Dear LSNA Supporter,

November is LSNA's Annual Campaign Month. Help us continue building community leaders like Sandra Hernandez by making a donation to LSNA today!

LSNA PROFILE Impact STORY: Sandra Hernandez “I’m the first one [in my family] to go to college,” said Sandra Hernandez. Born in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Sandra has lived in Logan Square for over 12 years and is now a first-year college student studying film and video documentary at Columbia College Chicago. Through her involvement with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA), Sandra fell in love with making videos about everyday people in her Logan Square community. As a sophomore in Kelvyn Park High School’s Social Justice Academy, Sandra made a video as part of LSNA’s 2006 Yes-Yes-No Campaign. “The video motivated other students to help organize,” Sandra said. “We told other freshman and sophomores, juniors and seniors to tell their parents to go out and see what’s going on.” Making a video documentary to assist LSNA’s organizing efforts helped Sandra discover her own passion and career path. “If one video project has the ability to change my community, then my chance of changing the world by making more films about different issues that concern us is possible,” she said. Sandra had two goals when she turned 18: to go to college and to become a citizen. LSNA has helped her achieve both. In 2007, Sandra applied for the “New Citizens Loan,” a micro-loan created by LSNA’s Center for Working Families to offset the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship. She credits the “New Citizens Loan” with helping her afford college. Without LSNA, “I don’t think I would ever have been involved or had the whole experience of getting the loan,” she said. Now Sandra is giving back to LSNA and her community. At an Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) press conference on September 10, 2008, Sandra urged eligible immigrants to pursue the citizenship process. She stood up and said, “As a student, I have two part-time jobs. I did it. Why can’t you? It just takes time. It just takes people to say, ‘O.k. I’m ready to just do it.’ ” Sandra is only one of thousands of community members whose lives have been changed by LSNA. “Through film I can make strong statements without speaking directly,” she said. An aspiring documentarian, Sandra is also a concerned citizen of democracy. “I only like change if it benefits everyone equally,” she commented. Furthermore, “I want my videos to help people speak up and stand up for what they believe.” Can we count on you to stand up for LSNA and make a tax-exempt donation to a community you believe in? Please consider making a donation from $20 - $200 to support LSNA, the organization that has worked with neighborhood leaders for over 46 years to fight for a better life for residents in our community! We recognize that these are difficult financial times, but all the more reason to rally together and show your support for LSNA’s annual campaign. Any amount you are able to give is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, LOGAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION Nancy Aardema, Executive Director Make a Donation to LSNA's Annual Campaign online!

Make your donation online or mail/drop off a check at our office: 2840 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60618.