04/01/2024
*Connecting across Cultures: Mexican Immigrants in Rockford*
Monica Terronez may have been born in the US, but her confidence in herself as a Latina is inspired by the family members who emigrated from Mexico in the late 19th century. Seventeen of her ancestors – mere children, just over the age of 13 – were sent to the States on their own, without their parents, without their younger siblings, to create a better life for themselves. But first they survived being mistreated while in Texas and experienced the grief of separation which sent some of her forebears to California, while others came to Illinois.
Monica’s father’s family worked for the railroad in Silvis, IL where they lived in boxcars. Other relatives worked in factories, fields, and coal mines. However, many became educated and had professional careers such as teaching, engineering, movie production, and politics. In fact, her cousin Joe was the first Hispanic mayor in Illinois, serving the city of Silvis. The strength and resilience her ancestors demonstrated gives her an incredible sense of pride and has inspired her own commitment to hard work and care for her community.
Monica’s mother grew up in Southwest Rockford, which is home to many of Rockford’s Latino families, but her father always wanted his children to learn about diverse cultures. He would take them to Italian festivals and Irish festivals, encouraging her to look up information about other countries and ethnicities (using an Encyclopedia, of course).
It is especially important to Monica that her own culture be recognized, uplifted, and celebrated. When she attended Jefferson High School, she was one of only about twenty Latino students. Now more than half of the students there share her heritage. This fact that further underscores the importance of recognizing Rockford’s Hispanic residents, many of whom do not feel seen or heard in our community, Monica laments.
The respect for community and culture that Monica’s family has cultivated drives her to spend countless volunteer hours in service to organizations such as the Ethnic Heritage Museum, in addition to serving on Jefferson’s PTO, supporting political campaigns and United Way campaigns, and assisting with numerous festivals (you do not want to miss the upcoming South Main Mercado!). Through her work with the Ethnic Heritage Museum and in partnership with other Latino leaders in the community, Monica seeks to both honor Rockford’s Latino residents and empower them. “We love Rockford!” Monica proclaims. “There is so much talent in this city that goes unrecognized. The stronger we get, the more willing we are to help everyone, the better our city will be.”
Please join Monica and the Ethnic Heritage Museum in not only honoring but also building relationships and trust with diverse residents in our community. You can learn more at https://www.ethnicheritagemuseum.org.
