A DuPage County group is helping Latino workers heal from the mental trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately is affecting communities of color.
Wheaton-based Immigrant Solidarity DuPage is using $15,000 in state funding to organize peace circles where essential workers employed in DuPage County factories and warehouses can talk with their peers in Spanish about their challenges dealing with COVID-related deaths, poverty and hunger. Participants mostly are from Addison, Glendale Heights and West Chicago.
"We are using these peace circles to destroy the alienation of the Latino community and heal collectively," said Cristobal Cavazos, general coordinator. "There's really been a spirit of hopelessness and helplessness in the community. So we've stepped in. These peace circles are spaces that allow suffering to speak. It is to talk about our reality, reflect upon our obstacles, and actions that we could take together to remedy this."