INCS, Charter School Community Celebrate Mexican Independence Day

Floats, mariachi bands, and dancing filled the streets of the Little Village neighborhood on September 8 as part of the Mexican Independence Day Parade to commemorate the country’s independence from Spain. Members of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) and charter school community, including dozens of students, parents, and leaders from ACERO Schools, HSA McKinley, and Noble UIC College Prep, were honored to participate in one of the largest and most colorful parades in Chicago.

Noble UIC College Prep’s Mariachi Juvenil was thrilled to represent their school and Mexican heritage in the parade, said Renato Ceron, mariachi instructor. “They played their hearts out!”

“At HSA McKinley, we believe that it is important to stay connected and engaged in the communities that we serve,” said Jena Armouti, community outreach coordinator at the school. “Celebrating and honoring the heritage and culture of our fellow Mexican Americans at the parade was a pleasure! It was delightful to hear the crowd exclaim “¡Viva México!” and wave as we walked past with our sign.”

Chicago charter public schools serve more than 57,057 students—24,639 of whom identify as Latino. The charter school community is diverse and reflects the richness of our city. INCS supports the growth and development of Latino youth across our city.