Carnival brings cohesion to D65 families

Families from School District 65 gathered at Evanston Township High School for a two-hour carnival celebrating Hispanic culture and community ties, organized by local parents active in bilingual and two-way immersion groups.

Families from School District 65 met at Evanston Township High School on Saturday for a community carnival celebrating Hispanic culture and neighborhood ties. The event was organized by parents involved with the Bilingual Families Alliance and TWI-65 after noticing strong turnout at recent cold-weather events. Organizers said the carnival provided a space for Spanish-speaking families to celebrate language and culture as some district programs are being relocated. They also described the event as a way to build relationships across the district as the local Hispanic population grows. Key details: - The carnival ran about two hours and included child-friendly activities like container planting, chess, and mask-making. - Organizers named in reports include Celia Carlino, Anna Lebron and Jennifer Cameros, who are active in the Bilingual Families Alliance and TWI-65. - The event was framed as especially important after changes affecting programs that serve Spanish-speaking families, including moves of two-way immersion offerings. - Representatives from local advocacy groups such as Evanston Latinos and D65 board member Andrew Wymer spoke about the large turnout. Summary: Organizers said the carnival offered a focused space for Hispanic families to celebrate language and culture and to strengthen connections within District 65. They reported plans to continue working with schools and community organizations to organize similar events as needs evolve.