Timeline of the Puerto Rican Community in Chicago
1988 Vida/SIDA, a project of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center is founded to service Chicago’s Puerto Rican community, which suffers greatly from the AIDS epidemic. Each year, Vida/SIDA organizes the largest community-based World AIDS Day vigil in Chicago.
1988 Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) is established to connect Puerto Ricans to their culture and arts. Promoting the diversity and richness of Puerto Rican expressions, the PRAA takes pride in affirming the Taino, European, and West African roots of Puerto Rican culture.
1986 Luis V. Gutiérrez is elected as Alderman of the 26th Ward in the Humboldt Park Area with support of the late Mayor Harold Washington.
1981 Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) becomes the first Puerto Rican-focused housing organization. Today, LUCHA offers tenant resources and supports community homeowners to help prevent displacement.
1981 In response to the arrest of Oscar López Rivera, one of two remaining Puerto Rican political prisoners, the National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners is formed to advocate for their release.
