ELGIN – Tuesday marked an important announcement from the White House about new commitments to support safe pregnancies and childbirth, an issue for which State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) has been a longtime advocate.

“Study after study have shown that Black mothers face disproportionate risks during and immediately following birth,” Castro said. “This last legislative session, I championed a law to help address that, and I am glad to see this issue being highlighted at the federal level.”

ELGIN –State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) recently attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the new Illinois Minority Business Development Agency Businesses Center, a flagship location to help connect small businesses to resources that can help them thrive.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has only broadened the existing challenges minority-owned businesses face when it comes to things like procurement and growing their markets,” Castro said. “It’s exciting to see Elgin become a hub for development with the opening of this new MBDA office.”

SPRINGFIELD – To celebrate the more than 250,000 Illinoisans who practice Hinduism, October has been declared Hindu Heritage Month thanks to a measure supported by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) on Wednesday.

“Illinois is such a diverse state thanks to all the different religions, cultures and ethnicities that make up its population,” Castro said. “October will now be a month to celebrate Hindu heritage and honor the contributions of people who practice the religion in our state.”

Hinduism in the third largest religion in the world. As an inclusive religion, it does not have a singular founder, text or set of believes and instead focuses on various practices and cultural values. In Illinois, the Hindu community has 38 temples with the largest being the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago.

The recently adopted Senate Resolution 545 establishes October 2021 as Hindu Heritage Month to recognize and celebrate the religion and people who practice it.

SR 545 was adopted by the Senate Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – A landmark plan to protect pregnant mothers by setting standards for the qualifications and education of midwives in Illinois sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) passed the Senate Wednesday.

“Midwives play a huge role in many women’s pregnancies, from providing care and guidance before pregnancy all the way to postpartum care,” Castro said. “Making sure these health care providers have proper education and training will ensure that women are in the best hands at a vital time in their and their babies’ lives.”