Cultivating the celebrated ethnic diversity of their community, five dynamic women, Pastor Maria Ramirez, Sara Phalen, Valeria Perez, Anna Rosalez and Jackie Ocampo-Gutierrez are the guiding forces of the West Chicago Mexican Independence Day Parade and Celebration which is scheduled for Sunday, September 12, 2010. Between them, they bring pride and passion for what is a significant thread in the rich tapestry that is West Chicago’s history and heritage, and a desire to instill that spirit in the younger generation.