Every year, the Village of Skokie celebrates a specific culture by providing various activities that the culture demonstrates on a daily basis, weekends, or holidays. This year, Skokie is focusing on Hispanic and Latino cultures. Coming Together in Skokie will go from Sunday, Jan. 31 to Friday, May 13.

This year, to kick off Coming Together in Skokie, Illinois congresswoman Jan Schakowsky will give a presentation at Niles West High School along with the help of Daniel Bisk and Laura Bine. There will be around 60 activities within the next eight weeks practicing Latino culture.

There are four featured books being included in the program this year: The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez, Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant by José Ángel N., Yes, We are Latinos / ¡Si? Somos Latinos by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy and Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Women by Margarita Engle.

“Every year there are a few cultural books we offer out for anyone who is participating to enjoy. It started off with one or two English books that were not necessarily ‘easy reads’ but we keep growing from that. This year we are up to four books and each is written in English and Spanish. This is the first time we’ve included a picture book,” librarian Carolyn Anthony said.

Teachers in the community are happy to be able to work in a place with so many different cultures.

“I consider myself very fortunate to work in a community that is so ethnically diverse,” Lincolnwood school teacher Mari Maldonado said.

People involved hope that this year will be the best turn out yet.

“Coming Together in Skokie tends to get better every year, so we are hoping for an amazing turn out,” Susan Van Dusen said.