Instituto participates in the "Women Make a Difference" panel!

During National Volunteer Month in April, President & CEO of Instituto, Karina Ayala-Bermejo, participated in the “Women Make a Difference” panel hosted at the Bank of America - Chicago office. The discussion, moderated by Dawn Perosko Melchiorre of Cradles to Crayons Chicago, featured a distinguished group of women leaders: Rita Sola Cook, President of Bank of America Chicago, Rosie Drumgoole of Chicago Cares, and Nancy Wright from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

The event underscored the vital role of women in driving community impact through volunteerism and philanthropy. Attendees included nonprofit professionals, philanthropic leaders, and community partners, all inspired to “pay it forward” and deepen their commitment to service. This panel was part of Bank of America’s broader Global Service Month initiative, which celebrates employee volunteerism and community engagement.

Instituto parents march to CPS headquarters!

A powerful collective of over 30 students, parents, and staff from Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy and Instituto traveled downtown and spoke at last month's CPS board meeting at the CPS headquarters to speak directly in front of the CPS Board of Education. Our message was clear: IHSCA deserves a 5+ year renewal. IHSCA is more than a school — it’s a safe

space, a second home, and the heart of a thriving community.

While the Board delayed the vote yet again, our voices were heard — and we’re not done. We will continue to fight for our campus. Our students and families deserve it!

Instituto hosts Prom Attire Giveaway Event!

Thank you to everyone who made our Prom Attire Giveaway Event a success! To our generous donors, dedicated volunteers, and amazing staff, we couldn’t have done it without your hard work, kindness, and commitment to uplifting our community. At Instituto, we believe every student deserves to feel confident and celebrated. Because of your generosity, spirit, and support, we were able to help over 145 students from across the Chicagoland area find the perfect look for prom.



An incredible thanks goes out to Project Embrace - Chicago; we are lucky for the opportunity to work alongside such an amazing volunteer initiative. We’re so grateful to our amazing Board Members and Associate Board Members for joining us and lending your support. These events would not be possible without you.

President & CEO Karina Ayala-Bermejo represented Instituto at Hispanic Federation's Encuentro Nacional.

Instituto's President & CEO, Karina Ayala-Bermejo, attended Hispanic Federation's inaugural Encuentro Nacional in Washington, D.C., joining Hispanic Federation President & CEO Frankie Miranda and other organizations for a powerful press conference urging Congress to listen to the Latino community. We must continue to call on federal policymakers to challenge actions that negatively impact our communities. This week-long national legislative summit brings together nonprofit and community leaders from across the country to advocate for policies that uplift the Latino community. Karina Ayala-Bermejo spoke alongside Mr. Miranda, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García, Congressman Maxwell Frost, and other key leaders.

Instituto visits WVON 1690AM!

President & CEO, Karina Ayala-Bermejo, joined Karen Freeman-Wilson of the Chicago Urban League for a powerful in-studio interview on WVON 1690AM - The Talk of Chicago with host Atiba K. Buchanan and co-host Ladonna Raeh on the eve of the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. The conversation focused on building strong coalitions between Black and Brown communities. As Ms. Freeman-Wilson pointed out in her op-ed, “Progress comes when marginalized groups unite — not turn against each other.”

Instituto College of Nursing students took their passion beyond the classroom with a visit to Springfield!

Students and staff joined Student Nurses Association of Illinois (SNAI) and ANA-Illinois for the 2025 Student Nurse Political Action Day. While visiting the Illinois State Capitol, the students gained a firsthand experience in advocacy and healthcare policy. This powerful opportunity allowed them to connect with fellow nursing students and mentors while learning how to influence legislation that impacts the communities they serve.



Empowering student nurses to understand their role in shaping the future of healthcare is not just important — it’s essential!

Thank you for joining us at our April Food Drive!

The Instituto team and friends hosted the April Food Bank! With the help of our volunteers from Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy's National Honor Society and donations from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, we were able to serve hundreds of families and make a real difference in our community members' lives. We cannot thank our volunteers and staff enough for making these events possible.