Democracy in Action 

Mano a Mano Family Resource Center recognizes that advocacy on behalf of our community is an essential strategy to accomplishing our stated vision and mission.  We acknowledge that influencing public policy, decision-making processes, and public sentiment are legal and powerful ways to advance the interests of our community and our organization.  

Democracy in Action (DIA) is a program within Mano a Mano Family Resource Center that focuses on engaging and uplifting the voices of the traditionally marginalized and underrepresented communities and mobilizing them to take action and do their civic duties.

DIA has been focused on working with North Chicago community members to get people involved whether it be organizing events, educating the public on local issues, registering people to vote, and more.

If you are living in North Chicago, or you’re just curious about what DIA is doing in North Chicago, click here to learn more.  

Mano a Mano Family Resource Center is excited to announce a new community engagement initiative to understand and strengthen civic participation in the North Chicago community as part of their Democracy in Action program. This critical project will focus on various aspects of community involvement, including the underrepresentation of the Latinx/e community in local governance.

Mano a Mano Family Resource Center is partnering with Flourish and Thrive Labs to conduct this research. The initiative will consist of an online survey, open to all residents of North Chicago, and in-person community interviews. The survey is designed to gather insights into the community's perspectives and experiences, particularly concerning civic participation and the school board election in 2025. Those interested in participating can access the survey online at this link.

Alongside the survey, Mano a Mano will conduct community interviews to delve deeper into the experiences and perspectives of North Chicago's residents. These semi-structured interviews will provide valuable insights into the community's needs, challenges, and strengths and guide future initiatives to support and strengthen civic engagement. Those interested in being interviewed, please contact Karina Martinez at kmartinez@mamfrc.org.

All participants will have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win big. Fill out the survey today!

(August 7 - September 15)

For more information about DIA or MaMFRC’s community advocacy work, you can contact:  

Celeste Flores, Director of Community Building cflores@mamfrc.org