Illinois Latino News (ILLN) has been selected to participate in the Healing Illinois Reporting Project, “Democracy Lives Here,” a statewide initiative led by the Medill Solutions Journalism Hub and supported by the Field Foundation of Illinois. The project brings together newsrooms committed to strengthening civic life through reporting that highlights community‑driven responses to systemic inequities and expands public understanding of how democracy is lived at the local level. Healing Illinois was created in 2020 and relaunched in 2023 to address racial disparities impacting residents of Illinois communities.
As part of the initiative, ILLN will lead a bilingual, statewide reporting project examining how Latino communities across Illinois are shaping democracy during the nation’s 250th anniversary and ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The coverage will explore the experiences of first‑time voters, newly naturalized citizens, and multigenerational voting families, while also spotlighting Latino‑led organizations mobilizing residents in effective, culturally grounded ways. The project will also investigate how immigration‑enforcement fears associated with the Trump administration influence civic participation and document what helps people feel safe enough to engage. A bilingual listening tour across the state will anchor the reporting, ensuring that community voices guide the stories produced.
Deborah Douglas, founding director of the Medill Solutions Journalism Hub at Northwestern University, said the participating newsrooms share a commitment to reporting that reflects not only the challenges communities face but also the work being done to address them. “The Healing Illinois Reporting Project’s ‘Democracy Lives Here’ participating newsrooms are intentionally focusing on responses to pressing systemic issues. People are weary of hearing problem‑focused stories that make them feel like nothing can be done. Problems are real, but so is the work being done to address them. Your relationship with local media changes when you see, hear, and read those stories, too.”
Hugo Balta, Publisher of Illinois Latino News, said the project aligns with ILLN’s mission to elevate Latino voices and strengthen civic participation. “At Illinois Latino News, we believe democracy grows when every community sees itself reflected with dignity. Joining this cohort reinforces our commitment to storytelling that heals, connects, and expands who gets to be heard.”
Healing Illinois, created by the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with the Field Foundation, supports efforts that promote racial healing, build community trust, and strengthen civic participation. Through its role in the project, ILLN aims to fill critical information gaps, elevate Latino perspectives, and document how communities across the state are shaping Illinois’ democratic future.
Illinois Latino News is one of eight local news outlets lead by the Latino News Network. The publications focus on coverage that leans in on the social determinants of health and democracy. They provide greater visibility and voice to the Hispanic, Latino community and apply the principles of solutions journalism to their reporting.
Illinois Latino News is one of eight local news outlets led by the Latino News Network, a group of publications dedicated to coverage rooted in the social determinants of health and democracy. Together, they work to increase visibility and voice for Hispanic and Latino communities while applying the principles of solutions journalism to produce reporting that informs, empowers, and strengthens civic participation.