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Launched in 2016 by the Illinois Office of Tourism, the Illinois Made program promotes authentic travel experiences throughout the state and encourages visitors to discover hidden gems off the beaten path. Small businesses play a vital role in making Illinois a welcoming and unique destination for visitors year-round, and highlighting them is a great way to experience all Illinois has to offer.

•  Café Tola, a fusion of culinary delights, reaches its pinnacle at this Lakeview family-owned business. It exudes vibrant Mexican charm and offers an enticing menu featuring homemade empanadas and exceptionally delicious coffee. This delightful fare is served daily in a cozy, compact space located on Southport Avenue.
• Atrévete Confections offers an opportunity to satisfy your sweet tooth in Montgomery, Illinois, with magnificent croissants, gateaux, cheesecakes and signature confections. 
•  Yeni’s Palarte Mexican Ice Cream in Peoria Heights, Illinois, offers an array of ice cream and smoothies, including keto-friendly, dairy-free and water-based options.

Attractions

• Come to The National Museum of Mexican Art, where you can immerse yourself in the richness of Mexican art and culture in Chicago. 
• The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is hosting a pop-up exhibit titled Resistencia y Libertá that celebrates the community expression of Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba music through fashion.
• The Mexican Cultural Center DuPage encourages and promotes Mexican heritage through cultural, ethnic and civic activities designed to educate the City of West Chicago's Mexican community and the community at large.

Road Trip Itineraries for National Hispanic Heritage Month

• The first itinerary, "Immersed in Hispanic Cultural Heritage," showcases various ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Chicago and Rockford over three days, covering 89 miles of travel.
• The second itinerary, “Community Treasures with a Latino Flavor,” offers ways to celebrate Latin food, culture, and local businesses in Peoria and the Quad Cities over three days, covering 104 miles of travel.

For the complete list of experiences around Illinois to discover around National Hispanic Heritage Month, click here.

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The U.S. Postal Service today kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct.15) with new festive Piñatas! stamps at the 36th Annual Piñata Festival. These Forever stamps come in four designs — two donkeys and two seven-pointed stars — celebrating the traditional Mexican fiesta favorite. This is the third consecutive year the Postal Service has issued a Hispanic-themed stamp. In September 2021, USPS issued Day of the Dead stamps, and in July 2022, USPS issued Mariachi stamps. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #PinatasStamps. READ MORE AT USPS

Though the lack of Spanish fluency is common among second- and third-generation Latinos, it can often result in teasing by family and friends. The name-calling — labeling someone pocho, gringo or “too American to be Mexican,” for example — can often be passed off as cariño, or joking with endearment.

But it can manifest into shame, and sometimes that shame can stop a person from wanting to practice the language or pass it down to future generations. READ MORE AT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES