15WEST: Ojala Foundation Is Building What Chicago's Latino Muslim Community
Community members take turns at a piñata during Ojala's Eid celebration. | Provided by Jordan Esparza-Kelley
How Ojala Foundation Is Building What Chicago's Latino Muslim Community Never Had
-Sumaiyya Siddiqi, February 23, 2026
What happens when a Latino Muslim community decides to build its own home and leaves the door open for others in the process.
Every Friday evening on Chicago's West Side, volunteers from Ojala Foundation hand out food and winter care packages. But before they leave, they pass along something else: word of where ICE has been spotted. “They are not reading the news every day and are not necessarily informed. As we're dropping stuff off, we are letting them know they are looking for people … being one of the first groups that reach these people just helped keep them informed,” said Jordan Esparza-Kelley, Ojala member and Communications Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago.
The Ojala Foundation is currently in the process of opening the first Latino-led mosque in Berwyn. They acquired a property a few blocks down from the North Berwyn Park District in May 2025. The Ojala Islamic Center is in Phase 3 of becoming a fully functioning mosque and community center to serve community members and neighbors alike. This Ramadan, the mosque has opened its doors to the community for the five daily prayers.
“It is important for us to be able to get resources to people that need them. Some people lost their jobs, some people didn't have an income coming in, some people were scared to leave their homes,” said Alma Campos, co-founder of Ojala Foundation.
As the non-profit organization continues to grow, it creates opportunities for connection and service for people of all backgrounds. Esparza-Kelley said, “Ojala’s Eid celebration is one of the most diverse celebrations … this is how we're supposed to be, we're all supposed to be together, enjoying each other and enjoying the beauty of everyone's culture, traditions and customs.” Having attended Ojala’s Eid celebration in 2025, Monterosso said “Being able to celebrate with others for Eid with similar experiences is very comforting.” For Campos, the mosque is an extension of that same vision. “Islam is not just meant for one group of people, it crosses cultures, and it is for everyone.”