Chicago's Mujeres Latinas en Acción has been supporting and uplifting women for over 50 years
Mujeres Latinas en Acción is celebrating 52 years in the Pilsen community empowering women through service and advocacy.
The mission is to empower Latinas by providing services that reflect their values and culture.
"Mujeres Latinas en Acción started after the Civil Rights movement, during the farmworkers' fight in California and the western part of the country — as well as being a result of the women's movement here in this country," said Linda Tortolero, president and chief executive officer of Mujeres Latinas en Acción.
The organization also advocates for issues that make a difference in women's lives.
Mujeres supports domestic violence and sexual assault victims, and also offers programs that focus on parenting, education, and women's business development. All of it was recently celebrated in a documentary, "Mujeres Latinas en Acción: A Story 50 Years in the Making."
Tortolero said when Mujeres was founded in 1973, the founders noticed a lot of runaway youth in the community — and domestic violence in their homes.
She said such issues still prevalent in Pilsen today.
"Not all programs are equipped to provide culturally specific, culturally responsive approaches to how Latinas and their families experience domestic violence," Tortolero said.
Mujeres Latinas en Acción said a majority of their clients experience sexual assault inside of their home.
"The study shows that the person that cause harm is their partner, is the stepdad, is the grandparent," said Rocio Lozano, sexual assault program director at Mujeres.
Lozano points to the critical nature of the sexual assault program's work.
"Most of the time, the clients don't recognize that they are experiencing sexual violence," she said.
For anyone needing help, Mujeres prominently notes the numbers of the 24-Hour Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at 877-863-6338, and the 24-Hour Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline at 888-293-2080.
