<Collect & insert photo of Aurora Aguilar, Joseph Alamillo, Pete Torres & Joe Rodriguez>

When Aurora Aguilar, a Hispanic mother originally from the City of Chicago, noticed an increase in gang activity in her Hammond neighborhood, she decided to enact change, but she couldn’t do it alone. She met with City of Hammond Planning & Development staff manager, Joseph Alamillo, to discuss a conflict resolution program for youth that would be incorporated into their education. 

Alamillo pitched Aguilar’s idea to Pete Torres, who doubled as a City of Hammond police officer and the only city council member of Hispanic origin (at the time), and Joe Rodriguez, a local community activist. From there, the initiative blossomed into actionable priorities through meetings with other community stakeholders. 

A nonprofit organization was formed to combat local issues, such as the violence permeating adolescents, throughout various neighborhoods in the community. With assistance from city and school administrators, the Hammond Hispanic Community Committee (HHCC) of Northern Indiana hosted its first educational program, a youth fair, on <insert date> to help local children learn how to address real life scenarios through reenactments. 

Throughout the years, the organization has evolved to offer an annual Latino Resource Fair, various scholarship opportunities and workforce development connections for local residents.