IL SR1281

Congratulates Sylvia Puente on her retirement as president and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum after 16 years of service.

Recognizes her educational background including a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduate studies at Harvard's Kennedy School, and a master's degree from the University of Chicago.

Highlights her advocacy work securing over $25 million for early childhood education centers and establishing the nation's first capitol grant program of its kind.

Credits her role in developing the Multicultural Leadership Academy, which created a network of nearly 300 Black and Latino leaders, and overseeing Know Your Rights trainings on bilingual education, fair housing, and immigrant rights.

Notes her instrumental role in passage of the Work Permits for All resolution, which enabled over 40,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois to receive legal work authorization, representing the most significant immigration policy action in the United States since DACA.