Chicago Queer Latine Collaborative

About the Collaborative

Mission Statement:


The mission of CQL is to empower and uplift the queer Latine and QTBIPOC communities in Chicago by fostering informed decision-making in community health. We achieve this by collaborating with diverse professionals and communities to conduct incisive and intentional research, create culturally relevant health campaigns, and provide essential tools and resources. Our work ensures that public health initiatives and services are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the unique needs of those we serve.


Vision Statement:


Our vision is to create a future where the queer Latine and QTBIPOC communities in Chicago thrive, free from health inequities. We strive to achieve this by promoting expansive understanding and sensitivity towards the specific health needs of our communities. By leading with cultural humility and fostering community-driven solutions, we aim to eliminate disparities and build an inclusive environment where every individual has the opportunity to flourish and uplift one another.

Chicago Health Advocates on How to Combat the Recent Rise of HIV Cases in Young Latino Men

Pedro Alonso Serrano of the Chicago Queer Latine Collaborative is a colleague of Zapata’s, and he says that another major issue in the health care and medical world is the lack of cultural humility.

“What we find is that in the broader health workforce, we actually have fewer Latinos working in leadership roles in health systems,” said Serrano. “When we look at the number of Latino professors in public health, it’s fewer than 3 percent. Latinos are 18% of the population.”

The CQL Collaborative recently created a campaign called the “PrEPárate: PrEP For You & ME” to raise awareness on what HIV is and how to prevent it, emphasizing the importance of local campaigns.