, and abilities access to recreation, wellness, culture, and green space in every neighborhood.
And that mission has deep roots.
More than a century ago, Chicago's park field houses were created not only for recreation, but for health, education, cultural life, and community gathering.
The South Park Commission pioneered neighborhood parks with social and educational programs, including the nation's first-ever fieldhouses.
And our city's earliest fieldhouses included public bathing facilities, libraries, auditoriums, craft rooms, classrooms, and gymnasiums,
places where it was envisioned that immigrants and working-class families could come together, find belonging, learn English, access opportunity, and get the support that they needed as they integrated into their new home.
That legacy lives on at Columbus Park and at our parks across the city of Chicago.
This park began as part of the West Park Commission system of Humboldt, Garfield, and Douglas parks,
connected by boulevards and designed as public spaces that welcomed everyone, including Chicago's immigrant families.
Today, our parks continue that legacy by hosting cultural programs, family events,
our Night Out in the Park series, and community gatherings that celebrate and reflect the full diversity of our city.
And last summer, when immigrant communities faced fear in the face of violent federal immigration enforcement, the Park District stood with our families and our communities in every neighborhood.
After federal agents appeared near our cultural institutions and our park festivals, we made clear that our park...
Parks are places for families, culture, and community, not places where people should fear together.
And alongside the city of Chicago and the direction of our mayor and our deputy mayor,
we implemented new park policies, posted imported signage, distributed know-your-rights information,
and worked to bring community together to say that our parks, alongside our entire city,
would be sanctuaries where every family would be protected.
And that is why today matters.
This recognition is not just a plaque or a rating. It is a commitment that Chicago will keep building a city where immigrants, migrants, refugees, and longtime residents all belong.
The Chicago Park District is proud to be part of that work, and we look forward to continuing to build on its success together. Thank you so much.
Buenos dias. Good morning. It's almost good afternoon. What a beautiful day. It's cloudy, but there's so much joy and love in this room. Thank you. Thank you all for being here.
I'm Beatriz Ponce de Leon. I have the honor and the privilege of being the deputy mayor for immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights for the city of Chicago.
Thank you all for joining us for our third annual National Immigrant Heritage Month celebration.
I'm here, first and foremost, to express appreciation.
You know, this last year and a half has been a difficult year with pain and hardship and injustice,
attacks from our federal government, and yet our people have come through it.
It is really a blessing to be here today, to be alive, to be free, to be in community.
And I know that there are families and individuals that don't have those blessings and those privileges today, and my heart goes out to them.
I want to start by saying thank you to Carlos Ramirez Rosa, our superintendent and CEO of the Park District.
Thank you for welcoming us here today for the staff of Columbus Park, but also for all that the parks are doing to ensure that they are an open and safe space for everyone.
Thanks also to our colleagues at 2FM, these wonderful folks who set everything up and make events happen.
I have a lot of thank yous.
Thank you to Sarah Mathers, who's our Chief of Community Engagement, and her team for supporting all of the events that Imer has done.
Thank you so much, Sarah.
And, of course, I have to especially thank our IAMR team.
And today, Nneka Obasi and Elizabeth Lopez.
Nneka and Elizabeth, your careful planning, your thoughtfulness,
the many, many hours that you spent putting together this beautiful program are shining through,
and I really am grateful for you. Thank you.
Okay, we also have some special guests.
I hope once we finish the program and we walk through, you will get a chance to meet the chefs, the artists, the award recipients who are here today,
the performers who are making this celebration a little bit extra special this year.
Thank you all for being here.
And I know that we have lots of community partners.
Many of you are in this room.
But I want to call out just some of the folks that are consistently with us.
They're part of our councils and committees, including the African Diaspora Engagement Council,
the Chicago Izviti Task Force, the Mayor's New Americans Advisory Council,
and our new council that we partner with MOKI on is the Mexican Engagement Council.
So thanks to all of you who give your time to advise, to guide, and to collaborate with us.
I know that though it has been a difficult time,
We have to take moments like this to be together, to be in community, to find joy and kinship when we can,
and to really reaffirm that no matter where we come from, we all belong.
I like to say in Espanol, aquí estamos y no nos vamos.
Yes.
And loosely translated, that means we are here and we ain't going anywhere.
So, yes, let's clap again for that.
But the bravery, empathy, and love that was shared by Chicagoans,
especially rapid responders and mutual aid groups over the last couple years,
has really inspired communities, not only here, but nationally and even internationally.
Cities like Minneapolis and New York look to many of you and other leaders from our city
and just everyday Chicagoans for guidance, for best practices, for support.
And we all learn from them as well.
Chicago and Chicagoans are showing the nation what is possible
when empathy, solidarity, and community are put into action.
So I just want to thank everyone who stood up in our city for protecting our neighbors and for showing the rest of the country and really in many ways the rest of the world what it means to be a welcoming city and what it means to stand together for justice.
I might be biased, but I can say that no mayor has done this better than our very own mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson.
I don't often get a chance to thank you, Mayor, but thank you for your principled leadership, for leading with love, for standing up boldly and courageously in the midst of these atrocities that are happening across our country, not just standing up for immigrant rights, but standing up for all of our constitutional rights and leading the charge in fighting for our democracy.
Thank you.
And in a subtle way, Mayor Johnson has also championed opening the doors to City Hall and to city government for all people.
So for many, this is a first-time celebration.
We've had the Haitian American Heritage Month.
We've celebrated Nauru's.
We've celebrated Kiswahili Day.
These are firsts that have not happened in city government in Chicago before,
and it is a way that we have opened the doors and helped people to feel welcomed and like they belong in our city.
There's so much that Chicago is doing to be a leader among our peer cities.
So I'm excited to share that we have recently been formally recognized as a welcoming city.
Chicago has received a four-star certified welcoming designation.
This designation comes from Welcoming America, which is a national organization that promotes belonging and inclusion.
And we are the biggest city to have gone through the process and to have earned a designation such as this.
It's really something to be proud of, but I know it doesn't belong just to us.
It belongs to everyone that participated in the process and to everyone that works every day to make Chicago the welcoming and inclusive city that it is.
And just to close, you know, four stars are good, but five stars are better, and we have work to do.
In the coming year, IMR is going to continue to partner with our cities and agencies, continue to partner with our community partners and philanthropy and other sectors to make sure that Chicago is an inclusive and equitable city where everybody has a chance to participate, everyone has a chance to live safely, affordably, and where all of us have a chance to thrive.
Thank you very much.
Okay, now it's my honor to introduce to the stage a group of dancers and musicians who are going to perform a traditional Indonesian dance and Angluk, the traditional music of Indonesia. Thank you.
I never...
And now it's my pleasure to introduce to you the mayor of the greatest freaking city in the world, Mayor Brandon Johnson.
All right. Is it? Yes. Good afternoon, everyone.
Thank you, B, for your leadership and that introduction.
I am so grateful to celebrate and welcome to the city of Chicago's National Immigrant Heritage Month reception.
B, for your team and your leadership, it's been an incredible partnership, and I'm grateful that we are serving together in this critical moment in our city, in our state, our country, in our world's history.
And, of course, what can I say about the General Superintendent and CEO, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa?
Thank you for hosting us. Let's give him a nice round of applause.
And, of course, to our council generals, the community leaders, advocates,
who work hard every day to strengthen Chicago's connections to the world.
National Immigrant Heritage Month is an opportunity for us to celebrate people, culture, and stories,
the stories that continue to shape our amazing city.
Chicago has always been a city built by people who came here seeking opportunity.
opportunity, safety, freedom, and a better future for their families.
The story that is woven into the fabric of our city.
Today, more than 600,000 immigrants from all over the world, 140 countries, call Chicago home.
They are our neighbors, workers, business owners, artists, educators, caregivers, and community leaders.
Immigrants built our neighborhoods, fuel our economy, and make our city run by working in our schools, hospitals, community organizations, the hospitality industry, government, business, whether they are large or small, and they do so much more.
Illinois immigrants have contributed $51 billion in spending power and made $20 billion in tax payments that strengthen our entire state.
This idea that immigrants are not contributing to our economy is just absolutely wrong.
But behind all of these contributions are stories of courage and sacrifice.
Many arrived here navigating new languages, new systems, and new challenges,
all while building new lives for themselves and for future generations.
Their resilience reflects the very best of our city.
And that is why my administration remains committed to being a welcoming city.
A city where every person can live with dignity, safety, and a sense of real, true belonging.
We believe that investing in immigrant communities is investing in Chicago's future.
This commitment is led by the Mayor's Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights, or as we call IMR.
We do it in partnership with other city leaders and all of you that are here today.
Together, we have welcomed new arrivals, connected families to critical services, defended immigrant rights, and ensured that Chicago remains a place where people are supported rather than marginalized.
And at a time when too many immigrant communities face uncertainty and fear, Chicago will continue to stand firm.
We will continue to defend the dignity of our residents, support our families, and push back against efforts that seek to divide us.
And because our diversity is not a weakness, rather it is our greatest strength.
And of course, my administration by itself cannot do this work.
In order to uphold our commitment as a welcoming city, it's going to require all of us.
It's made possible by community organizations, advocates, legal service providers, faith leaders, educators, labor partners, businesses, and public servants who show up every day for our people.
Together, we have helped make Chicago a national motto of welcoming and inclusion, earning national recognition for the work that we have accomplished collectively.
Our partners across the city, state, and county and region are truly essential because together, you all, departments and community organizations have helped make Chicago not just a national model for welcoming immigrants, but how we actually defend our values.
And as you heard from our Deputy Mayor, Ponce de Leon, the nonprofit group Welcoming America has awarded Chicago a four-star welcoming certification, recognizing our collective efforts to include immigrants in every part of the social, civic, and economic fabric of our city.
I do want to acknowledge and thank just some of the partners who helped make Chicago a welcoming city.
And as we bring these individuals up, I do want to express from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am that we have stood firm as a city in every single attempt to divide us, whether it's west side, southwest, northwest or southeast or south side or the north side.
We do not allow Trump's terror to divide us, to separate us, and as long as we stand together, we will continue to defend the people of this city, remaining a welcoming example for the rest of the world.
So first, I would like to thank organizations who made up the city's Legal Protection Fund, which provides free legal and advocacy services to eligible immigrants, in particular the Resurrection Project and the National Immigrant Justice Center.
I also want to thank and acknowledge the Chicago is with you task force that was launched in 2016 to ensure that Chicago supports.
immigrant, refugee, and vulnerable communities through collaboration, advocacy, and coordinated services.
This task force is currently supported and chaired by Clerk Valencia, Alder Vasquez, and Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de Leon.
So again, let's thank this task force for being a shining example at every single level of coronation that we need to continue to welcome immigrants.
Chicago is with you unites community organizations, city departments, advocacy groups, legal service providers, mental health professionals, educators, labor partners, faith leaders, and local businesses to holistically provide wraparound support for communities who are facing challenges.
I am so grateful to all of you who are celebrating with me today as we celebrate National Immigrant Heritage Month.
Let's be clear that Chicago is a city that welcomes and works with everyone.
Thank you again for these organizations. Let's give them yet another round of applause.
So before I go, I have the privilege of presenting some awards to an individual and two community organizations who truly embody the welcoming values that strengthen our city.
when Mary Harrell Washington and the Corp Council at that time, Mr. Montgomery,
established a welcoming city ordinance in using the executive authority and power to protect the most vulnerable.
The Director of Immigration at that time, Mr. Moyer, established these traps, essentially,
to go after our undocumented and our immigrant community workers
who primarily were working in the taxicab industry.
And he established these operations much like the ones we are experiencing today,
where immigrant enforcement staked out at our airport
to kidnap and capture individuals who saw this city as home.
When it was all said and done, the vast majority of the individuals that were detained were documented.
And the ones that were especially targeted, the most vulnerable, of course,
did not have mechanisms in place for their protection.
That motivation 40 years ago had stood the test of time.
As we honor these leaders today, do know that our fight and our continuous struggle for justice,
we have to be clear that the work that we do today will make it possible for generations to come to defend this city.
Make no mistake about it, that this city will truly be a beacon of hope and an example for the globe,
but it will require us to remain firm.
And that's why I'm proud to award the 2026 Bridge Builder Award to Adam Aluka, the founder of Youth for a Better Future.
Now, Adam is from Togo, which is in West Africa.
And growing up, he moved around internationally.
He lived on five different continents and learned five languages.
After making Chicago his home, he founded Youth for a Better Future to educate and inspire youth through STEAM programs.
His program has served over 1,000 young people, making an indelible impact on our city.
So please, again, let's congratulate Mr. Adam for this award.
Now, Adam, do you live on the west side or south side or north side?
He lives in Cabrini. Okay, even cooler. All right.
the north side. Now I am proud to present the Immigrant Rights Champion Award. This award has special meaning for us today.
because the community banded together during Trump's terror.
The community was so strong that Tom Holman said that they have to leave Chicago
because the residents there are too educated and informed on their rights.
Through tremendous toil, through tremendous terror,
The Champion Award is especially powerful because these recipients represent the true embodiment of who we are as a city.
Because we will never allow Trump or his ilk or right-wing extremism in this country and on this planet.
They will not divide us. They most certainly will not conquer.
They will not cause us to bend, break, or bow, or submit.
And the reason why we are strong is because of the Northwest Side Rapid Response Team
as well as the Southwest Side Rapid Response Team.
These incredible groups are true champions.
Both of these teams are coalitions of Chicago-based elected officials,
community leaders, and advocates who work together to protect immigrant neighbors from federal immigration enforcement.
They monitor and verify ICE activity.
They make sure that residents know their rights.
They offer support, legal aid to impacted families.
They are very people who are serving on the front lines in their efforts to protect the residents in our community
from federal overreach of any attack against our community is truly commendable.
And so I'm grateful for their coordination, their courage, and commitment to our people.
Can co-chairs Sandra Puebla and Stephanie Alejandra Ortega please come to the stage
to accept the award on behalf of the Northwest Side Repet Response Team
and the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council,
and on behalf of the Southwest Side Rapid Response Team.
Come on, you all.
We can do better than that.
These are brave frontline workers protecting our communities.
Thank you all very much.
God bless you, and God bless the greatest freakish city in the world, Chicago.
Before we close, I just want to say thank you.
And, you know, we highlighted two rapid response teams, but we know there are numerous across the city.
Thank you all.
Thank you, Mayor, for being with us.
Thanks to all our performers.
And we are going to transition the program.
There's plenty of food and activities in the rooms behind us.
But before we go, I just want to give a final round of applause to the mayor and to everyone who's here with us today.
Thank you.